Panos Germanos Receives the 8th Alba Business Unusual Award
June 11, 2026
Find out more about our academic programs
Find out more about our academic programs
In a spinning world Leaders are eager to learn
Find out more about our career services
Entrepreneur Olympia Group founder Panos Germanos was honored with the 8th Business Unusual Award by Alba Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece, in recognition of his longstanding contribution to Greek entrepreneurship and society.
The award ceremony took place at Anassa City Events and brought together distinguished representatives from the academic and business communities, celebrating individuals whose professional journey combines business success with meaningful social impact.
Gallery
Established in 2010, the Business Unusual Award is presented every two years to personalities who have transformed their professional achievements into broader value for the economy and society, serving as role models of leadership, integrity, and impact.
A career defined by creation and purpose
In presenting the award, Alba highlighted Mr. Germanos’ entrepreneurial journey as one defined by consistency, vision, and a strong sense of purpose. As founder of Olympia Group, he has built and led organizations with international reach, combining competitiveness with a clear commitment to value creation for society.
His work reflects a generation of entrepreneurs who view success not as an individual pursuit, but as a collective endeavor shaped by collaboration, resilience, and long-term thinking.
Reflections on leadership and entrepreneurship
Gallery
During a conversation with journalist Pavlos Tsimas, Mr. Germanos shared insights from his entrepreneurial path, emphasizing the importance of inspiration and shared belief within teams:
“The secret is not only strategy; it is to inspire those around you to see what you see, to believe what you believe. That is what is unusual in entrepreneurship: to do something with all your soul and then have the maturity to let it go and move on to the next thing.”
His remarks captured the spirit of the award, highlighting leadership as a dynamic process of creation, empowerment, and evolution.
Academic perspective on impact-driven leadership
Gallery
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Kostas Axarloglou, Rector of Alba Graduate Business School, emphasized the defining characteristic of Mr. Germanos’ career: creation.
He noted that Mr. Germanos’ trajectory is not simply one of timely opportunity, but of consistently shaping environments that enable progress before they become widely recognized.
“The greatest entrepreneurial achievement is not to predict the future,” he remarked, “but to envision it and help create it.”
Dr. Edward Wingenbach, President of The American College of Greece, also addressed the audience, underlining the alignment between Mr. Germanos’ leadership and the values promoted by the institution.
He highlighted that entrepreneurship, innovation, meritocracy, humility, and humanism are not separate from business practice, but integral to the way value is created and sustained.
Strengthening research and societal impact
Proceeds from the 8th Business Unusual Award event will support applied research and the dissemination of its outcomes, reinforcing Alba’s mission to generate and share knowledge that benefits society.
Through initiatives like the Business Unusual Award, Alba Graduate Business School continues to highlight leaders whose work reflects not only business excellence, but also a broader contribution to society and future generations.
