Anastasios Skylodimos studied BA (Hons) Business Management at Metropolitan College, one of Queen Margaret University’s collaborative partner institutions in Greece, graduating in 2025 and receiving a prize for achieving one of the top marks in his class. During his studies, Anastasios balanced work in his family business alongside his degree, developing strong knowledge in business, finance and strategy that he now applies in practice.
Why did you choose to study with one of QMU's collaborative partner institutions, and what attracted you to the course?
I chose to study through a partner institution in Greece during the year 2021, as the Covid pandemic in combination with the location and the fact that there was afternoon classes gave me the flexibility I needed to combine work and study. I work at my family business, so I knew this course would help strengthen my knowledge on business, finance, and strategy.
What did you enjoy most about your course?
I am primarily an analytical and practical learner, so I really enjoyed modules with real-world focus such as Financial Planning and Control which stood out to me for its clear explanation of how business finances operate and how financial analysis can be used to assess the health of an organisation. Then there were modules such as Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Start-Ups which were truly engaging, as they functioned like a workshop that required us to combine all the knowledge we gained up to that point in the degree to develop a business plan from the ground up. And finally, Business Research Methods were also highly valuable, as it helped me understand how to think, write and conduct research in an academic manner, strengthening my analytical and critical thinking skills.
Were there any particular course activities you found especially interesting?
The course activity with the most impact for me was the presentations we had to do as team assignments, since they helped me boost my confidence in communicating ideas clearly and professionally, especially when presenting complex concepts while simultaneously managing the team. The skillset I gained from the presentations has proven valuable beyond academia and has directly supported my professional development.
Do you have any advice for students who might be interested in this course?
My main advice I would have to give is to focus on understanding the theory rather than just memorising it. Following that advice, I personally found the assignments to be really important since they motivate you to use the theory in practice and through the required research, they give you the opportunity to learn beyond the scope of the provided learning materials. So, I would advise to avoid leaving the assignments to the last minute.
What's your' top tip' for making the most of being a student, and what was the most valuable lesson you learned?
Top Tip: As many of the students struggle to understand where most of the knowledge we gained would be useful in an everyday scenario, I believe that actively linking theory to real-world examples is essential. An example of that would be analyzing the financial ratios of a real company can transform abstract theory and mathematical formulas into practical insights, helping you gain a better understanding.
The most valuable lesson I learned: Learning to think critically rather than accepting information at face value. I believed that the course helped me improve my critical thinking skills and the way I think in general, since it encouraged me to question my assumptions, evaluate the evidence and form my own well-reasoned conclusions.
Can you tell us about your life post-graduation?
After graduation, I continued to work in my family business, where the knowledge I gained has helped me better understand the company’s strategic and operational needs, enabling me to contribute more effectively and propose ideas that would benefit the growth of the business.
In parallel, I am applying the comprehensive business understanding I developed through the course to the configuration and customisation of our ERP system, streamlining our processes, enhancing digitalisation, while tailoring the whole system to meet the specific requirements for our operations.
In the near future, I intend to continue my academic development through a master’s degree in fields such as digital transformation or AI implementation in businesses as I see a strong synergy between my undergraduate studies, the emerging technology driven fields and the way they will influence organisations.
