Sample_Intros

Meet the Class

entering in Sept. 2017

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: CHARALAMBOS CHARALAMBOUS

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 35

EDUCATION:

 Master of Science, 2009, Electrical Engineering, Texas A&M University, USA
 Bachelor of Science, 2006, Electrical Engineering, The University of Arizona, USA

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Senior Process Engineer, Photos Photiades Breweries (Carlsberg), Cyprus
 Research Assistant, Cyprus University of Technology, 2011-12

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

For the last five years I have been working as a Senior Process Engineer at one of the largest food and beverage
firms on the island. My duties include problem-tackling in addressing routine and emergency situations, inventory
planning, operations oversight, occupational health & safety operations, and implementation of ISO standards.

Groomed academically in the United States, I have been at the forefront of technology and innovation, and I have
thoroughly entertained my interest in new ideas and solutions. As an engineer, I have cultivated strong analytical
thinking and a methodical attitude to problem-solving. I anticipate bringing to the Fall 2017 team a keen eye for
detail and data interpretation.

Moreover, by studying in the States, I have immersed myself in the “melting pot” which is America. I am privileged
to have worked and collaborated with people from all across the world. Through our collective strength and
weaknesses, I have shared and learned something from each and every one of them, and for that I am grateful.

I am pursuing an MBA in order to further develop my decision-making skills and study all aspects of managing and
leading organizations. I feel that an MBA will complement my technical background with an all-around business
perspective, and guide me towards eventually being part of a strategic planning team within an organization. I
wholeheartedly believe that the UCYMBA, which is spearheaded by a team of world-class faculty, will provide me
with the necessary tools so that I can become a good people’s manager and a strong motivator who is well
respected by his peers.

I like traveling and getting to know different cultures, trying new experiences as well as interesting food. In my spare
time I do sports such as kitesurfing and swimming; I also enjoy a good company and the occasional puzzle.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: LOUKAS EVANGELOU

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 29

EDUCATION:

 Bachelor of Science (BSc), 2012, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
University of Cyprus

CURRENT POSITION:
 Commercial and Industrial Sales Engineer, Hellenic Petroleum Cyprus Ltd

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

My name is Loukas Evangelou and I am 29 years old. I am from Larnaca. After graduating from the University of
Cyprus in 2012 with a BSc degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, I worked for more than three years
as Planning, Sales and Marketing Manager at Globetech Laboratory Services Ltd. The past 1½ year I work as Sales
Engineer in the Commercial and Industrial Department of Hellenic Petroleum Cyprus.

Having experienced the challenges of the business environment, I came to realize that the Master of Business
Administration (MBA) program of the University of Cyprus can equip me with the knowledge and skillset to cope
with even more challenges so as to professionally succeed in the modern business world that is highly competitive
and with constantly changing and increasing demands. I am looking to enrich my way of thinking so that I can
develop successful strategic and operational programs and to be able to take on leading positions of increased
competence and managerial responsibility. The level of the UCYMBA program, evident in the reputable reliability
and prestige of the University of Cyprus, was the key reason for my decision to apply for this postgraduate program
of studies.

I like to spend my free time with my family and friends. I also like fishing, cooking and traveling.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

`

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: TOMOKO K. FINKERATH

NATIONALITY: JAPANESE AGE: 30

EDUCATION:

 Master of Science, (2012), Computer Science, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan
 Computer Simulation, Exchange Student (2011), University of Wuppertal, Germany
 Bachelor of Science, (2010), Computer Science, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan

CURRENT / RECENT POSITION:
 Technical Sales Assistant Manager, NTT Data, Tokyo, Japan (2012-2016)

