The Team

Entrepreneur-turned-tech investor. Founding Partner of Apeiron Ventures ♾️. We partner early with Venture Characters (hyper-ambitious founders with strong ethical foundations) to help them build category-defining ventures with capital, network, and sound advice.

Best known as the Founder and Curator of TEDxAthens (est. 2009), the most impactful platform for the propagation of ideas, dialogue, and talks in Greece, with more than 450 work-renowned speakers and a commutative viewership of 18 million views.

Also, Co-Founder of Found.ation (est. 2011), Greece’s leading Innovation & Digital Transformation Hub

Events Producer, Teambuilding Facilitator and professional Adventures Guide. His mission is to design unforgettable, one of a kind life experiences that become opportunities for personal growth and change for others. He tries to seamlessly blend hardcore event ops & production, with unique content, space-human design and branding, so as to create smooth and flawless event experiences. He aims driving corporate teams towards high efficiency and fluency. He designs outdoor adventures, safely guiding people and teams outside of their comfort zones and into amazing itineraries, helping them unleash their inner strength and reach their true potential. Father of two kids and three cats, he spends more time in the outdoors rather than home, seeking new adventures. Barefoot advocate, winter swimmer, advanced sea kayak guide, mountaineer, bushcrafter, he lives and breathes outside. Contrary to what others believe, he is nowhere even close to fearless. He’s been through multiple accidents and near death experiences in the outdoors. Fortunately, he lived through to tell his stories. Contributing, donating, volunteering and helping others in need have defined most parts of his life. A project worth mentioning was rowing from the Peloponnese to Turkey, raising funds and awareness for Save the Children and the Syrian kids affected by the war. You can watch his movie “10 Minutes” in vimeo. He also loves cooking, sharing his home table with friends and family, meeting new people and developing his personal skills. Dimitris holds a degree in Printing Management and Information Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, USA. He started his career in his family’s business, Dot Repro, a creative print services bureau. He has been seeking his true calling in life, ever since.

Konstantinos according to ChatGPT 4.0 and some prompts:

Well, here he is! Konstantinos is the quirky spirit behind the speakers, content and technology at TEDxAthens, zapping innovation into our events since 2019. He juggled awesomely the project manager hat for our spectacular 2022 and 2023 shows and now, he is dabbling as the Director of Technology and Content Curation (Main Stage). When he is not orchestrating electrifying stage talks, he is “sprinting” marathons, scaling peaks (“I will take the mountains”), or jamming to classic rock at concerts. A Cinema buff, basketball fanatic, and a looney for live tunes right here! What he does in real life, is another story. Find it out ;)

Yannis is the Director of Productions for TEDxAthens, now in his third year on the organizing team. He also works as an Account Supervisor at a leading PR agency. An active and adventurous individual, he enjoys sports, traveling, and spending time with his two dogs. One of his mottos is to seek adventure, find joy in the little things, and always keep moving forward.

Elena is a Marketing & Communications’ professional, with a strong focus on strategy. For more than a decade she was responsible for managing lifestyle and corporate brands, designing 360° campaigns and leading award-winning communication initiatives. Proud member of the TEDxAthens’ Team from 2012 to 2018, she’s back to celebrate the #TEDxAth 15 years’ birthday. She just completed an MBA, loves the Aegean sea and the Cyclades, has a thing for shoes and always has the right copy for your next IG post.

Manos joined TEDxAthens in 2020, sharing his great imagination and creativity with the team. NOT. Just hanging around with this amazing team and excel-ing numbers.

Athina thrives on new challenges and TEDxAthens is the ultimate test. Since 2022, she has been part of the Hospitality team and being part of the speakers’ journey is her excitement. When she’s not spiking a volleyball on the beach or taking her furry friend for a stroll, you can find her jet-setting to new destinations or getting lost in a cinema. Her motto is simple yet powerful: ‘Believe you can and you’re halfway there’.

