MARIA MAVRIDOU '94

March 1, 2007

Maria Mavridou may have graduated from ACT 12 years ago but she still remembers moments like her exchange trip to Denmark, Stelios Kehagias’ Management classes and various team projects. Maria graduated from ACT in 1994 and went on to St. Xavier University in Chicago where she obtained an MBA in International Marketing and Corporate Strategy. Since then, her career has involved important jobs in high-profile companies such as Nielsen, Ziff Davis, La Poste, Nokia and - currently – Columbia Sportswear International, a global leader in the active outdoor apparel and footwear markets. Columbia is a leading skiwear manufacturer in the U.S. and its well-known outdoor brands include, in addition to Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, Sorel, Montrail and Pacific Trail.

Maria is the European Marketing and Communications Manager for Columbia, in its European headquarters in Strasbourg, France. “I’m in charge of European markets. In that respect, my main responsibilities include (among others) planning communication strategies, analyzing the market, brand creation and positioning, PR, internal communication, website management and database analysis as well as fashion shoots, catalogs and launching campaigns”. All stuff, apparently, that makes Maria happy.

“Strasbourg is one of the most beautiful cities and is also a city with a very high standard of living” says Maria. Encircled by the two branches of the Ill River, Strasbourg’s whole city center is considered a UNESCO world heritage site. “I’ve been living in France since 1994 (but have been travelling and working around Europe and the U.S). The rhythm of living in France is quite demanding. Life is fast and organized, with lots of protocol and procedures. The French culture is in fact based on a lot of complication, reasoning and analysis. This of course makes it very different from the Greek essentials of living. I sometimes miss the sentimental/emotional/spontaneous simplicity of life in Greece ".

When she’s not doing a million things at work, she has fun with her 4-year old son Konstantinos. And as if all that’s not enough, she also sings in a small pop rock band, writes poems and songs and does pilates and power plate. In 2007, she hopes to catch up on her reading.

An alum with such an impressive success record and varied interests is the perfect person to give advice to those on the brink of plunging into the workforce. She has one message: “Gain technical and specialized experience and a strong working background in your field. And stay dynamic, focused, assertive and perseverant”.