I was born and raised in Athens, Greece, in 1968. My childhood was filled with arcade games, pool, cigarettes, coffee, and a knack for math and physics.
These interests, combined with a growing involvement in politics, shaped my teenage years at the Greek-Italian School of Athens – a place that left a lasting impact on me.
My academic path took me across the globe to San Diego, where I initially started with aerospace engineering. Eventually, I earned a Civil Engineering degree from Western Kentucky University, inspired by my father's career in survey engineering. During this time, I wore many hats: working on construction sites, pursuing a Computer Science degree at San Diego State University, and navigating my first marriage to a Californian girl. My love for computers ran so deep that I even tried (unsuccessfully) to guide my wife (at the time) toward a CIS degree – though she found her passion in Marketing instead.
After passing my EIT and GRE exams, I moved to London to pursue a Master’s in Geomaterials and Cement Engineering at the University of London. My academic journey wasn’t just about lectures and exams; it was where I blended my love for technology with engineering. I created hydraulic and structural problem solvers for calculators, developed LISP software for AutoCAD, and wrote database applications in Pascal.
Returning to Greece with my first wife, I fulfilled my mandatory 18-month service in the Greek Army’s Ordinance Core as a 'Special scientist/engineer'. During this period, I also earned a Construction Management certification from the National Technical University of Athens. My professional career kicked off with major infrastructure projects, like the Athens International Airport, the Attiki Odos Motorway, and the Olympic venues. While working on these massive projects, I pursued my vision of digital transformation by developing software tools to streamline engineering and construction processes.
The late ‘90s marked a new chapter for me as an entrepreneur. Alongside my friend Andreas, we launched 'Eureka' – a groundbreaking construction records management software. This venture gave me a valuable life lesson: focus on building sustainable products, not just projects.
Life, as always, had its twists. I experienced divorce, remarriage, and the joy of becoming a father to two wonderful boys. However, the Greek financial crisis in 2010 led to the collapse of our business, pushing me toward corporate roles. This phase took me across Greece, Europe, and even to Lusaka, Zambia, where I worked as an Operations Director.
Since 2015, I’ve been with DANAOS, an international maritime software solutions provider. Here, I’ve found the perfect intersection of my technical and sales expertise. I lead DANAOS Projects as a Corporate Entrepreneur, diving into modern web technologies and frameworks while shaping innovative construction solutions.
My journey has been anything but linear. It’s a testament to adaptability and resilience. While we often celebrate successes, I’ve come to value the lessons from failures just as much. They’ve shaped my approach to entrepreneurship and management, teaching me the importance of calculated risks and sustainable growth.
A few personal thoughts:
- I’m proud of my Greek accent when speaking English. I hate when faking accents
- I believe in standing up for others but expect effort in return.
- Continuous learning is my anchor in an ever-changing world.
- I’m a team player but unafraid to be direct when facing arrogance.
And yes, Andreas and I still plan to write that book – I’ll start from the end, he’ll start from the beginning, and we’ll meet in the middle.
Through all of this, my mantra remains simple: Adaptability is key to success.