Hello, guys! On today’s episode, we are honored to host an extraordinary guest, Tibor Merey. A linguistic enthusiast fluent in six languages, Tibor’s journey is filled with entrepreneurial adventures, corporate endeavors, and a deep understanding of the rapidly changing digital landscape.

From sharing personal anecdotes of late-night startup ideas to diving deep into the transformative realms of Web3 and the Metaverse, Tibor’s narrative promises to be both enlightening and captivating.

Languages: The Bridges Between Souls

Embarking on Tibor’s journey, one cannot help but be mesmerized by an enticing fact: the man speaks not three, not four, but six languages! Rooted in his Swiss-Hungarian heritage and nurtured by Switzerland’s multilingual environment, Tibor’s linguistic palette blossomed. “A part of the reason,” Tibor shares, “is that I’m half Swiss, half Hungarian. And, interestingly, Switzerland has four national languages!” His academic forays in Spain and a recent interest in Italian further enriched his linguistic repertoire.

And why this passion for languages? One might ask. Reflecting, Tibor says,

“There’s this theory, like in the movie ‘Arrival’, that your brain rewires differently with each language.”

For him, beyond just words, each language offers a unique connection. “It allows me to connect in their own language,” he mentions, highlighting that even in an age of AI and digital interactions, the genuine bond formed through language remains irreplaceable.

From Late-Night Ideas to Boardroom Decisions

One evening in 2005, amidst hushed conversations and maybe a drink or two, Tibor and his two best friends had a lightbulb moment. “I remember that night so clearly,” Tibor recounts with a smile, “each of us placed a hundred Swiss francs on the kitchen table. That, right there, was the seed capital for our freestyle fashion venture.” Before they knew it, their brand was being showcased in 11 skater and speed shops across Switzerland — a silent tribute to their tenacity and vision.

Yet, life had another plan in store. A tempting offer from BCG came knocking. With a blend of apprehension and ambition, Tibor made a pact with himself, “I decided to give myself just six months. If I couldn’t elevate the startup in that time, I’d dive into the corporate world with BCG.” And dive he did.

However, the siren call of entrepreneurship was unrelenting. “That entrepreneurial virus? Couldn’t shake it off,” Tibor chuckles. Today, while his days are spent in boardrooms and strategy meetings, his heart continues to pulse with the vibrancy of startups. “I’ve got this fantastic mix — advising, coaching, investing. It’s like relishing the best of both worlds.”

Transitioning from the dynamic world of startups to the structured environment of BCG was undoubtedly challenging, but Tibor’s entrepreneurial mindset proved invaluable. He emphasized the importance of an organization’s culture in fostering entrepreneurship. BCG’s culture, and especially that of BCG X, has allowed him to live up to his entrepreneurial ambitions within the consulting giant.

BCG X: Leading the Charge in Web3 and Metaverse

In a time when buzzwords like ‘Web3’, ‘Metaverse’, and ‘blockchain’ are tossed around with both reverence and skepticism, BCG X stands as a vanguard of innovation. “Think of BCG as strategic consulting stalwarts,” Tibor explained with a sense of pride, “and then picture BCG X as its dynamic tech-savvy sibling. We aren’t just crafting strategies; we’re building the future with a team of over 3,000 engineers, data scientists, designers, and architects.”

When asked about BCG X’s unique niche, he elaborated, “While half our projects delve into tech, media, and telco — the foundations of Web3 and Metaverse — the other half is an eclectic mix of fields from healthcare to banking, embodying the breadth and diversity of the digital transformation.”

Tibor’s personal narrative seamlessly weaves into this vast canvas. His entrepreneurial spirit has found fertile ground in BCG X’s culture. But what about the practical implications of Web3 and the metaverse? “It’s more than just a debate about decentralization,” Tibor asserts. Illustrating with real-life examples, he recalls how BCG X assisted Klockner, a German steel producer, in establishing a blockchain-based product passport to ensure the authenticity and transparency of green steel products’ emissions.

“It’s not just about the tech, it’s about the trust.”

On the flip side, the team’s expertise isn’t limited to blockchain. They’ve been navigating the corners of the Metaverse, partnering with a pharmaceutical company to harness XR technologies, elevating their employee training modules. Tibor’s commitment to the blend of strategy and innovation is palpable.

“In the Web3 space, it’s essential to strike a balance between value and friction. It’s not about hopping on the latest trend but about addressing the core problems and harnessing the Gartner hype cycle to make calculated choices.”

He truly stands at the intersection of tradition and transformation, leading the charge into the digital future.

Web2 vs. Web3: Finding the Right Nail for Your Hammer

Tibor, a renowned Web3 expert, cautions businesses against the lure of new technologies without a genuine need, likening it to the “shiny hammer looking for nails” syndrome. He developed a decision tree, inspired by a whimsical one he saw in a magazine called Neon, designed to guide businesses in choosing between Web2 and Web3.

“Start with the nails or the frictions that companies are solving today, and ask yourself: where does Web3 as an additional hammer truly unlock a significant value on top of that?”

Tibor references the Gartner hype cycle to illuminate the adoption trajectory of emerging technologies, suggesting that understanding one’s position on this curve is invaluable. He believes Web3 is moving towards a phase characterized by real value and fundamentals. On the subject of blockchain, he predicts sporadic adoption driven by specific high-value use cases, particularly emphasizing the potential in supply chain tracking.

Highlighting challenges in adopting nascent technologies, Tibor underscores friction as a significant barrier. However, he remains optimistic, noting the diminishing friction in Web3 and Extended Reality (XR) while their value propositions grow. The key, he believes, is ensuring the value proposition justifies the friction involved.

On Embracing Decentralization and the Future of Brands in Web3

When transitioning to discussing the value of Web3 and the metaverse for brands, Tibor highlighted the significance of tapping into newer generations, particularly Gen Z and Gen Alpha. These are the individuals reshaping our future, more receptive to the digital realm and assigning equal, if not more, value to digital assets compared to physical ones. This generation’s inclination towards decentralization, fluid careers, and the merging of various life aspects offers brands a unique chance to redefine their engagement strategies.

They are more attuned to sustainability, social issues, and the freedoms that decentralization can offer. It’s not just about the technological prowess of Web3 but understanding its potential in reshaping careers, brand loyalty, and the overall consumer landscape.

In closing, Tibor’s insights remind us that while the digital transformation is technological at its core, its true power lies in understanding and adapting to the changing human dynamics. As the lines between the physical and digital worlds blur, and as newer generations redefine value and success, companies, regardless of their age or size, need to evolve by embedding authenticity, flexibility, and genuine engagement into their strategies. This is the only way to stay relevant and thrive in the ever-evolving digital age.

• Tags:
• Blockchain
• Future
• Metaverse
• NFT
• WEB3