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION
My Experience
I have extensive knowledge and practical experience of the Japanese market with 5 years of work as an assistant
manager of a department which marketed IT products of €3+ million annually with over 25% profit per year. I was a
consultant at NTT DATA and responsible for the sale of IT infrastructure to the Tokyo Municipality and to the local
police. NTT DATA is the biggest company for IT technology in Japan (Number of Employees: 111,700 (worldwide),
Net Sales: ~1.73 trillion yen).
Through work I continuously improved my skills which were necessary to succeed in my position, like my
presentation style in front of customers or the implementation of efficient solutions after the start of the services.
Other key techniques, which I learned, were to obey the highly demanding business ethics of Japanese companies
and the efficient management of costs. In general, the contributions of my projects to public services and society
motivated me and gave me satisfaction in my professional career.
Why UCYMBA
There are two main reasons why I want to pursue the MBA degree.
The first reason is that I want to develop my knowledge of financial management and accounting. Although I could
learn the fundamental skills on the job, sometimes it was complicated. Especially in taking key decisions in the early
stages of projects, in the preparation of financial plans and in the communication of the plans. This was of high
importance due to the fact that in the early stages of projects the company had to invest substantially to get
awarded the projects. I would like to further develop my decision-making skills, especially with a focus on finance,
accounting and statistics.
The second reason is simple. I moved to Cyprus because of my German husband who is working at the Cyprus
Institute as a researcher in the field of computational science. In this unique situation I see the chance to enhance
my knowledge and skills in business, in combination with studying European business traditions in Cyprus. Up to
now, my educational background and professional work were entirely in Japan.
Licenses
High school teaching license in Japan (Mathematics, Information Science).

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: STAVROS FRANGOGIANNOPOULOS

NATIONALITY: GREEK, CANADIAN AGE: 25

EDUCATION:

 Diploma of Architect-Engineer, 2015, University of Cyprus
 Bachelor of Architecture, 2014, University of Cyprus

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Junior Architect, Michael Cosmas Architecture LLC, Cyprus
 Intern, Soteres Polydorou Chartered Architects, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

Hello fellow UCY MBA classmates; my name is Stavros Frangogiannopoulos and I am very excited to meet everyone.
Good luck to all of you on your journey! Please allow me to introduce myself in a few words.

Professional background: I am currently employed as a junior architect in a local company, gaining experience in
the design of public and private buildings while maintaining my presence in academic research with activity in major
conferences in Europe. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in June 2014 and acquired my Diploma of
Architect-Engineer in June 2015. My work as a student appeared in local exhibitions, online newsletters and has
landed top tier positions in worldwide student competitions on transformable structures. Furthermore, my research
has been presented in major architectural conferences in Seoul, Milan, and most recently, in Siena, and then
published in international journals of known publishers such as WIT and Springer.

Aspirations: I am very interested in leadership and being part of a team. It is a very rewarding challenge in many
respects, and one of the reasons I chose to join the UCYMBA team. My goal is to merge the theory of business
management and administration with the expertise of an engineer, to be useful to others and to develop the toolset
that will give me options, and therefore opportunities.

Dreams & Interests: I have keen interests in WW history, in astronomy, music, basketball, and most importantly
(for me) in aviation. My dream is either to lead a global architectural/construction firm or, one day, to become a
pilot of an Airbus A380 for a major airline.

Thank you for your time! Best Regards!

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: EGLI HADJIDEMETRIOU

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 29
EDUCATION:

 Master’s Degree, (2016), Learning in Natural Sciences, University of Cyprus
 Bachelor’s Degree, (2011), Physics, University of Patras , Greece

CURRENT POSITION:
 Office Manager, N. Rotsides & CO LLC, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

I was born and raised in Nicosia. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Learning in
Natural Sciences. I set out to become a scientist, but little did I know that my calling and career path would veer
toward business administration.

The last four years I work as an Office Manager in a law firm. My professional experiences were valuable in teaching
me the importance of acquiring an in-depth view of the business world. Having reviewed the UCYMBA program
structure and curriculum, I firmly believe that this innovative program with the modern methods of teaching and
the practical applications is a solid step towards the attainment of my personal goals.

As a person I am a positive thinker and a self-motivated team player. I enjoy reading books, dancing, exercising and
travelling. Moreover, one of my goals in life is to keep studying in order to achieve my personal aspirations, those of
continually developing and succeeding.

Finally, I am convinced that the UCY MBA program will help me to develop critical thinking, soft skills and constantly
challenge myself.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: CHRISTOPHOROS HADJISTASI

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 32

EDUCATION:
 BSc in Chemistry, (2009), Analytical - Environmental Chemistry, University of Cyprus

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Forman Chemist Quality Assurance Department, Vassiliko Cement Plant, Cyprus
 Drug Regulatory Quality & Safety Officer, C.A. Papaellinas Ltd, Cyprus
 Analytical Chemist and Researcher, Processing Quality & R&D Department, Hellenic

Copper Mines, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

Hello all, my name is Christophoros Hadjistasi and I am 32 years old. I was born and raised in Palaiometochon, just at the
outskirts of Nicosia. My father holds a cluster manager position in the Bank of Cyprus and my mother is a botanist.

