Athanasios Rosoglou

Graduation Year: 2010 (PMBA 13)

CEO, Haifa Tarim, Turkey

Looking back on your career, what was the most important decision you made (or didn't make) regarding your career path?

In my career I took many significant decisions that shaped it positively or negatively. Looking back I realize that even on negative events I was learning useful lessons that today form the databank of my experience. So, I came to the conclusion that the most significant decision is to take fast decisions but always keep your values and follow a clear strategy. Above all keep in mind that good decisions allow you to move forward to the next step, bad decisions force you to stop and adjust.

What’s the most important thing for recent grads to keep in mind as they start out their careers?

Today, business environment in Greece is very complex and difficult. The skills they possess will be paid significantly higher abroad. Europe is our country today and the difficulty moving from Greece to England has the same characteristics like moving from Larissa to Heraklion. The most important in a newly started career is the employer and the satisfaction from the everyday job.

What made you choose ALBA for your graduate studies?

The MBA was the piece missing from my technical studies in order to achieve high performance in my professional life. I knew ALBA since its establishment, as I was working for a company which was one of the founders of ALBA. Later, I heard about the excellent work done in ALBA, so the decision was easy.

Share with us your fondest memory while studying at ALBA.

The teamwork during the writing of our final thesis and the presentation of the Business Plan we created for an agricultural startup company.

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE

• What is your greatest fear? Fascism
• Which historical figure do you most identify with? Spartacus
• Which living person do you most admire? Zubin Mehta
• What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Early judgment
• What is the trait you most deplore in others? Egoism
• What is your greatest extravagance? Singing
• What is your favorite journey? Crossing the Danube
• On what occasion do you lie? Rarely
• What is your greatest regret? Quitting a project
• What or who is the greatest love of your life? My sons
• When and where were you happiest? Birth of my sons
• Which talent would you most like to have? Painting
• What is your current state of mind? Confident
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Never thought of it 
• If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? More kids
• What do you consider your greatest achievement? Self sufficiency
• What is your most treasured possession? Moments
• Where would you like to live? Glyfada
• What is your favorite occupation? Entrepreneur
• What is your most marked characteristic? Positivity
• What do you most value in your friends? Humor
• What are your favorite names? Yannis, Christos
• What is your motto? Thank god