W&M Executive MBA visits AUEB

For the fifth consecutive year, the Athens University of Economics and Business hosted 22 Executive MBA students from William and Mary, one of the most historic US universities from which four US Presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler) have graduated. Students were accompanied by Prof. Rajiv Kohli, John. N. Dalton Professor of Business at W&M and Director of its Executive MBA, and Mr Matt Barrett, Associate Director of Residential Graduate Programs at W&M.

Monday 05/05

As part of the visits organized by AUEB, W&M students, along with students from AUEB's Executive MBA program, were hosted during the morning by the Bank of Greece. There, they were welcomed by AUEB Vice Rector for International Cooperation and Growth, Prof. Nancy Pouloudi. Students were initially attended presentations on the Greek economy, focusing on the Greek crisis and the recovery of the Greek economy by Dr. Marianthi Anastasatou, Economist at the Bank of Greece. The baton was passed to Professor George Doukidis of the Athens University of Athens, who presented recent research by AUEB with Grant Thornton, entitled 'Technology and Beyond: The Impact of AI'.

AUEB is grateful to the Bank of Greece and all presenters for hosting the event and for the excellent presentations on the recent past, present and future prospects of the Greek economy.

During the evening, W&M students moved to AUEB’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurshp (ACEIn). There, they were initially offered a presentation of ACEIn by Ms. Vassiliki Chronaki, Head of the incubator. Ms Chronaki went through the various activities taking place at ACEIn, challenges and opportunities, and the innovation ecosystem in Greek Universities. The Vice Rector of the Athens University of Economics and Business, Professor Nancy Pouloudi and the Director of the Executive MBA program at AUEB, Professor Vassilis Papadakis, then had the pleasure of welcoming at ACEIn the former CEO of OTE, Mr. Michael Tsamaz, who presented the strategic transformation and turnaround of OTE during his tenure the past 15 years. Together with Mr Tsamaz, students analyzed the challenges that OTE faced, as well as the vision for the future of the organization that was created and implemented under Mr. Tsamaz's leadership.

The Athens University of Economics and Business extends its appreciation and thanks to Mr. Tsamaz for his time, as well as for the frank and in-depth discussion of the challenges faced by the country's largest technology company and a very interesting case study of visionary leadership.

Tuesday 06/05

During the morning of their second day of visit, the Athens Stock Exchange welcomed at its facilities the Executive MBA students from the University of William and Mary, along with students from the Executive MBA at AUEB. Students, along with W&M Professor Rajiv Kohli, declared the opening of the session. They then attended speeches by Mr. Theodore Zarros, CTO of Athex Group, and Mr. Stelios Konstantinou, Investor Relations Officer, regarding technological developments in the stock trading space in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Athex Group's adaptation and transformation through ESG initiatives. The baton was passed on to Professor Nikos Vettas, Director General of IOBE, who focused on the business environment, sectors that contribute to the Greek economy and discussed strategy proposals for investing/strengthening specific sectors of the Greek economy that have the potential to give a significant boost to growth dynamics.

AUEB is grateful to ATHEX for hosting students from the two Executive MBA programs, and to all speakers for their insightful presentations.

During the evening, the Ministry of Digital Governance welcomed W&M and AUEB Executive MBA students, as well as their chaperons. Students initially had the opportunity to discuss with the Secretary General of the Ministry, Professor Demosthenis Anagnostopoulos, who presented the Ministry's vision for the digital transformation of the country. The baton was then passed on to Mrs. Menia Hatzikou, advisor to the Ministry of Digital Governance, who analyzed the strategy for the implementation of this vision and focused on some of the main services offered to citizens. Finally, Mr Anagnostopoulos and Ms Hatzikou discussed with the students the challenges that the Ministry faces.

AUEB extends its gratitude to the Secretary General as well as to Ms Hatzikou for their time and insightful presentations.