From an early age I found myself interested in marketing. In particular, having being born and brought up in a business
family, by my teenage years, I had an early introduction to the world of chemicals, business conversations and
entrepreneurship. Then, I faced a dilemma when I had to choose my course of studies. Having all this interaction with
clients of a chemicals’ business, I contemplated becoming either a chemist or a business consultant. I flipped a coin and
the outcome was to become a Chemist; true story! By 2009, I earned my BSc degree in Analytical Chemistry from the
University of Cyprus.

After conducting research in Analytical & Environmental Chemistry and being in industry positions for almost a decade, I
would like to see myself getting involved in the business aspects of my field. I’ve always been excited by how the sales
and marketing division of companies drive business. I strongly wish to take my knowledge to the next level with respect
to behavioral as well as managerial aspects of business. I firmly believe that having the right toolset I can grow in this
field. The desire and intent to earn an MBA degree from UCY was always in the back of my mind. So, I finally decided to
pursue this new challenge.

I am a strong believer in creative thinking and using innovation to tackle practical problems. I cherish every opportunity to
learn something new!

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: CHRISTOS KASSINIS

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 27

EDUCATION:

 MSE, (2015), Petroleum Engineering, Texas A & M University, USA
 BSE, (2013), Chemical Engineering, UCL, United Kingdom

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Technical Team Manager, EuroAsia Interconnector, Cyprus
 Consultant, Kassinis International Consulting, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

My exposure to engineering principles and technical problems during both my academic studies and my
professional career, has given me valuable all-round insights in the industrial sector. My work in a multi-disciplined
company that manages technical projects has taught me first-hand the imperative roles that business professionals
play on teams in technical sectors and how their expertise complements that of technical/engineering experts. I am
certain that technology and industrial firms can achieve greater efficiency when they are staffed with people –
particularly at managerial positions – who speak and understand both “languages”.

My experiences during the early stages of my professional career have shaped my desire to pursue a professional
business degree so as to gain knowledge and skills in all business functions and acquire a holistic management
perspective. In my view, a solid combination of technology and business education can be achieved only in a specific
way and order: first studies in engineering/sciences, followed by a postgraduate degree in business.

The MBA program of the University of Cyprus has been my first choice. It is a respected course delivered by highly
reputable faculty; it attracted my interest by the way the curriculum is structured. It is designed so that students
gain exposure to theory and practice alike, as it includes both taught, traditional classroom-style instruction, but
also practical field immersion, whereby student teams execute a final capstone project in consultation with
corporate contacts, so as to apply their knowledge in a practical setting and thus reinforce their learning.

The MBA degree will be a stepping stone in my professional career; it will broaden my options, either with
opportunities for faster advancement to higher levels of business responsibility in corporate technology companies,
or by helping me to develop a sharp business acumen that I can combine with my technical background to
successfully engage in an entrepreneurial venture.

I look forward to joining the University of Cyprus community and particularly the MBA team, to share my knowledge
and experiences and embark on a new learning voyage.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: NATASA KIZA

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 30

EDUCATION:

 Bachelor in Pharmacy, 2010, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
 MSc, 2014, Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of

Athens, in collaboration with N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”, Greece
 MSc, 2016, Clinical Pharmacy, Frederick University, Cyprus

CURRENT POSITION:
 Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

I come from a family of pharmacists, operating a pharmacy business, but I wasn’t keenly interested to follow this
career pathway. Ever since I was in high school, I had a strong interest in science subjects, especially those related
to human health. I always wanted to work in healthcare research. I started my career as a pharmacist, offering
healthcare advice to the public and providing prescription and non-prescriptions medicines to patients. I gained
extensive experience on pharmaceuticals, how they’re used and their effects on the human body.

This year I took a position as Pharmacist at the Regulatory Department of Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of
Health. In this position, I face the need to combine knowledge of scientific, legal and business issues to validate that
pharmaceutical and medical products comply with regulatory requirements, inspect the appropriateness of
marketing practices of suppliers, and approve licensing, to ensure the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical
products placed in the market. Frankly, I hadn’t given much thought to the idea of pursuing an MBA prior to taking
on my current position. After a few months in my new role, I realized that, besides a strong technical background,
solid understanding of business and administrative matters is essential for managerial positions in the healthcare
sector. Hereafter, I believe that an MBA degree is the best step in order to pursue a leading position in healthcare
management.