Eirini is a natural born Project Manager. She has worked for multinational companies in the Automobile, Mobile Communications & the Retail Marketing sectors specializing in Customer Marketing, Event Management & International Project Management. She is a former basketball player, a hatha yogie, a gym fan and has embraced running for a long time. She loves to explore the outdoors in any way, and her great passion is mountaineering & adventure sea kayaking. Her personal need to offer to the world has made volunteering for various causes one of her main extra-curricular activities as she is constantly seeking for personal happiness & development through everyday tasks such as human contact, communication and creative practice. She is a mom of a 5 year old boy and thus; a professional multitasker!

Nikos, an honors graduate of AUEB, currently serves as the Operating Principal at Keller Williams Solutions Group, a rapidly expanding real estate company in Athens. In addition to his leadership position, he has created #Mesitis4U & #RealEstateUniversity, the first real estate shows on YouTube in Greece, which have gained significant attention from industry professionals.

Furthermore, he blends his extensive experience and knowledge in sales, recruitment, and business with his passion for public speaking. Since 2013, he has conducted over 200 seminars (& hosted 20+ conferences) in four different countries, training more than 10,000 professionals, executives, sales people, real estate agents, and entrepreneurs. He has also had the privilege of serving as a Speakers Coach for TEDxAthens since 2015.

Valia has been a proud member of the TED community since 2015 under various roles. Her goal is to live this experience to the fullest, stay motivated, hear new ideas and meet new people in order to assist in the transformation towards an upgraded way of life. She holds and LL.B and an LL.M, as well as a Degree in Finance and is currently a Corporate Legal Manager in an international shipping company. Her areas of expertise are anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, sanctions and data compliance. On a personal level, she is a beach-volleyball player and enjoys road trips and traveling abroad. The best phrase to describe her would be ‘challenge seeker’.

Kostas is a Professional Photographer and Web Developer, co-founder of the leading web agency Nevma. His professions are also his role into the TEDx team. You will meet him roaming through the venue at the day of the event, so give him your best smile!

Christina has extensive experience coaching executives, scientists, TED speakers, and professionals globally. She brings a holistic approach to her practice and tailors each coaching session to the individual.
Her Psychology, Communication, and Theatre Acting background enriches her coaching with diverse perspectives. She believes in the transformative power of conscious communication and cherishes the transformative influence of dogs, as experienced daily with her beloved Kafka.

Cretan, libra and proud member of the TEDxAthens family! Since 2022, she has taken on the role of managing the official website and app as member of the Technology team. This year, she’s also actively engaged in the Operations & Production team and thrilled about it.

She is an AR/VR 3D developer, crafting and blending reality with imagination. Outside the digital world, Maria’s a fitness fanatic with professional group training background, always up for a challenge. But when it’s time to unwind, she’s the life of the party, always seizing the opportunity for a negroni and making memories with friends, family and her best dog buddy, Meraklis (greek word with no direct translation in english, in other words: bon viveur).

Maria’s hobbies include outdoor adventures, photography and sketching. She always tries to remind her self to “look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities”, enjoy the moment and smile

Natasa is passionate with all aspects of social life and communication, but she could easily isolate herself in a deserted island. Has over 15 years of experience in event management, client service and graphic design. She is patient, a good listener and loves troubleshooting. Her happy spot will always be by the sea and her big love is volleyball, chocolate, a good glass of wine (and gin), an intriguing conversation, traveling, dancing and lately some arts & crafts (not always with great success). Long lasting love with a fluffy dog called Mousakas. third year at TEDxAthens as an “Operations Project Manager” .

As an Account Manager within the Partnerships Team, he leverages his background in marketing and experience in business development to foster collaborative relationships. He specializes in formulating and discussing creative proposals, then seamlessly coordinating with partners to execute strategies. His passion lies in generating ideas that have the potential to transform the landscape, driving impactful change within our society.

Anastasia had a “don’t make me use my HR voice” sticker on her laptop, when she used to work in HR Tech. She is now an Assoc HRBP in the healthcare industry. She has a favorite coffe corner at her kitchen, loves good wine (but only white), dances, identifies as a virgo and is a debater since the age of 16. She joined TEDxAthens in February 2023, and tries to deal with people as a member of the Workforce team, cause working in HR only in the morning is not enough 🙃

Chrysa is a proud member of TEDxAthens hospitality team since 2023. Passionate for new challenges, adrenaline seeker and pet lover, always seeking for something new even 24 hours aren’t enough already! You might find her travelling, strolling around or navigating through e-shops for another personal gift -because she always needs it-

Being part of humanity,  we need to do our best to create a better place for the next generations. :
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
– Henry Ford

George is a business administration student at the Athens University of Economics and Business and it’s his second year on the TEDxAthens organizing team. When he’s not planning his next trip, George can be found immersed in the world of cinema. His passion for film extends beyond movie nights, with a significant role on the University’s Cinema Club board. George loves challenging himself and learning new things, especially technology related.

