Building a career across borders at HSO

From Budapest to New York, and potentially Australia next, Tamas Kohler’s career at HSO has taken him across teams, cultures and continents. We spoke to him about global mobility, taking ownership of your career and the support that makes international moves possible.

Meet

“HSO gives you the scale of a global business, but still the freedom and support to shape your own career.”

Can you tell us a little about your journey at HSO so far?

I joined SA Global in 2020 as a contractor based in Budapest, Hungary, working primarily across the ProServe area and AC360 projects. Following HSO’s acquisition of the US business and 360 Solutions division, my journey continued with HSO, supporting international projects from Hungary.

I had always wanted to move to the US, so I raised that ambition with my managers. After working through the visa process, I eventually moved to New York and officially joined HSO US in January 2025. At the same time, I progressed from Senior Functional Consultant into a Solution Architect role, so the move became a career step as well as a personal one.

How supportive was HSO when you said you wanted to move internationally?

Very supportive. The important thing for me was that when I said, “This is something I’d really like to do,” the response wasn’t to shut the conversation down. People looked at what might be possible and helped me work through it.

The immigration process wasn’t always straightforward and took longer than we initially hoped, but HSO US and HR were open and transparent throughout. I always felt that people genuinely wanted to help make the move happen.

I’m seeing the same thing now as I explore a potential move to Australia. I’ve already been speaking with the Australian team and we’re working through what that next step could look like.

What has working across different countries given you professionally?

The international exposure has been one of the biggest benefits. I’ve worked with colleagues across the US, India, Australia and Europe, as well as customers in different markets. You learn how different people communicate and work together, and you become much more adaptable as a result.

Moving to the US also opened doors that would have been much harder to access from Hungary. I’ve been able to spend more time with customers and colleagues face to face, travel more easily to client sites and take part in meetings with Microsoft in Seattle. Those are the kinds of experiences that genuinely broaden your perspective and your career.

How much ownership have you had over the direction of your career?

Quite a lot. I think the important thing is that HSO gives you access to opportunities, but you still have to be clear about what you want and take the initiative.

My move to the US started because I raised it with my managers. I had always wanted to make that move, and once I started the conversation, people were supportive and helped me explore how it could work.

The same is happening now with Australia. I’ve already worked with the Australian team, I know the market, and I’ve been able to start conversations about whether that could be the right next step for me.

I don’t feel like there is one fixed path I have to follow. HSO has the scale and international network to create opportunities, but I’ve had the freedom to shape where I want my career to go and then work with the business to make it happen.

What has been the most rewarding part of the experience?

Professionally, it has been the exposure; different clients, different teams and being able to work face to face with people I previously only knew through Teams.

Personally, it has given my wife and me experiences we simply wouldn’t have had otherwise. We’ve travelled around the US, explored different cities and visited places like Yosemite and the national parks in California. Seeing the giant sequoias was probably one of the highlights.

That is something I really value about the experience: the growth hasn’t just been professional.

What advice would you give someone at HSO considering an international move?

Start the conversation early and be prepared to be flexible.

Every country has different visa and immigration requirements, so these things can take time. Do your research, understand what might be involved and be realistic about the process.

But I would also encourage people to have the conversation. My experience has been that whether I’ve been speaking to people in the US, Australia or elsewhere in HSO, they have wanted to help and make the experience as smooth as possible.

What does global mobility at HSO mean to you?

For me, global mobility at HSO means having the opportunities of a global organisation without feeling that your career is being decided for you.

There are teams, customers and opportunities across the world, but there is also enough flexibility for you to say, “This is where I’d like to go next,” and have a genuine conversation about how you might get there.

HSO can provide the platform and the support, but you still get to take ownership of the journey.