Having completed two Master of Science degrees, I am fascinated by the prospect to further continue my learning
so as to develop management and financial skills, as well as to acquire broader strategic perspectives. The
University of Cyprus presents a superb opportunity for learning in this field as it is ranked respectably high
worldwide. The MBA program of UCY was my top choice because of its excellent reputation; I was elated to hear of
my admission to the part-time program for the fall of 2017. I look forward to the opportunity to transform myself
to an effective leader with confidence and acute understanding of business methods and practices, while continuing
my career.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: GINA KOREK

NATIONALITY: LEBANESE AGE: 28

EDUCATION:

 Certificate, (Ongoing), Marketing Management, Harvard University, USA
 Bachelor Degree, (2011), Civil & Environmental Engineering, American University of

Beirut (AUB), Lebanon

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Senior Marketing Coordinator, Advanced Construction Technology Services,
Lebanon – Qatar – KSA

 Student Chapter Coordinator, American Concrete Institute, Lebanon Chapter

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

After graduating from the American University of Beirut, with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, I
joined ACTS (Advanced Construction Technology Services) as a Materials Engineer. I rose to the marketing position
in the company as the chairman realized my potential in the marketing field.

My responsibilities include organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, and training courses, developing key
marketing documents and drafting press releases, ensuring all marketing materials are in line with the company's
vision and mission, delivering successful marketing campaigns and managing the company's websites and social
media pages. Highlights of my related skills include being a speaker at "Future Concrete", the largest concrete
conference in the MENA region and a unique technical discussion forum for the applications of concrete, and
participating in ACI (American Concrete Institute) conventions held in USA.

Having both engineering and marketing backgrounds gave me the ability and capacity to succeed in all job tasks
assigned to me so far. I have already had opportunities to apply my knowledge and skills to develop the marketing
department in the company I work for, but I still need the credentials of a postgraduate degree that are essential to
achieve my business and professional goals.

I am very excited to be joining such a diverse group in terms of nationalities, educational backgrounds and
professional fields. I look forward to meeting you all!.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: KONSTANTINOS KROMMYDAS

NATIONALITY: GREEK AGE: 38

EDUCATION:
 Military Officer, Greek Military Academy, 2001

CURRENT POSITION:
 Senior Supply Chain Manager - C. A. Papaellinas Group - Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

Γεννήθηκα το 1979 στα Ιωάννινα

Το 2001 αποφοίτησα από τη Στρατιωτική Σχολή Ευελπίδων, με τον βαθμό του Ανθυπολοχαγού.

Από το 2002 ως το 2016 υπηρέτησα σε Μονάδες και Επιτελεία στην Ελλάδα, στην Κύπρο και στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο ως
αξιωματικός του Πεζικού.

Βασικό μου αντικείμενο υπήρξε η διοίκηση, χειρισμός και εκπαίδευση του προσωπικού, καθώς και η σύνταξη και
χειρισμός στρατιωτικών εγγράφων, μελετών και σχεδίων.

Κατά τη διάρκεια της στρατιωτικής μου σταδιοδρομίας εκπαιδεύτηκα στα σχετικά τμήματα ακαδημαϊκής και
πρακτικής στρατιωτικής εκπαίδευσης.

Από τον Οκτώβριο του 2016, εργάζομαι στην εταιρεία CAP Papaellinas, ως επικεφαλής της εφοδιαστικής αλυσίδας
του ομίλου.

Mε τη συμμετοχή μου στο πρόγραμμα MBA, έχω ως στόχο να αποκτήσω τα απαραίτητα ακαδημαϊκά εφόδια και
εμπειρίες, τα οποία θα με βοηθήσουν να ανταποκριθώ με περισσότερη αποτελεσματικότητα στο νέο μου εργασιακό
περιβάλλον, διευθύνοντας σωστά και αναπτύσσοντας το τμήμα της εφοδιαστικής αλυσίδας του ομίλου μου στην πορεία
που επιβάλλουν οι θεσπισμένοι στρατηγικοί στόχοι.