Meet Marianna, the partnerships wizard at TEDxAthens. By day, she forges incredible collaborations; by night, she’s a foodie addict and pun enthusiast. Marianna thrives on creativity, good vibes, and the occasional Netflix binge. Always ready with a smile and a quirky joke, she believes in the power of laughter to inspire and connect. With a knack for turning connections into unforgettable experiences, Marianna is here to make magic happen at TEDxAthens! 🌟

Niko Efstathiou is the presenter of the TEDxAthens Alternative Stage and a Content Curation Manager. A journalist, author and communciations advisor by profession, Niko has worked in Kathimerini and LiFO, while his work has appeared in international media ranging from the BBC to Al Jazeera. He has written the biography of Pyrros Dimas, Greece’s most decorated Olympic athlete, he has worked for the WHO in the midst of the global pandemic and he was a Google News Lab fellow back when social media was first revolutionizing the news industry. He has a B.A. in politics from Yale University and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia, and event though he sounds like a workaholic news junkie, there is nothing he loves more than playing Dungeons and Dragons and spending lazy afternoons with his cat and dog.

Experienced professional in Paid Digital Media with extensive experience on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, as well as Google Search, Display and YouTube. Handling the execution, optimization and reporting of paid campaigns, providing effective solutions tailored to the needs of the team.

Vasiliki has studied journalism at Panteion University and her passion is reporting and documentaries, with 6 years of experience in the field. So what is she doing at TEDxAthens? She is making her passions a reality since 2022, taking on the role of Media Coordinator as well as Production Project Manager. The superpower she would like? Predicting all possible scenarios like Doctor Strange, to anticipate anything needed before it even happens. Workaholic and compulsive to the end, but also with a dash of humor, she overcomes stress and challenges with hard work and positive energy.

Zina may have joined TEDxAthens team since 2023, however volunteerism was never absent from her life; she has been a member in many volunteering teams over the years, mainly in cultural and charity events. In the daily morning shift, Zina works in the HR field and her mission is to make people love doing their job. Besides that, she had been a professional athlete in the past in 100 meters and she still holds an on-going “relationship” with sports; she loves running, cross fit-ting and winter skiing. Either be fast enough, or you can’t keep up with her!

Alexandra is a social media strategist who’s passionate about promoting ideas and skyrocketing projects across various platforms. Armed with years of experience and a background in Psychology, she crafts and implements strategies to engage audiences through creative content.

You will usually find her working, petting dogs, or shooting videos (definitely not sleeping-24Hours are barely enough).

Last year, it was her first time volunteering in TED❌Athens and has since become a proud member of its Marketing & Communication team.

Connect with her on social media – ”I would love to learn more about you reading this!”

Alex’s involvement with volunteerism started during his student era by being a member of the ESN community. In the 9 to 5 zone he identifies himself as an HR professional with an international and diverse background. As a new member of the TEDxAthens team, he is here to demonstrate his strong problem-solving attributes and provide efficient and composed solutions to any challenges that may occur.

You may not know her, but after seeing her full name, you’ll never forget her. Ana started her career early in the world of teams, communications, and business by joining AIESEC at 18, which opened up a whole new world for her. She participated in two volunteering programs abroad and naturally gravitated towards communication, eventually navigating into Marketing. Ana joined TEDx Athens in 2024, hoping to contribute to the fascinating content the organization produces as Content Curation Manager.

