Alumna Profiled: Nassia (Anastasia) Papamanoli
Graduated: PIERCE ‘73
Lives in: Kifissia, Greece
Current Position: Director and Sole Partner, SORISO LTD
“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass… it is about learning to dance in the rain!”
NASSIA PAPAMANOLI (PIERCE ’73) was born in Athens, Greece.
She graduated from PIERCE–The American College of Greece in 1973 and earned her BSc in Business Administration from DEREE–The American College of Greece. She also earned a Master’s degree in Marketing from New York University.
Multi-talented Nassia speaks three languages, English, French and Italian.
Upon her return to Greece in 1980, she started a business selling door-to-door products and artwork for children in kindergarten and elementary schools. In 1986 she began producing children’s clothes for schools and retail stores and in 1991 she started another company which represented and sold some of the best children’s brands in the world in the Greek and Cypriot wholesale market.
Her company VIAN LTD was in the top 10 textile companies in Greece and in 1996 she earned an International Prize of Award for Performance.
She still works in the textile business along with her involvement in real estate in Germany and Greece.
She is also on the board of directors of the Lifeline Humanitarian Organization of HRH Crown Princess Ekaterini of Serbia – which since 2010 supports children in need in Greece – and of The Orchestra of Colors -Manos Hatzidakis.
INTERVIEW
Q.: What are three enduring lessons you learned during your studies at PIERCE?
- Do not judge a “book” by its “cover”
- Always work your body together with your soul and mind
- Understand and analyze a problem or a situation and then react
Q.: Describe PIERCE in three words.
Dynamic, progressive, innovative.
Q.: One of your favorite PIERCE memories?
Once I was asked by our history teacher to narrate some events of the 17th century as they were described in our history book.
Instead of repeating what I had read and studied, I started making an analysis in my own words of the relevant stories and got a bravo and the highest grade from our teacher.
She was really teaching us how to look at the events, see the real meaning and read behind the scenes.
Q.: What do you miss most from your days at PIERCE?
The companionship and love we shared everyday in an energetic and inspiring environment.
Q.: Where was your favorite spot on campus?
The library where I could discover new worlds.
Q.: Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Mrs. Economou, our history teacher who taught us life!
Q.: Have you kept in touch with any of your classmates?
Not so much but although we do not meet often, whenever we manage it’s like we’ve been together for ever!
Q.: Did having studied at PIERCE help you during your university studies and beyond?
Having studied at PIERCE broadened my horizons in a lot of fields and helped me as a woman take my life in my hands and lead an entrepreneurial professional life that was both satisfying and fulfilling.
Q.: What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Do your best in every situation you are in and your efforts, if followed by love and determination, will always positively surprise you!
Q.: What or who inspires you most?
My father who designed his life in his own bright colors and never left a dark point destroy his love for light or his dream picture!
Q.: Your motto in life?
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass… it is about learning to dance in the rain!