Στον ελεύθερο χρόνο μου, ασχολούμαι με την ποδηλασία αντοχής σε δρόμο και βουνό, συμμετέχοντας σε τοπικούς
αγώνες.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: GIORGOS MICHAELIDES

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 36

EDUCATION:

 MSc, 2004, Information Systems Development, University of Brighton, UK
 BSc, 2003, Computer Studies, University of Brighton, UK

CURRENT POSITION:
 Organization and Methods Officer, Cooperative Cyprus Bank

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

I have been working as an IT professional since I finished my University studies in 2004. I had the opportunity to
work both in the private sector as well as in the public sector, in various areas of Information Technology, including
technical and software support, promoting e-commerce, drafting the e-commerce legal framework, analyzing and
defining IT related procedures, and managing software projects.

As part of my personal development plan, I want to expand my knowledge and skills in new areas, other than
Information Technology. In my 15 year work experience, I realised that my career progression depends not only on
my IT skills and knowledge, but on other essential business and people management skills as well, which I want to
improve.

I chose UCY because of the recognition it has achieved in the local and international community and because it was
highly recommended by professionals who have studied there in the past.

I believe that the MBA program will equip me with the knowledge and skills to help me progress in my career and
explore other career opportunities that may arise in the future.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: ANTONIS NEOPHYTOU

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 26

EDUCATION:
 MEng, (2015), Chemical Engineering, University College London, UK

RECENT POSITION:
 Junior Formulation Development Scientist, R&D department, Remedica Ltd, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

I like to consider myself as an open-minded individual who is willing to listen to other people’s opinions and always
try to see things from their perspective before making decisions, whether these are professional or personal. I take
joy in problem-solving, especially if the manner in which a problem is solved is efficient and innovative.

My education background is mainly in applied sciences. However, the few optional modules in my degree that were
related to Business and Management were among my favourites. I was, therefore, really fortunate that my job at
Remedica combined scientific methods and management for the development of projects. In the two years that I
worked at Remedica I was exposed to the practice of project management and product development through the
various procedures that were needed for the launch of a generic drug. I realised that these were areas I was
particularly interested in, which acted as a catalyst in making my decision to pursue an MBA degree.

I am hoping that through the MBA program I can further improve my analytical skills and become a more complete
professional with a business mindset and a leader’s approach.

On a more personal note, I am a big tennis fan and enjoy to play the game as well in my spare time. As an old scout,
I still enjoy the occasional camping and nature walking.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: THEKLA NIKOLAOU

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 26

EDUCATION:

 LLB Law Honours, (2012), University of Leicester, UK
 Cyprus BAR, (2013), Cyprus BAR Association

CURRENT POSITION:
 Compliance Consulting, MAP S.Platis, Limassol, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

Following the completion of my undergraduate studies in Law at the University of Leicester, I knew I wanted to
continue my education, but I was uncertain what path I should follow. I decided to return to Cyprus and complete
my legal training in a Law firm whilst taking the BAR exams. Afterwards, I joined the Legal Department of an
insurance company and I am currently working in the Compliance Department of a Consulting firm. After four years
of experience in the financial sector, I realised that an MBA would help me further my career and serve my goals
and professional aspirations.

Choosing the UCYMBA was not a hard decision to make given UCY’s reputation for delivering world-class education
by academic and industry leaders. I believe that the MBA program will help me develop business critical thinking
and acquire decision-making skills in areas that I have not been exposed to before.

I tend to see my legal qualifications as the beginning of my professional training; completing an MBA will add to my
knowledge and solidify a combination of legal and broader business knowledge. For me it is important to acquire a
broad understanding of management, finance, accounting and related topics which are often missing from a
traditional legal career.

I am looking forward to start my journey of learning and growing in the months to come.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: CHRYSOVALANTIS PAPANTONIS

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 28

EDUCATION:

 Master of Science (MSc), (2015), Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering,
University of Cyprus

 Bachelor of Science (BSc), (2013), Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering,
University of Cyprus

CURRENT POSITION:
 Mechanical Engineer, Anaxagoras Pneumatics LTD Industrial Automation, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

I received my Bachelor and Master Degree in Engineering from the University of Cyprus and I truly enjoyed the
experience. Right after graduating, I was employed in a company which specializes in industrial automation and
concentrates its activities on the research and development of new systems to be used in the high-tech industry.
During my experience in the design and implementation of a diverse range of projects, while enjoying solving
problems and the cross-industry nature of the work, I realized the importance and fascinating side of
entrepreneurship. This prompted me to explore aspects of investment and the venture capital industry. I decided
to study these matters more systematically and formally; the MBA program gives me this opportunity.

