Productivity Day 2025 brought together top Hungarian C-level executives to explore practical strategies for making teams work more effectively. From embracing AI with the right balance of automation and oversight to prioritizing one-on-one conversations and intentional teamwork, the event provided actionable insights to drive long-term productivity improvements.

Productivity Day was organized by META-INF, PwC, PMI, and Atlassian for the first time in Budapest on February 25, 2025, for those seeking practical methods to make their teams work more effectively. Each presentation aimed to deliver ideas that can be immediately applied, along with long-term strategies to drive lasting productivity improvements for teams.

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Productivity is an evolving concept

In his opening speech, Attila Gáspár, co-CEO of META-INF, said that while the definition of productivity seems simple as the ratio of outputs to inputs, its real meaning depends on context and time. We can easily measure past productivity, but the real challenge is how to improve it for the future.

The key to productivity lies in three interconnected pillars: methods, tools, and people.

He stressed that the conference is themed around these three pillars and that it is not just about ideas. Instead, attendees should engage, challenge ideas, and apply what they learn to their organizations. The event is a unique, interactive experience that brings together top leaders to rethink and reshape productivity for the future, added Attila Gáspár.

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Innovation is no longer optional

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Eszter Kecskés D., Head of Business Development at META-INF, believes that companies must reinvent themselves if they want to survive. According to the latest PwC Global CEO Survey, 42% of CEOs believe their business won’t be viable in 10 years unless they innovate. Organizations across all industries feel pressure to create new products, expand into new markets, and adopt AI. In order to execute innovation at scale, they need a strong System of Work, which is a philosophy of how technology-driven organizations should work, connecting technology and business teams to accelerate progress and maximize team impact.

When organizations embrace the structured System of Work, they see a 40% faster time to value, an 18% increase in project success, and a 35% reduction in interruptions. In the age of AI, the companies that structure their data and processes effectively will win. A strong System of Work is not just about human productivity, it’s about making AI useful, Eszter Kecskés D. added.

You can learn more about Atlassian’s System of Work concept from this video

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Tailoring projects is key

Dezső Dudás, the president of PMI Budapest, Hungarian Chapter, talked about how project success can be achieved. PMI defines project success as delivering value that justifies the effort and expense. He believes that high-performing teams succeed when they are empowered to tailor their approach rather than follow rigid frameworks. Tailoring means adapting project management methodologies to fit business goals and deliverables.

Executives often worry about losing visibility when teams adopt multiple methodologies. The solution is to define strategic objectives, track KPIs consistently, and ensure alignment across all projects. Executives need to let their project teams choose their way of working, be accessible, define mutual values in the value chain, and rely on solid data that can be aggregated at different levels, he summarized.

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How AI adoption can be successful

According to István Szabó, Director of Data & Analytics at PwC, AI can automate processes, generate insights, and improve efficiency, but blind trust in AI can be dangerous. Organizations must balance AI automation with human oversight to ensure accuracy and relevance. AI adoption isn’t just about technology—it’s about culture, leadership, and structured processes.

A test conducted by PwC revealed that generational and experience-based trust gaps must be addressed for successful AI adoption. Eighty-seven percent of employees under 30 trust AI outputs immediately, while only 23% of senior leaders do. Mixed-experience teams, training programs, and structured validation processes can bridge this divide and ensure AI is used effectively. AI is a powerful tool—but only when integrated thoughtfully, with clear policies and a balance between automation and human expertise, István Szabó highlighted.

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One-on-one conversations are core to strong teams

Based on her ongoing PhD research, leadership coach Brigitta Bánhidi talked about an interesting personal aspect of productivity. She believes that leaders who prioritize one-on-one interactions create more connected, engaged, and high-performing teams. Regular one-on-ones, weekly or biweekly, lead to higher employee engagement and better results. Even 15-minute conversations can be as effective as longer meetings.

Effective one-on-ones follow a simple structure:

• Start with a personal check-in to build trust.
• Discuss progress and roadblocks to support growth and productivity.
• End with clear next steps to drive action.

The key takeaway: if you want a high-performing, engaged team, schedule regular one-on-ones, be consistent, and focus on trust-building conversations, said Brigitta Bánhidi.

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Be more intentional

Mark Cruth, Modern Work Coach at Atlassian, showed some of the best practices that Atlassian uses and promotes to be more productive. He believes that high-performing teams thrive on autonomy, ownership, and clear decision-making frameworks.

In his workshop, he showed how Atlassian uses tools like the Team Health Monitor to assess team alignment and effectiveness or the DACI decision-making framework that ensures transparency and accountability, preventing bottlenecks in leadership.

Most meetings are ineffective—teams must focus on intentional, structured, goal-driven communication. He showed an example from Atlassian where Founder Update Blogs and Loom videos increased engagement at Atlassian from 60% to 90%, proving that asynchronous communication works. The company also believes that team bonding is essential, especially in distributed work environments. These key strategies—autonomy, structured communication, and connection—help teams work smarter, not harder, ensuring long-term collaboration success.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss how these insights apply to your organization, book a meeting with us here!

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