Welcome to February's FACES! Today, we shine the spotlight on Elisavet Sergiadou, our Director of Marketing Communications and a valued member of our Greek management team. Elisavet brings over a decade of diverse work experience characterized by her positive, can-do attitude and her commitment to finding solutions. From journalism and communications-related roles as radio producer at SKAI radio or establishing social media accounts for the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to her impactful tenure at The European Consumer Organisation, Elisavet has demonstrated a knack for fostering connections, driving innovation, and making a difference. Elisavet has a BA in Mass Media & Journalism from Aristotle University and a MEd in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
1. Hello Elisavet, and welcome to FACES! We're excited to have you here. To kick things off, could you provide us with some insights into your role at NET2GRID?
Thank you, it’s an honor to be part of the FACES series! Currently, at NET2GRID I have the privilege of leading a team of 5 talented young ladies who are committed to elevating our company’s messaging and branding. We work hard and also have a lot of fun together, valuing each others’ contributions in achieving common goals. In addition to my role as the head of Marketing Communications at NET2GRID, I am also a member of the Greek management team. This means that alongside the other management team members we are making sure that our colleagues in the Greek office have a good working experience and that they are being taken care of so they can perform at their best.
2. You've had the opportunity to work in different countries and cultures, wearing different hats. How has this global perspective influenced your professional outlook and your approach in producing effective communications?
Even though I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, I have had the opportunity to study and work abroad, specifically in the US and Belgium for over 8 years, and I have also had the chance to travel extensively. Living and working alongside people from all over the world has helped me see the world through their eyes, broadening my perspective on many things in life. When you are exposed to varying worldviews, apart from familiarizing yourself with the different perspectives, you inevitably recognize the universality of certain human traits despite cultural differences. We all strive to be seen, to be understood, to be recognized and to be supported. While knowing this, you can always find ways to connect with people regardless of their background. Professionally speaking, this international experience has equipped me to better understand and navigate cultural differences within our company but also within our clientele, which has enabled me to communicate effectively with different target audiences.
3. Could you tell us about a particularly rewarding moment in your career when you felt your efforts had a significant impact?
After my experience at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where I completed my graduate studies, I realized that my Greek alma mater, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, was lagging behind in catching up with community building through the use of official social media accounts. This was of particular importance because Aristotle University is the biggest public university in Southeastern Europe by the number of students, so there is a lot of room and need for community building. Seeing this gap and having an idea on how to fix it, I reached out to the newly elected university dean at the time and persuaded him of the need to create an official social media strategy for the university. He liked the idea and hired me to do so. This is how I got my first full-time job and how the university's official social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter came into existence. Today, the university’s Facebook page counts more than 95,000 likes.
4. You've been an integral part of NET2GRID for over three years, witnessing the company's evolution from its early establishment in Greece to securing its first funding round and expanding into the US market. Through these various stages, you've seen NET2GRID grow and thrive. Given your firsthand experience, what would you say are the compelling reasons for working at NET2GRID?
Regarding the Greek office, I think that the friendly and playful atmosphere, the company’s mission, the opportunity to work for an international company while living in Greece, the high academic and professional standards amongst colleagues, the work flexibility and the respect with which we treat our people are some key reasons why NET2GRIDers value working here. The above are evident if you work at the office, but they have also been officially confirmed by our recognition as a Great Place to Work both in Greece and in the Netherlands for two consecutive years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, and also by our recognition as a Best Place to Work for Women in Greece for 2023.
5. In your role as Director of Marketing Communications, what are your primary goals and priorities for our company, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Goal setting within NET2GRID starts with defining the company’s goals for the year. Subsequently, each department thinks about how to contribute towards the company’s goals and designs its own goals accordingly. Similarly, each member of the Marketing Communications team crafts their own personal goals which contribute towards achieving the team’s goals and, thus, the company’s goals. For 2024, our primary goals are to continue raising brand awareness, strengthen lead generation, as well as craft and execute a compelling content strategy. Progress is tracked in a measurable way. With all these goals aligned and with weekly bilateral check-ins with the members of my team, I make sure that the team is on track and that any challenges hindering our progress are addressed.
6. Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring professionals looking to make their mark in the field of marketing communications and business development?
Adopt a can-do attitude and get things done. Identify how you can improve things in whichever environment you find yourself in and create value. I can guarantee that you will get noticed by management. It’s ok to start working in a job that might not be your ideal one. Gaining experience in various fields and being exposed to different situations is very important for your career in the long run. Build strong relationships with your teammates; ideally, they have your back and together you are stronger. Finally, understand how to best serve Sales. Business development and marketing can really help the Sales team achieve its goals, contributing to the company’s success.
7. Elisavet, as someone who's spent time both as a camper and a leader at the YMCA camp, where NET2GRID recently organized its big annual trip, you must have some interesting stories to tell. Can you share a prank that occurred during one of your camp sessions?
The YMCA camp in Halkidiki has been a big part of my life for over 12 years. I started out as a 6-year-old camper and, over the years, I rose through the ranks all the way to serve as a staff member. I cannot stress enough how decisive this experience has been for me in shaping my team spirit, strengthening my independence, learning life skills and making strong friendships. It was with great pleasure that I found myself back at the YMCA camp after all these years, this time with the whole company for our annual trip. Experiencing the camp through the eyes of an adult visitor made me fall in love with its stunning natural surroundings: abundant open spaces, breathtaking shades of green, and inviting waters. There are so many memories from these 12 years at the camp and even if I tried to describe them to you, you would need to have experienced YMCA for yourself for them to make sense. Maybe what I can do instead is share some pictures from our recent company trip to the YMCA camp in Halkidiki to give you an idea of how this magical place looks like.