When I decided to continue my studies at the MBA level, obviously UCY was at the top of my list. The possibility of
part-time study, the school's academic reputation, the infrastructure and modern facilities were the primary
reasons that convinced me.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: ATHINA PAPAPHILIPPOU – KECHAGIA

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 40

EDUCATION:
 Degree of Architect Engineer (2003), NTUA, Greece

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:
 Architect, Self-employed

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

I spent 13 years pursuing the creation of bioclimatic spaces that encourage creativity and increase human energy…

After my graduation from the School of Architecture of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA, Εθνικό
Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο) in Greece, I grabbed the opportunity to be employed immediately, since it was a period of
increased building development. It was an interesting challenge for me, gaining valuable experience and exploring
innovative ideas, including the opportunity to design bioclimatic, energy efficient or even Nearly Zero Energy
Buildings (NZEB).

… it is now time to explore other things and go deeper. I keep wondering if learning ever ends…

My admission to the UCY MBA is another challenge for me to further develop myself. I feel ready to share ideas and
experiences with the group and learn from the faculty and my classmates.

I strongly believe that my personal interest in environmental impact and sustainability, blended with my theoretical
and technical background, empowered by the program’s business perspectives, will create opportunities to branch
my career in new directions.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: MARIA PELEKANOU

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 26

EDUCATION:

 BA, (2013), English Language and Literature, University of Cyprus
 MA, (2014), Educational Planning, Economics and International Development, UCL

Institute of Education, United Kingdom

CURRENT POSITION:
 Teacher of English as a Foreign Language, Olympion Private School, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

My name is Maria Pelekanou. I am 26 years old and I come from Nicosia. I studied English Language and Literature
at the University of Cyprus from where I graduated in 2013. I then pursued a Master’s Degree in Educational
Planning, Economics and International Development at UCL Institute of Education. Right after I completed my MA
in 2014, I was employed as an English Teacher at a private institute in Nicosia. I currently work at Olympion Private
School and I also teach afternoon classes at Pathway Private Institutes.

I am an outgoing and social person. I love travelling and one of my goals is to work in a position that will give me
ample opportunities to travel around the world. I enjoy exercising and I also like cooking and trying new food. I am
a bookworm as well.

I am a passionate person and I have always loved exploring and learning new things, which reflects my lifelong
learning ideology. My thirst for knowledge along with my desire to broaden my professional horizons led me to the
decision to pursue the MBA degree. I have high expectations and I’m sure each and every one of them will be met
since UCY has high standards and really great professors. I am primarily interested in Marketing, as I believe that it
is a very creative and inspiring field which allows people to experiment with innovative ideas.

I hope the MBA program will give me the edge and challenge me in every way possible. Finally, my career aspiration
is to run my own business one day. We will see what the future holds!

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: ANDREA PETSA

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 28

EDUCATION:
 BSc, Electrical Engineering, University of Cyprus

CURRENT / RECENT POSITION:
 Independent Contractor – Online Business Owner, Self Employed, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

Hello MBA Class, my name is Andrea Petsa and I am a graduate of the University of Cyprus’ School of Engineering,
having majored in Electrical Engineering. Choosing an Electrical Engineering major was a manifestation of my
passion for mathematics, science and technology and a restless drive to understand the physical world. However,
during my journey I found that my love for both technology and design converged into my becoming an
entrepreneur in 2014, while I was still in undergraduate school. This allowed me not only to combine my studies
with a new career, but also to open myself to a completely new field.

So far, everything I have achieved in business endeavors I have done so intuitively or after conducting my own
research and practice. An MBA would give me the necessary solid methodological foundation and academic
knowledge needed to hone my calling and business acumen.

However, this is only part of the reason I decided to embark on this journey to receive my MBA; another big part
was the networking aspect of the program. After the largely solitary journey of getting my undergraduate degree
paired with the independent nature of my current work, to branch out and engage with talented individuals from
around the world, stemming from all walks of academia on a daily basis, will be a fascinating and welcome change. I
crave a year of being challenged intellectually while enjoying the company of my fellow MBA peers, who will later
become esteemed connections and ideally, life-long friends.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: AMALIA REGGIS

NATIONALITY: GREEK & ENGLISH AGE:

EDUCATION:
 LLB in European Law, 2016, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Corporate Administrator at Vallingham Services Ltd., Cyprus
 Paralegal/Corporate Administrator at Christos Patsalides L.L.C., Cyprus
 Court Clerk Work Placement at Staffordshire Magistrates Court, UK

I am half Greek and half Scottish and I have lived in both countries. I have an LLB in European Law which I
obtained from the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands. There, I spent three years before deciding to
make the leap across the seas to Cyprus. I had decided that after my Law degree I would pursue a career in
Business. Since I am fluent in both English and Greek, it seemed Cyprus would be a good place to explore due
to its appeal of, amongst many things, quality of life and having one of the lowest tax rates in the European
Union.

