Where is the line between political communication and psychological manipulation? This post explores the role of Hungary’s advertising industry during the Orbán era, examining propaganda, fear-based campaigns, public money, and the ethical responsibility of creatives and agencies.
Author: gabriellaferenczi
The Restaurant that never was – and what it says about us
There’s something unsettling about this conversation between Trevor Noah and the man behind the “restaurant that never existed.” On the surface, it’s absurdly funny: a fictional listing climbs to the top of TripAdvisor, fuelled by fabricated reviews, curated imagery, and just enough narrative to feel real. No kitchen. No service. No customers. Just belief. But…… Continue reading The Restaurant that never was – and what it says about us
The banality of silence | What just happened in Hungary
How did silence become part of the system? This post explores media control, quiet complicity, and the difficult questions Hungary now faces as people begin to speak.
When language becomes weapon | What just happened in Hungary
How language shaped political reality in Hungary, from labels and slogans to humour and wordplay, and how words became tools of division, resistance, and meaning in the final years of the Orbán era.
Two realities: Political marketing in parallel worlds | What just happened in Hungary
How do you build an alternate reality? This post looks at the communication strategies, media ecosystems, and narratives that allowed two versions of truth to coexist in Hungary.
What just happened in Hungary
The 16-year Orbán era is officially over. And I mean – OVER. As the reality starts to sink in, Hungarians are facing something rare: an opportunity, and a responsibility, to close a chapter with dignity and begin healing. In this 4-part series, I’m reflecting on how I saw what just happened. I’m looking at it…… Continue reading What just happened in Hungary
Leaders in People and Culture: What Talent Leadership Looks Like When AI Is a Given
This week I attended a panel discussion hosted by BrainStation in London, titled Leaders in People and Culture: Shaping the Future of Tech Careers. I went expecting a conversation about skills, talent pipelines, and perhaps the usual debates around AI readiness. What I didn’t expect was how matter-of-fact the discussion about AI would be. The…… Continue reading Leaders in People and Culture: What Talent Leadership Looks Like When AI Is a Given
The words we use about AI are already shaping our organisations
Long before AI systems are deployed, integrated, or governed, something else happens first: We start talking about them. In leadership meetings, in internal communications, in learning materials, in hallway conversations that never make it into strategy decks. The language arrives early, and once it does, it begins to shape expectations, emotions, and behaviour in ways…… Continue reading The words we use about AI are already shaping our organisations
Jungle Journal – Episode 2: Arrival in Sharamentsa
Take a deep breath in.And a big sigh out. Let me take you along on this adventure. Our starting point: Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Our means of travel: a minivan. With us on the journey: Martina, from Germany. The kindest, bravest, most loving travel companion anyone can wish for. Estefania, from Quito, Ecuador. Our…… Continue reading Jungle Journal – Episode 2: Arrival in Sharamentsa
When AI takes our superpower: Harari at Davos (WEF 2026)
Yuval Noah Harari’s Davos address – “An Honest Conversation on AI and Humanity” – felt like stepping onto a ridge line where the air is thinner and the view is suddenly wider. You can still walk back down to the cosy valley of “but AI is just a tool”… but it becomes harder to pretend…… Continue reading When AI takes our superpower: Harari at Davos (WEF 2026)
Gabriella Ferenczi 