Short CV

I was born and grew up in Heraklion, Crete with family roots from Alatsata in Asia Minor and Myrtia of Captain Michalis Kazantzakis.

EDUCATION

I studied in Athens and London and I have a  PGDip & MA  in Marketing, a BA in Business Administration and a BA in Civilization with a specialization in Europe and its Institutions. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

I worked abroad in tourism for multinational companies, gaining valuable experience, which I came to apply working for Aegean Airlines (Air Greece at the time).

I was the International Marketing Manager of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Peza for 15 consecutive years, helping to promote Cretan products, such as the Party’s Wine. I served as a member of the Ministry of Rural Development team for the Strategic Marketing of New Wines of Greece.

In 2015, I founded “Chic Greek Gifts”, a corporate gifting business for which I received the bronze Tourism Award 2022 for the contribution to the value of the hospitality industry in Greece. As an executive of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, in 2016-2017, I coordinated the "Cretan Hands" initiative for the promotion of Cretan handicrafts, a practice I continue to pursue in  collaboration with the Educational Development Agency PLOIGOS. In 2018, I founded OFFICE, a Marketing consultancy business, fulfilling to date over 20 European projects and dozens of private business projects for the promotion of local products and services.

As an entrepreneur, I was, and I continue to be, a member of many trade missions to the five continents with a vision to transmit the love for Greek products to the world.

In addition, for a number of years, I have taught in the Departments of Marketing, Business Administration, as well as Tourism of the Public and Private Vocational Training Institutes of the Prefecture of Heraklion, inspiring young men and women to generate ideas and transform them to business.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

I serve as the elected President of  the "Cretan Women in Business Association" offering voluntary support and empowerment to the women of our community. I am also a representative to the General Assembly of the National Chamber Network of Greek Women Entrepreneurs supporting the role of women in the business arena nationwide. I am the secretary of ‘Aretousa’ Soroptimist movement, as well as the representative of the local group to the Natrional Soroptimist Union.

Concerned about Nature and Humans in Crete, I presented this topic in the series of Ted Talks presentations at the TEDx European Sustainability Academy in 2020. I am a registered Mentor of Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility of the Region of Crete. I am the Coordinator of the Global StartupCities European Initiative for the island of Crete. I write articles about Business and Current Affairs at Huffpost Greece, at www.epixeiro.gr, as well as in local printed and electronic media.

DISTINCTIONS

I have been invited to talk about my successful business activity, my support for women's entrepreneurship and the cultural events of the country, among others, at the following:

Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, Rethymnon Chamber of Commerce, Lassithi Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Economics of Eastern Crete, National Agricultural Cooperative Organization of Vine-Wine Products, Business Innovation Center of Crete, Soroptimist Clubs of Heraklion and Patras, Region of Crete, Athens Startup Business Incubator of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, Women Associations etc.

My most honorable distinction is that I am a mother of three.