The primary reason I want to participate in this program is my desire to change my career path. I currently
work fulltime as a corporate administrator, so I am continuously delving deeper and deeper into the field of
Business Administration. It is apparent that managing and administration involve extensive and useful skills -
people will always need them. Learning such skills will enable me to have more opportunities to achieve my
life-time goal of opening my own bakery business.

In my ‘me time’ I like to keep fit – jogging, exercising in the gym and swimming. I hugely love basketball
which, considering my small height is usually surprising. I love to bake and generally I would class going out to
eat with my friends as a hobby. Who doesn’t love food?

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many places in the world; on those travels I love to meet new and
interesting people, as well as explore new cultures. I hope that I can continue this at the University of Cyprus.

“ If opportunity doesn’t knock. Build a door”.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: PANTELITSA SCHIZA

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 34

EDUCATION:

 FCCA, 2010, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
 BA (Honors), 2006, Accounting & Finance, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Finance Officer, The Cyprus Institute, 2013-Today
 Fund Administrator, CyproFund Administration Services Ltd, 2011-2013
 Audit Supervisor, KPMG Ltd, Cyprus, 2007-2011

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

My name is Pantelitsa Schiza; I was born and raised in Nicosia. I graduated from the Grammar High School,
Nicosia and studied Accounting and Finance at Manchester Metropolitan University. I qualified as a Chartered
Certified Accountant while gaining my work experience at KPMG Ltd. After five years at the start of my
professional career as an Auditor, and having risen to the position of Supervisor, I decided to change direction.
I accepted the Position of Fund Administrator at CyproFund Administration Services Ltd. As the position was
focused only on Fund Accounting, I decided not to restrict my options and hence, I moved on to the position of
Finance Officer at The Cyprus Institute. With ten plus years of experience, I believe that I am at a stage in my
career that I need to take a step further; I see the MBA as a start in that direction.

I want to complete the MBA program because I want to enhance my knowledge and develop my skills so as to
give additional momentum to my career path. I believe this program can help me to progress professionally.
Further learning of business management methods and administration practices will help me deepen my
knowledge and sharpen my skills, thus giving me additional options and opportunities for professional
advancement and personal development.

The University of Cyprus is a clear option for my MBA, as it has been established as one of the best MBA
programs in the region and the top institution in Cyprus – internationally recognized and accredited with the
finest faculty. Praise from and evident advancement of former graduates of UCY are factual indicators that it
can provide me the tools that I seek to advance in my work area or in an international business environment.

I decided that now is the right time for me to explore my business options. I have an urge for knowledge and
entrepreneurship ideas that I strongly wish to explore. The MBA will help me identify areas that I need to
develop and provide me with practical skills to fulfill my dreams.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: MARIA SOLOMOU

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 34

EDUCATION:

 PhD, 2014, Learning Sciences and Instructional Systems Technologies, Indiana
University – Bloomington, U.S.A.

 MS, 2011, Education (Learning Sciences), Indiana University – Bloomington, U.S.A.
 MSc, 2006, Education, Technology and Society, University of Bristol, U.K.
 BA, 2005, Education, University of Cyprus

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Project Manager, Instructional Designer, CARDET, Cyprus
 Learning Scientist/Instructor, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

My name is Maria Solomou and I am a learning and design professional with experience in instructional, game design,
training and development, and project management. I received my doctorate from Indiana University-Bloomington in the
U.S.A, in Learning Sciences and Instructional Systems Technologies. Prior to my PhD, I completed a Master’s in Education
at Indiana University-Bloomington, a Master of Science in Education, Technology and Society at the University of Bristol,
U.K., and a Bachelor’s in Education at the University of Cyprus.

