AUEB hosted William & Mary University, Athens 16.10-20.10.23
Monday 16.10.23
The Athens University of Economics and Business hosted Professor Rajiv Kohli and 15 Executive MBA students from W&M, a historic US University from which four US presidents have graduated.
Students were welcomed by the Vice Rector for International Cooperation and Growth, Professor Vasilis Papadakis, who gave a tour of the ceremonial hall and the Senate Hall and spoke about the history of AUEB, its academic distinctions and international collaborations with leading international universities. Professor Spyros Blavoukos then focused his presentation on the period of the Greek crisis and described the course of negotiations with the international partners, addressing myths, half-truths and the harsh reality the country went through.
For the third consecutive year, the Athens University of Economics and Business hosted Executive MBA students from William & Mary, one of the most historic universities in the United States, from which four presidents have graduated. As part of the visits organized by AUEB, W&M students were hosted by the Bank of Greece where they attended presentations on the Greek economy focusing on the Greek crisis, the pandemic, and the current energy crisis by Dr. Marianthi Anastasatou, Economist at the Bank of Greece.
The baton was passed on to Professor Katerina Pramatari of AUEB, presenting on behalf of the Athens Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ACEIn). Ms Pramatari presented to the visiting students and their companions the entrepreneurial landscape in Greece for startups. She also presented activities undertaken by Universities like AUEB to encourage students and graduates to move in a more entrepreneurial direction. Prof Pramatari was joined by Dr. Philippos Tourlomousis, Founder and CEO of biotech startup Biological Lattice Industries, who presented the company and his personal journey from Greece to the US and back.
Tuesday 17.10.23
W&M visit to the Stock Exchange
The Athens Stock Exchange welcomed Executive MBA students of the University of William & Mary, USA. The students, together with Professor Rajiv Kohli and AUEB Vice Rector Prof. Vasilis Papadakis, declared the opening of the session for the day. Students attended speeches by Dr. Yannis Krasonikolakis, Head of Applied Research and Analytics at Grant Thornton, Mr Nikos Koskoletos,, CFO of Athex Group, and Mr. Theodoros Zarros, Athex Group CTO, regarding technological developments in the field of stock trading in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the adaptation and transformation of Athex Group in the rapidly changing external environment.
W&M visit to OTE
W&M students, accompanied by students from the Executive MBA of AUEB visited the Greek Telecommunications Company (OTE) where they met with the CEO Mr. Michael Tsamaz and members of the senior management of the Organization. They had the opportunity to hear from Mr. Tsamaz and his team about the transformation program of the organization over the last decade. Students had done preparatory work ahead of the presentation by reading about the transformation in a relevant Harvard Business School case study. They analysed the challenges faced by the organisation, and its’ plans for the future.
Wednesday 18.10.23
Students of the Executive MBA of Wiliam and Mary University USA, hosted by AUEB visit PeopleCert
PeopleCert welcomed W&M students to its premises in the centre of Athens. PeopleCert is a unicorn company, with a market capitalisation of over 1 bn Euros. The company develops and manages globally recognised certifications and provides exams designed to specific specifications for third parties. On behalf of PeopleCert, the students of the Executive MBA programs of the two Universities were given presentations by Ms. Dimitra Karakosta, VP for People and Culture, Mr. George Sofronas, VP of Technology, and Mr. Konstantinos Koukouleas, Head of AI and & Digital Transformation, who spoke about the vision, the company's development and the opportunities arising from the use of new digital technologies.
Students of the Executive MBA of Wiliam and Mary University USA, hosted by AUEB visit to the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports
Τhe Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports welcomed William & Mary Executive MBA students, W&M Professor Rajiv Kohli, as well as the Rector of AUEB, Prof. Dimitris Bourantonis, and the Vice Rector for International Cooperation and Growth, Prof. Vassilis Papadakis. Students of the American University together with students of the Executive MBA of the AUEB had the opportunity to discuss with the Minister of Education Mr. Kyriakos Pierrakakis on the digital transformation of the country. The Minister spoke about his work in the Ministry of Digital Governance and his vision for the Ministry of Education, discussed the strategy for the implementation of this vision and answered students’ questions.
Thursday 19.10.23
W&M students went on a field trip to Delphi, which lasted until the afternoon. During the visit students walked the entire length of the archaeological site, learned the history of the ancient oracle and had lunch in the adjacent villages.
Friday 20.10.23
In the morning, the W&M and AUEB Executive MBA students visited the COSCO facilities at the Port of Piraeus. After entering the port through Pier 2, where they were welcomed by Mr. Tasos Vamvakidis, Commercial Director of COSCO, and Mr. Panagiotis Vamvakidis, CFO of Piraeus Container Terminal S.A., who gave them a bus tour of the COSCO facilities. The W&M guests and their hosts on behalf of COSCO then proceeded to a conference room where a presentation was given on COSCO's investment in the port of Piraeus and the use of digital technologies for the management of the port.
In the afternoon, students visited Lamda Development's premises in Ellinikon, where they were given a guided tour of the Ellinikon Experience Park facilities. Ellinikon is currently the largest real estate area under development across Europe. There they were welcomed by Mr. Tasos Papapostolou, Senior Project Manager for Infrastructure Projects, who presented mock-ups of the project and gave a presentation on the progress of the works and its development strategy.
