Coffee with a T-bird hosted by Alex Rozenfeld
Grab a cup of coffee and join Alex Rozenfeld, Thunderbird alum and founder of Freshwater Investments, as he sits down with fellow T-bird graduates who are making an impact in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Each episode features open and insightful conversations that explore the pivotal moments, personal motivations, and lessons learned on their journeys.
From building companies across continents to leading global teams, these stories highlight the drive and mindset behind success. Whether you're a student, alum, or someone passionate about business and personal growth, you'll walk away with fresh ideas and real-world perspective.
This is more than a podcast—it’s a platform for connection, storytelling, and celebrating the global spirit of Thunderbird.
This podcast is sponsored by www.freshwaterinvestments.com
Coffee with a T-bird hosted by Alex Rozenfeld
Cable Deals, Pinot Noir, and a Life Well Lived with Nimrod Kovacs
Join us in this captivating episode as we sit down with Nimrod Kovacs, a seasoned entrepreneur and wine enthusiast, who shares his incredible journey from growing up in post-war Budapest to becoming a successful businessman in the United States. Discover how Nimrod navigated the challenges of a communist regime, his adventurous escape to freedom, and his eventual rise in the corporate world. We delve into his passion for winemaking, the philosophy behind his craft, and his advice for young professionals. Tune in for an inspiring story of resilience, exploration, and the pursuit of one's passions.
Buy Nimrod's wine at the:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimrod-kovacs-43313420/
Nimrod Kovacs is a retired international business guy. Born in Budapest Hungary, Nimrod Kovacs made his way to the U.S in his early 20′s. After working his way through school as a waiter, Nimrod ultimately earned an MBA in International Business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Nimrod then began a 35-year long career in arena’s including advertising, cable television, and telecommunications. He has worked in many locations around the world, and now spends the vast majority of his time in Budapest, Hungary. Nimrod is a peaceful man who enjoys philantrophy, nature, and a good glass of wine. Nimrod Kovacs after finishing high school and waiter school, escaped from his native Hungary via swimming from the current day Slovenia to Italy. After spending months in various refugee camps in Italy, he arrived in the USA in 1972. He started his new life as a dishwasher at a hotel moving onto becoming a waiter. After learning enough English, enrolled in college(University of Colorado) from where he graduated with a BS degree in 1976. After this, he moved to The Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona from where he received a Masters degree. He also spent a summer in 1987 at Stanford University, focusing on organization management. From Phoenix, Arizona he moved to New York to join Doyle Dane Bernbach advertising agency, where he worked on the American Airlines and Hershey Foods account. Nimrod then joined Grey Advertising where he worked on the General Foods business, followed by a stint at Wells Rich and Greene where he worked on the Ralston, Alka Selzer and the New York State businesses. In 1982, Nimrod moved to Colorado to become the Marketing director for United Cable Television Corporation from where he was quickly promoted to head the Marketing and Programming function. During this time, he had the opportunity to help develop several TV channels including The Discovery channel, E entertainment and QVC. Upon the sale of United to Tele-Communications Inc., Nimrod became a partner with the Schneiders in United International Holdings Inc. (UIH) and together focused on cable TV Greenfield investments, mostly in Europe. One of these investments was a joint venture between UIH, Time Warner and US West, called Kabelkom, which developed modern cable systems in Hungary while introducing HBO and Spektrum TV. Nimrod then was actively involved in the formation of another joint venture with Phillips called UPC. This company’s Central and Eastren European Arm under Nimrod’s leadership became the largest Cable Tv operation in the region with 3 million customers encompassing Poland, the Check Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Romania. In 2009 Nimrod retired from the corporate world focusing on his long time passion, wines and now managing his winery in Eger, Hungary.
This podcast is sponsored by Freshwater Investments