Graduation Ceremony of the Thessaloniki Future Leaders Lab by Alba Graduate Business School

On Wednesday, November 6, the graduation ceremony for the participants of the Thessaloniki Future Leaders Lab program took place at the Teloglion Foundation of Arts, A.U.Th. The first phase of the program concluded a few weeks ago. Launched in Thessaloniki under the auspices of the Region of Central Macedonia and supported by prominent companies active in the city and its economy, the Thessaloniki Future Leaders Lab by Alba is an innovative educational initiative offered free of charge to students from Thessaloniki universities. Its aim is to equip participants with cross-disciplinary skills for their personal and professional development, while also introducing them to businesses with a significant footprint in Northern Greece.

Managing Partner of Georgaki and Partners Law Firm 

The program includes modules on leadership and self-leadership, sustainable development, innovation and digital economy, business thinking, and entrepreneurship. It is supported by Greek and multinational companies operating in Thessaloniki, which not only contribute financially but also, actively participate in shaping and teaching the content as well as in the learning process. This approach combines academic excellence with business relevance.

During the graduation ceremony, the participants, 45 students from various public university faculties, presented group projects focused on the companies they encountered through the program and how these shaped their educational journey. The projects reflected the students’ perspectives, highlighting various factors, with the central theme being the value of human capital to organizations and the ways businesses contribute to society.

The event was attended by notable guests, including: Kostas Gioutikas (Deputy Regional Governor of Thessaloniki), Villy Nouli (Director of the Northern Greece Association of Human Resources Managers), Nikos Biris (Board Member of the same association), and company representatives who collaborated on the program, such as Christina Georgaki (Managing Partner at Georgaki & Associates Law Firm), Panos Kardasis (Corporate Responsibility Manager at Eurobank), Gerasimos Monokrousos (Corporate Communications Manager at Hellas Gold), Ilioula Kostopoulou (Organizational Learning Manager at ELVAL), Nikolas Vergidis (Human Resources Manager at TITAN Thessaloniki Plant), and Mary Chatzakou (Chair of the Board of Directors at MEVGAL).

During the graduation ceremony, the participants, 45 students from various public university faculties, presented group projects focused on the companies they encountered through the program and how these shaped their educational journey. The projects reflected the students’ perspectives, highlighting various factors, with the central theme being the value of human capital to organizations and the ways businesses contribute to society.

The event was attended by notable guests, including: Kostas Gioutikas (Deputy Regional Governor of Thessaloniki), Villy Nouli (Director of the Northern Greece Association of Human Resources Managers), Nikos Biris (Board Member of the same association), and company representatives who collaborated on the program, such as Christina Georgaki (Managing Partner at Georgaki & Associates Law Firm), Panos Kardasis (Corporate Responsibility Manager at Eurobank), Gerasimos Monokrousos (Corporate Communications Manager at Hellas Gold), Ilioula Kostopoulou (Organizational Learning Manager at ELVAL), Nikolas Vergidis (Human Resources Manager at TITAN Thessaloniki Plant), and Mary Chatzakou (Chair of the Board of Directors at MEVGAL).

Speakers included Kostas Gioutikas (Deputy Regional Governor of Thessaloniki) Kostas Axarloglou (Dean of Alba), Stelios Argyros (President of Alba), and Ioanna Sapfo Pepelasi (Professor Emerita of Economic Science at Athens University of Economics and Business). Brief remarks were also delivered by representatives of the companies supporting the program.

The companies expressed their intention to maintain connections with the participants and sustain the knowledge network initiated through the program. Meanwhile, the students voiced a desire to establish an alumni community for the Thessaloniki Future Leaders Lab, enabling them to continue learning together, complementing each other’s knowledge, developing their skills, and sharing their passion for lifelong learning. Economic Turnaround