I am interested in the notion of learning organizations, and how companies/institutions can organize their practices in
ways so as to evolve as whole bodies, with common visions and collective, rather than individual work. For that, during
my doctoral studies, I developed a research project to explore my game designs within an online gaming community,
exploring elements that can lead to reflexive practices. With foundations in transformational play, communities of
practice, and learning organizations, and based on empirical data collected from 400 participants, I developed a
framework for designing learning trajectories within participatory spaces. The project is called “Designing for reflexivity:
Exploring elements in intentionally designed trajectories in an online gaming community”.

I currently manage several projects that are funded by the European Commission and I conduct instructional design for
online courses (e-learning). The projects’ consortia are composed of partners from around Europe and with a wide
variety of expertise. I enjoy my work very much, as it exposes me to new learning experiences with every project and
allows me to expand my professional network with contacts at other universities and companies.

I decided to pursue an MBA at the University of Cyprus as it is a top program, with excellent academics, that can advance
my knowledge, skills and overall professional development. I expect to be able to combine existing with new knowledge,
apply information to new settings and generate creative ideas.

I am positive that this will be a very rewarding journey and I am looking forward to the new opportunities and challenges
ahead.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

``

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: KYRIAKOS TSANGARAS

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 32

EDUCATION:

 Dr.rer.nat, (2014), Molecular Virology and Genetics, Freie University of Berlin, DE
 MSPHR, (2011), Forensic Serology and DNA, University of Florida, USA
 MSc, (2011), Molecular Biology and Genetics, Old Dominion University, USA
 BSc, (2007), Biology, Old Dominion University, USA

CURRENT / RECENT POSITIONS:

 Researcher, Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Diseases, Berlin, DE
 ERC Post-Doctoral Fellow, Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, CY
 R&D Manager, NIPD Genetics, CY

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

Always a doer and a believer in lifelong education, I have fully committed my efforts to learning and science
research. My choice of field and career opportunities landed me in the USA to start my academic journey. I was so
mesmerized by the amazing world of Biology that I felt I had a lot to learn and give to the field. I pursued two
postgraduate degrees in Molecular Biology and Genetics and Forensic Serology and DNA at two academic
institutions in the US. After graduation, my involvement in a project opened the opportunity to continue my
research in Europe, where I enrolled as a PhD student at the Freie University of Berlin. After completing my PhD in
Molecular Virology and Genetics, I obtained a post-doctoral fellowship at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and
Genetics (CING), where I worked under the guidance of Professor Phillipos Patsalis. I joined a research team that
had undertaken various projects, but mainly focused on the development of a non-invasive prenatal test. After two
years at CING I moved to NIPD Genetics, a spin-off company of CING, in an R&D managerial position, and
collaborated with a group of researchers for the development of “Veracity”, a non-invasive prenatal test for
detection of chromosomal aneuploidies – the first European non-invasive prenatal test that hit the market. My
transition from academic research to industry has provided me with newfound motivation to pursue an MBA
degree so as to enrich my lifelong education and hone my managerial skills in the path to further advancement of
my career.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy

Meet the Class entering in Sept. 2017

NAME: MARIEL VOUTOUNOU

NATIONALITY: CYPRIOT AGE: 31

EDUCATION:

 PhD, 2013, Genetics, Leicester University, UK
 MSc, 2009, Molecular Genetics, Leicester University, UK
 BSc, 2008, Biological Sciences, Leicester University, UK

CURRENT POSITION:
 Postdoctoral Neuroscience Researcher, Cornell University, USA

PERSONAL INTRODUCTION

I completed a PhD degree in Genetics in 2013 from the University of Leicester, UK, and for the past 4 years I have
been working as a postdoctoral fellow in the Neuroscience department of Burke Medical Research Institute (BMRI)
in New York, affiliated with Weil Medical College of Cornell University (WCMC). I was successful in securing my first
grant (young investigator award) from the NY State in 2016, where I was funded to work on several aspects of spinal
cord injury (SCI) research.

While waiting for my PhD defense in 2012, I applied for a five month EU traineeship at the European Commission,
where I was selected out of thousands of EU candidates to work at the Directorate of Research and Innovation, as a
trainee in the Department of Health, in Brussels. There, I compiled statistics, analyzed trends and reported on the
work of the Commission.

Whilst living in New York city, I had the opportunity to submerge myself in its entrepreneurial culture and I decided
to further pursue my knowledge on the fields of business and marketing. I am looking forward to the upcoming
MBA degree.

www.mba.ucy.ac.cy