Kostantinos Peppas

Graduation Year: 1996 (MBA 4)

Senior Portfolio Manger at ASOFIN Management S.A.

LinkedIn Profile here

Could you update us on your latest professional developments?

Last November along with some old colleagues we set up a private asset management firm. As the environment is particularly challenging, at the moment we strive to organize the company as well as ourselves. We are a team of 6 and we plan to add 2-3 more senior new colleagues who will help us on the asset gathering side. Experience is abundant among the team members however at a start-up level everyone starts from scratch – no more large offices, secretarial assistance or slow moving projects. It is very similar to an MBA large scale project and it surely reminds me of my days in ALBA. Of course, in our case time is money. . Currently we occupy ourselves with financial modelling, trading, risk management and client presentations. In other words we are really busy. Fortunately, August is close…

How did ALBA help you in your career?

Simply put: the most. It helped me organise my knowledge, ideas and skills to a focused career purpose. The first career years, the ALBA experience provided me with fresh, practical knowledge. Those are the years when you are still learning a stampede of things but you also get the chance to make meaningful contributions to your work group. Furthermore, I believe it is actually the moment you realise what your real career path(s) could be.  However, the second wave of contribution comes after several years of career development. It is then when the very essence of an MBA -strategic thinking- falls into place and links many career puzzle pieces together. It is merely a liberating experience, resembling riding a bicycle for the first time on your own, you realize you can speed up, slow down, turn right, turn left, even stop.  And most importantly that you can carry other persons on your bicycle as well…

Share with us your fondest memory while studying at ALBA

While studying at ALBA one experiences many moments of pressure, achievement, creativity, team work as well as competition. My fondest memories were from the work group projects. Although at times the pressure created explosive circumstances, I always found myself astound by the hidden abilities and skills of my fellow students when put at work. That kind of action created magical moments of creativity and bonding I will never forget. 

You’ve had quite a corporate career so far…care to share some advice with your fellow alumni on how to achieve corporate success?

No big secrets I have to share, really. I could point out 3 things: undoubtedly luck (or to be in the right place at  the right time), the will to take up corporate projects (usually these open opportunities) and finally to follow the simple rule to perceive endeavours that you really like and you know you have a competitive advantage.  

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE

• Your most marked characteristic? I am impatient (I really try to fight it)
• The quality you most like in a man? Courage
• The quality you most like in a woman? Sense of humour
• What do you most value in your friends? When they listen
• What is your favorite occupation? Orchestra conductor
• What is your dream of happiness? Balance and of course love
• What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes? Not to really experience life
• What would you like to be? An ordinary person full of vivid life experiences
• In what country would you like to live? Greece
• What is your favorite color? Blue
• Who are your favorite poets? Homer and Cicero
• Who is your favorite hero of fiction? 007
• Who are your favorite composers? Rachmaninoff and Hatzidakis
• Who are your favorite painters? The insanely amazing Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni
• Who are your heroes in real life? Everyday people with principles (and 007!)
• What are your favorite names? Michael and Ioli (my kids)
• What is it you most dislike? Stupid stubbornness
• What historical figures do you most despise? Greek politicians of the last 30 years
• What natural gift would you most like to possess? A nice voice like The voice
• How would you like to die? During a battle
• What is your motto? A man’s character is his fate