AI Horizons: How Generative Technology is Reshaping Our World

Dr. Dimitris Alexandrou is a Pierce Parent and one of the Co-Founders and Business Innovation Director of UBITECH responsible for the Corporate Overseas Activities, the Greek Public Sector Tenders and IT Projects, the Private Sector Projects, and the IT Consulting Services. He also leads the business services of AiLabs, a spinoff initiative covering the Artificial Intelligence activities and products. UBITECH is a leading, highly innovative software house, systems integrator and technology provider, established to provide leading edge intelligent technical solutions and consulting services to businesses, organizations and governments to allow the efficient and effective secure access and communication with various heterogeneous information resources and services, anytime and anywhere.

Dr. Alexandrou received his PhD degree from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the National Technical University of Athens in 2014. In the frame of his PhD, he conducted research in the domain of self-adaptive healthcare business processes based on expert systems technologies. He also received his undergraduate diploma from the same school at the National Technical University of Athens in 2004. His Diploma Thesis was in Mobile and Personal Communications. He has been leading technical teams and consortia in the frame of EU Co-Funded projects, as well as coordinating UBITECH commercial activities. 

Virginia Kokiou, Pierce '03, is a lawyer and the Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel to the Special Secretary of Foresight. She is currently involved, amongst others, in projects for introducing Foresight in the Public Sector and implementing Foresight in policymaking. 

She has been the legal counsel to the Secretary General of Communication and Media where she participated in the committee for the transposition of the AVMS Directive into Greek law and an in- house lawyer at Universal Music Publishing Greece for 7 years participating in many aspects of the publishing industry i.e authors rights, royalty statements, relations with CMO’s etc.  

Her law practice focuses on media and intellectual property law advising clients on press issues, authors’/ publishers’ rights and on matters concerning collective management organizations. She has detailed knowledge of corporate law advising both national and international clients on compliance issues, GDPR /personal data, e-commerce, advertising, commercial practices, competition law and implementation of related EU directives. 

She studied law at the Democritus University of Thrace and obtained a master's degree in law of Telecommunications and Media from the University of Paul Cezanne in Aix En Provence, France.

Virginia is fluent in English and French and has been a member of the Athens Bar Association since 2011. 

Christos Latos, Pierce '91, is the Deputy CEO of Ogilvy Greece. He has been with Ogilvy for the last 20 years, contributing to the company’s success of being the most awarded agency in Greece and the most awarded Greek agency overseas garnering awards at prestigious festivals like Cannes Lions, The One Show, Clio Awards, and Effie Awards. 

With expertise in social, performance marketing, data, and AI, Christos excels at assembling and leading teams tailored to meet client needs. 

Before Ogilvy, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Vatera.com, an international online auction platform. His career also includes shaping global marketing initiatives for iconic brands like Apple, Motorola, and Adobe during his time at “Planet Leap” ad agency in New York. 

His passion for Advertising is rooted in a strong academic foundation. Christos holds a BA in International Relations from Panteion University of Athens and an MA in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College in Boston. He has also served on the Board of Directors for both the Hellenic Association of Communications Agencies (EDEE) and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB Hellas), demonstrating his commitment to advancing the industry. 

George Panou, Alba '18, is a highly accomplished IT and business executive with over 25 years of experience, specializing in leading digital innovation and transformation initiatives across ICT sectors. He has spearheaded numerous local and international projects for banks, financial institutions, major corporations, and public sector organizations in Greece and the EMEA region. George has played a pivotal role in developing cutting-edge digital strategies, implementing innovative business models, and delivering multi-channel digital solutions to a diverse portfolio of clients and industries. 

Currently, as the Head of the Innovation Center at Eurobank Greece, George is at the forefront of driving digital transformation within the financial sector. 

In addition to his corporate role, George is a guest lecturer at various universities and serves as a mentor to several startups. He is also a co-author of the book (60 Leaders on AI), sharing his insights into the evolving role of artificial intelligence in business and technology. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Hellenic American University (NH, USA), an MBA from ALBA Graduate Business School at the American College of Greece, and an Executive Education Diploma in Strategy and Digital Transformation from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School. 

George has also earned numerous certifications, including specializations in Machine Learning from Stanford and DeepLearning.ai, and a Specialization in Mathematics for Machine Learning from Imperial College London, further solidifying his expertise in AI and fintech. His extensive knowledge and forward-thinking approach continue to shape the future of digital innovation and transformation in the industry.

Evi Petridou, Deree '04,  is currently the Head of Corporate Growth and Communication at Viable Innovation Hub as well as the founder of Cubers. Her career is marked by significant achievements and a commitment to social impact, particularly in the field of education and learning difficulties.

Cubers was co-founded along with Leonidas Papadopoulos, the CEO of Viable Innovation Hub, and is  a start up focused on supporting families with learning difficulties that has strategically developed an AI role-playing model for families, set to launch with European program support, Smart Health, initiative by Praxis Network. The company also aims to create an inclusive society by providing a platform where parents, educators, specialized professionals, and children can connect to share experiences, knowledge, and achievements

Evi's entrepreneurial achievements include winning the women's entrepreneurship competition at EBEA and being selected as one of six companies to present at the Hellenic Development Bank's event. She has also been accepted into the Microsoft for Startups program. Her career is marked by significant roles, including international sales coordination where she managed IPO processes and initiated sales in China. She has held C-level positions at major corporations such as Coca-Cola, Novartis, Amgen, and IAAF. As a mentor for the EU Women Tech Mentor program, Evi continues to empower women in tech, leveraging her extensive experience and leadership skills to foster innovation and growth in the industry.

Leonidas Papadopoulos is a visionary entrepreneur, venture builder, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, known for his expertise in scaling startups and driving innovation. As the Founder & CEO of Viable Innovation Hub, Leonidas has led over 50 startups from ideation to market. His strategic approach blends profitability with societal impact, making Viable a key player in the global startup ecosystem. 

Beyond his role at Viable, Leonidas is a highly sought-after advisor and mentor, consulting early-stage ventures and established companies on growth, product-market fit, and business development. He actively advises startups through partnerships with renowned accelerators like  Startupbootcamp, Founder Institute , and Startup Universe, helping founders navigate their entrepreneurial journeys with actionable insights. 

As a seasoned workshop facilitator, Leonidas regularly conducts hands-on sessions on venture building, scaling strategies, and fundraising. His global mentor network and deep industry knowledge equip him to provide practical, results-oriented advice that helps startups secure funding and achieve long-term success. 

Through his advisory roles, workshops, and leadership, Leonidas continues to bridge the gap between innovation and market success, empowering the next generation of disruptive startups.

Pierce Junior Achievement Club: Students from Pierce created the StudyAId app as part of the nationwide student competition "Best Virtual Business 2024," organized by Junior Achievement Greece, which is the leading student-entrepreneurship event of the year! 

Starting from the observation that approximately 15% of students exhibit some form of learning difficulty, our students created the virtual business StudyAId, an educational app that provides students with learning disabilities with cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies, using the ChatGPT 4.0 tool. The app continuously organizes and upgrades the way students' study, helping them to absorb knowledge to the maximum, utilizing available time and their individualized needs. 

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