John Palaiologos
John Palaiologos is a professional athlete - coach of mixed martial arts and also a graduate of the Department of Accounting.
It all started when he was training in martial arts at an amateur level alongside his studies. His love for the sport continued after graduation which made him start thinking differently about his involvement in martial arts.
He quickly realized that his mind was on his regular job as an accountant but his heart was in martial arts. Since then he fully dedicated himself to what he loved and today he is an international mixed martial arts athlete representing Greece all over the world. Finally, in the sport of Brazillian Jiu Jitsu he has won several times the national championship as well as European tournaments.
John's journey shows exactly the militancy, commitment, dedication, faith and will that theSPEAKERS activity represents!
Alexandra Stamatopoulou
Alexandra Stamatopoulou is the bronze medalist of the Paralympic Games of Tokyo 2021.
At the age of 21 she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease "stiff person syndrome" which led to her being wheelchair-bound at 21. Since then, as never before in her life, she has never given up.
She is a swimmer and since 2012 she started to take part in the national swimming championships for people with disabilities.
Since 2013 she is a member of the National Team of the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities.
Her international participations to date are:
-European Games (Netherlands) in 2014 (7th place)
-Berlin International Tournament 2015
-World Games (England) in 2015 (6th place)
-European Championships (Funchal) in 2016 (50 m backstroke 2nd place, 100 m freestyle 3rd place and 50 m freestyle 2nd place).
-Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 (5th place)
-World Championships in Mexico in 2018 (2nd place in the 50m freestyle, 3rd place in the 100m freestyle).
-European Championships in Dublin in 2018 (gold medal in the 50m backstroke and 4th place in the 50m freestyle).
-World Championships in London in 2019 (2nd place in the 50m backstroke and 4th place in the 50m freestyle).
-European Championships in Portugal in 2021 (gold medal in the 50m backstroke and 4th place in the 50m freestyle).
-Paralympic Games Tokyo 2021 (bronze medal)
Alexandra Stamatopoulou
Alexandra Stamatopoulou is the bronze medalist of the Paralympic Games of Tokyo 2021.
At the age of 21 she was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease "stiff person syndrome" which led to her being wheelchair-bound at 21. Since then, as never before in her life, she has never given up.
She is a swimmer and since 2012 she started to take part in the national swimming championships for people with disabilities.
Since 2013 she is a member of the National Team of the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities.
Her international participations to date are:
-European Games (Netherlands) in 2014 (7th place)
-Berlin International Tournament 2015
-World Games (England) in 2015 (6th place)
-European Championships (Funchal) in 2016 (50 m backstroke 2nd place, 100 m freestyle 3rd place and 50 m freestyle 2nd place).
-Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 (5th place)
-World Championships in Mexico in 2018 (2nd place in the 50m freestyle, 3rd place in the 100m freestyle).
-European Championships in Dublin in 2018 (gold medal in the 50m backstroke and 4th place in the 50m freestyle).
-World Championships in London in 2019 (2nd place in the 50m backstroke and 4th place in the 50m freestyle).
-European Championships in Portugal in 2021 (gold medal in the 50m backstroke and 4th place in the 50m freestyle).
-Paralympic Games Tokyo 2021 (bronze medal)
Katerina Topouzoglou
Katerina Topouzoglou is the founder of the environmental organisation All For Blue, which is involved in educational programmes in schools and companies for the protection of the sea. She also organizes experiential coastal and underwater cleaning actions throughout Greece and abroad.
Her love for the underwater world and sharks leads her to participate in international research projects for their protection.
She is the captain of the National Underwater target Shooting Team with world and pan-European distinctions, from 2015 to date.
Picture credits: Noel Lopez Fernandez
Stefanos Xenakis
He studied Business Administration at the Supreme School of Economics and Business (now Athens University of Economics and Business) and MBA at Manchester Business School.
He worked as an executive and entrepreneur in the advertising industry from 1993 to 2015. Since then he has been pursuing his passion for self-improvement and personal development, which he passionately serves through his writings and speeches.
His first book GIFT was released in June 2018. His second book CAPTAIN was released in June 2019. His third book GIFT #2 was released in June 2020.
He is currently working intensively on his dream, the course YES I CAN, a course of values and self-awareness, which he aspires to introduce in all schools in Greece from the first grade onwards. YES I CAN has already started to be taught on a research basis in several schools in Greece. Proud father of 2 girls aged 10 and 13.
Stefanos Xenakis
He studied Business Administration at the Supreme School of Economics and Business (now Athens University of Economics and Business) and MBA at Manchester Business School.
He worked as an executive and entrepreneur in the advertising industry from 1993 to 2015. Since then he has been pursuing his passion for self-improvement and personal development, which he passionately serves through his writings and speeches.
His first book GIFT was released in June 2018. His second book CAPTAIN was released in June 2019. His third book GIFT #2 was released in June 2020.
He is currently working intensively on his dream, the course YES I CAN, a course of values and self-awareness, which he aspires to introduce in all schools in Greece from the first grade onwards. YES I CAN has already started to be taught on a research basis in several schools in Greece. Proud father of 2 girls aged 10 and 13.
Haris Aslanidis
Haris was diagnosed at the age of 2 with spinal muscular atrophy. Since then, he never stopped making his dreams come true and travelling around the world to the countries he wants to visit.
He is a digital marketing entrepreneur through Ape1r0n and Chief of Staff at MoRo Technology.
He met Apostolis (founder of theSPEAKERS) when they ran togetherthe Athens Authentic Marathon in 2019 with MDA Hellas.
And as Haris says, "We should be grateful for we have, and forget about what we don’t have.
It is an honor for us to have Harris as one of our Ambassadors!
Konstantinos Peristeris
Konstantinos Peristeris is an obstetrician-gynecologist.
He went to school at the Athens Colleague and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague. He began his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at King's College Hospital in London and completed his residency at the Aretaio University Hospital of Athens.
He has been on missions with Médecins Sans Frontières, has been a paratrooper at the Special Forces in the Greek Army and is a powerful public speaker. When he doesn’t bring a new life into the world he helps people communicate better and grow through his work with theSPEAKERS!
Konstantinos Peristeris
Konstantinos Peristeris is an obstetrician-gynecologist.
He went to school at the Athens Colleague and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague. He began his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at King's College Hospital in London and completed his residency at the Aretaio University Hospital of Athens.
He has been on missions with Médecins Sans Frontières, has been a paratrooper at the Special Forces in the Greek Army and is a powerful public speaker. When he doesn’t bring a new life into the world he helps people communicate better and grow through his work with theSPEAKERS!