Meet Christina-she is thrilled to be a member of TEDxAthens Ticketing Team for the first time! Hailing from Crete, she’s a bit of an enigma-despite her roots, she doesn’t drink “raki”. Besides her fancy background in Food Science and Human Nutrition, she is a restless spirit with an insatiable appetite for new experiences and opportunities. How to get her know better? For the past 5 years, Christina has been a dedicated volunteer, giving back to the community and growing personally. She loves capturing moments with her camera and spends her free time climbing mountains, dancing with friends, painting or boxing. Passionate about new adventures, she dreams of sipping coffee on mountain tops. One of her mottos in life is “fake it till you make it”, bringing that fearless attitude into everything she does. She’s absolutely delighted to embark on this journey with the incredible TEDxAthens team!

Christina is a new member of TEDxAthens Partnerships team. She worked as an economist specializing in operations and asset management departments in Real Estate Development Companies. In fact, the part of communication and social life is her daily routine. She loves travelling, preferably at small islands🏖️, fitness and cocktails (Especially cocktails!!🍹) She is very typical in her life except of her meetings with her friends! Estimated time of arrival 20 minutes later!🕞 -if you are lucky-

Chrysomalli is a new member in TedxAthens Ticketing Team. She is driven by the joy of working with diverse personalities and helping people. She loves to have new experiences and that’s why she is involved in organizing events, volunteering, and participating in international projects . Chrysomalli is passionate about travelling and aerial acrobatics. Known for a quirky fact – people often ask her name five times before remembering it. She is excited to join TEDxAthens to make new friends, collaborate with a vibrant team, and spread inspiring ideas.

New member of TEDxAthens and part of the hospitality team. Into sales since 2016, but also a serious shopper since 1989. Communication means everything to her so she talks even when she sleeps. When she’s not shopping or talking or doing both at the same time, you ‘ll find her photoshooting her cat Dalida, or cooking something she can’t pronounce correctly.

Eirini is a dynamic marketing professional hailing from Thessaloniki. Affectionately known as the marketing mermaid, she brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic insight to her work. This year, she is thrilled to join the content team for the first time and is eager to contribute her skills and passion to TEDxAthens team. Eirini also loves dresses and chocolate, adding a touch of sweetness and style to her vibrant personality.

Elsa believes that given the right environment, extraordinary things can be achieved! Her aspirations are to always act in a collaborative manner, respect her friends and colleagues’ different opinions, and create trusting and long-lasting relationships.
As an experienced Project Manager with a dynamic background in Marketing for Tech & Software industries, she has excelled in roles within advertising companies and healthcare tech startups on international scales. She recently completed her MBA and her professional journey is fueled by honesty, integrity, and a positive mindset, making her a team player and a catalyst for success. She brings her energetic spirit to the volleyball court, sings with equal enthusiasm as a dedicated choir member and declares as.. a wine and popcorn lover. Her commitment to contribute positively to the world has made her a proud new member at TEDxAthens 2024.

A creative director and designer, based in Piraeus, Greece. His background boasts experience in strategic design projects, encompassing branding, illustration, packaging, digital design, and the guiding hand of creative direction. His passion lies in crafting unique universes for brands to inhabit, and his purpose is fueled by the joy of connecting the dots and bringing these worlds to life.

Katerina is the face behind the TEDxAthens TikTok account, where she brings creativity and energy. By day, she works in marketing, always on the lookout for new ways to connect with audiences. In her free time, Katerina loves to travel, get lost in a good book, and create fun videos for her own platform. Her passion for storytelling and exploration shines through in everything she does.

Magda Peistikou is the Head of Learning and development of INSETE (Institute of Education of the Greek Tourism Confederation). Since 2006, she works in the field of tourism and gastronomy education, both as a lecturer and in managerial positions. In addition, since 2009 she is the Editor in Chief of Food Service magazine and other business publications. Her work has been published in international journals and conference proceedings. Her collaboration with UNWTO as a training expert begun in 2020 and till now, she participated in educational projects conducted in Russia, Georgia and Tanzania. Also, she is a member of the judge panel of the Taste olymp awards and The Innovation in Politics. Last but not least, she organises food events from concept creation to execution and her work has been awarded several times both from professional bodies and organizations. Her modus operandi is best described by “There’s a way to do it better–find it”.

Graduate of Athens University of economics and business. I did my bachelor degree in the field of Marketing and communications so now I want to follow my career path in this area.

