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Alumnus Profiled: Vasilis Dimopoulos
Graduated: Deree ‘85
Lives in: Athens, Greece
Current Position: Vice President Engineered Systems – ECEMEA, Oracle
“It is impossible to fail, as long as you never quit – because failure is not an option, it’s a choice!”
VASILIS DIMOPOULOS was born in Athens, Greece, and graduated from Deree – The American College of Greece in 1985. He earned an MSc in Computer Science from the Queen’s University in Great Britain.
Following a very successful 17-year career at IBM, he joined Oracle Corporation in January 2005 as Chairman and Managing Director of Oracle Hellas. In 2007, he was appointed Vice President for Greece and a cluster of other countries including Cyprus, Malta, Albania etc. In 2010, he started an international career with Oracle and he is currently the Vice President in charge of the Engineered Systems Business Unit for Eastern & Central Europe, CIS, Central Asia, Middle East and Africa.
He speaks four languages. He is married and has three children.
INTERVIEW
Q.: What are three enduring lessons you learned during your studies at Deree?
Conceive – Believe – Achieve.
In other words: think out of the box, be self confident, plan well and in advance in order to succeed.
Q.: Describe Deree in three words.
Reliability, Quality, Choice
Q.: One of your favorite Deree memories?
An organized trip to Pelion back in 1983 with several classmates. Unbelievable fun, great people, no sleep for three days (the things I can write, the rest can only be told face-to-face; those who were there, know what happened!)
Q.: What do you miss most from your days at Deree?
A number of good friends I did not meet again since then. The ability to learn in a way I could decide to a very large extent. The overall “atmosphere:, which was quite unique those days.
Q.: Where was your favorite spot on campus?
Different times, different likes and dislikes. It was by far the “cafeteria” as I was able to meet a number of good friends there, get a snack, listen to some good music (DJ Indzeveis !)
Q.: Who was your favorite professor and why?
Professor John Rasias, by far! A true lover of Mathematics with an outstanding related knowledge (he was considered one of the best “brains” at the time). A unique personality, who you’d either love or “hate”. The person who helped me like Mathematics.
Q.: Have you kept in touch with any of your classmates?
Several, on both a personal and professional level. With 4 classmates, I have even built very strong family links lasting up until today.
Q.: How did Deree help prepare you for your professional life?
Enormously. Deree helped me learn how to be focused, determined and forward looking.
Q.: What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received?
You can build your career the way you want. But you need to think, plan and dare!
Q.: What (or who) inspires you most?
Socrates, because he showed the power and integrity of independent thought and helped us find the way to fight preconceptions.
Q.: Your motto in life?
It is impossible to fail, as long as you never quit – because failure is not an option, it’s a choice!
ACG Alumni: We Stay Connected!
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