From Budapest to Silicon Valley: Online talk with Charles Simonyi

Charles Simonyi was born in Budapest. His father was Professor Károly Simonyi, a man deeply respected by the students of BME-VIK. Charles joined Microsoft in the 80’s, and worked there for over two decades, during which time he became one of the most respected Software Architects of his time. Under his leadership, world-renowned Microsoft Office products were developed, such as Word and Excel. He also introduced object-oriented programming into the company, and was a key figure in founding the basics of metaprogramming.

Charles is also known as the second Hungarian space traveler, he visited the International Space Station in 2007 and 2009. During his trips, he established radio communication with multiple Hungarian radio amateurs and schools. He is also a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.

In our online interview, we ask him about his life experiences and career development. He also shares memories of his space flights, we get to know his interests, and his advice for the youth.