Things that I Love
Volunteering 🤝🏼 | Creative activities 🎨 | Pretty PPT 📊 | Writing ✏️
✨ Aspirations
– As a marketing graduate from now I want to develop my skills and be a part of a team that will help me understand more about how the industry really works
– I want to keep learning and growing both my interpersonal and technical skills so that I can strive to be the most successful version of myself
– As you see multitasking is my passion so I want to be helpful for others, as well.

Marialena is a new member in the TEDxAthens team! A longtime TEDx enthusiast, has found inspiration and perspective-shifting moments through TEDx talks over years. Her passion for the stage extends beyond TEDx as she is a theatre lover who loves the drama and the storytelling. A true foodie at heart, tha believes that eating is a holy moment! keep becoming,keep asking and keep learning follows her all the time!

Marina’s volunteerism started years ago with her participation in the Smile of Children organization and now she is in the TEDxAthens team. In her everyday life, she works as an HR & Payroll Administrator with a people-first mind and a willingness to embrace organizational and employee needs. She is there for every professional concern and for making employee lives easier. She is addicted to cinema and you will often see her hanging from a silk hammock as she practices aerial yoga. Two elements shouldn’t be missed from Marina’s routine one is XL coffee and the other one is chocolate.

Meet Paulina, the new addition to the TEDxAthens team since April 2024!
By day, she’s the ultimate multitasker, juggling office and HR admin at a major online travel agency. But when the sun sets, you can find her in a bachata dance class, at a fitness studio, or at the local cinemas and theatres.
Paulina is a nature enthusiast, an adventurer at heart, and a restless soul with an insatiable thirst for discovering new places, diving into different cultures, and always looking to learn/do something new. 🌍✨ She’s the epitome of curiosity and excitement for life! 🤓

Stefanos is an experienced business consultant, part-time gym enthusiast and full-time nerd. When he is not designing panel discussions for the Alternative Stage, you will find him on top of some remote mountain, in a basement doing yoga or a dance hall showing off his moves. He likes dogs, but has a newfound love of cats, since he adopted one and named him Optimus Prime.

The main part of Panagiotis’ job is to visit schools and help students to accept diversity more easily, first other people’s and then their own. He has been implementing these programs since 2012, reaching over 120.000 students through more than 1.600 educational programs! He studied at the School of Applied Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the National Technical University of Athens.

Theodore Armatas is a passionate chef and entrepreneurial enthusiast who thrives on creating value and solving problems around him. With a solid foundation in both the culinary arts and marketing, Theodore combines his diverse skill set to bring innovative solutions to the table, both literally and figuratively.

Sofia is a junior graphic designer just beginning her creative journey, bringing her quirky ideas to life. When she’s not busy making the world look better one pixel at a time, you might find her unraveling the mysteries of the universe, as she’s a true astrophysics geek. Beyond her design work, Sofia has been a member of many volunteer teams, with a particular focus on event organizing, where she brings people together and creates memorable experiences. At home, her loyal doggo sidekick, Ginger, ensures she takes plenty of fresh air and belly rub breaks. Just give her a good cup of coffee, and she’ll always be ready to jump in and make things happen.

If Konstantinos had a dollar everytime he was asked “So do you like more Cinema or Theater?” he would be a millionaire. Unfortunately, he loves too much equally both so probably he won’t ever be. He was lucky enough to be born in Athens but he couldn’t decide what he wants to study more so he got a Bachelor in Cinema, he was accepted as a scholar in the Theater Directing Dept of the National Theater of Greece, he got his Bachelor Degree of Science (WTF?) in Physics and a Master in Audiovisual Arts in the Digital Age. He has worked in Athens & Epidaurus Festival, the National Theater of Greece, Onassis Cultural Center, Greek National Opera and in numerous TV and Cinema productions. He also likes to curate film programs for festivals and institutions such as TIFF and the National Contemporary Art Museum of Greece. During the 74th Venice International Film Festival he was selected in the Jury team of the GdA award and he he was the Greek Ambassador of the LUX European Film Prize. His short film “Oxytocin” premiered at the Competition Program of the 25th Athens International Film Festival and was screened in other international film festivals worldwide. In his free time he likes to compose music under a hidden nickname.