Konstantinos Kosmadakis graduated from Metropolitan College’s Downtown campus in Athens in 2026 with a BA (Hons) Marketing Management, achieving one of the highest marks in his year. Balancing his studies with roles as a brand ambassador for two French wine producers and a Food and Beverage Manager within the hotel industry, he used his degree to strengthen his marketing knowledge and develop skills he could apply across both sectors. He reflects on how his studies have supported his professional development and his ambitions to establish his own marketing and business development consultancy.
Why did you choose to study with one of QMU's collaborative partner institutions, and what attracted you to the course?
I chose Metropolitan College after researching and comparing colleges in Greece, taking into account both my own priorities and feedback from friends and acquaintances. This process helped me identify it as the best fit for my educational needs and professional goals.
My decision to study Marketing Management was closely connected to my career. For the past five years, I have been a brand ambassador for two French wine producers, Château Favori in Provence and Champagne Nicolas Maillart, with responsibility for the Greek and Cypriot markets. I had also been offered the opportunity to develop their presence in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe. I wanted to gain a deeper academic understanding of marketing to support these responsibilities and make better-informed strategic decisions.
I was also attracted by the relevance of marketing across different industries. Alongside my work in the wine industry, I work as a Food and Beverage Manager for a large hotel company, where understanding customers and communicating value are equally important. Looking ahead, my ambition is to establish my own consultancy company specialising in integrated marketing and business development. The programme was therefore a way to strengthen my contribution to my existing roles while building a foundation for my own business.
What did you enjoy most about your course?
What I enjoyed most was gaining new knowledge and being able to apply it directly to my professional roles throughout my studies. This connection between theory and practice made the learning experience particularly rewarding, as I could put what I was learning into practice in my day-to-day work. It is something I continue to benefit from today.
I also greatly enjoyed the excellent working relationship I had with my lecturers. Their guidance and the opportunity to exchange ideas with them were valuable parts of my experience.
Were there any particular course activities you found especially interesting?
I enjoyed the variety of activities throughout the programme. The assignments were well focused and helped me develop a deeper understanding of the topics covered. Presentations were another valuable part of the experience, giving me the opportunity to present my work in my own way, within the course requirements, and develop my communication skills in a supportive environment.
I particularly enjoyed the group projects because they involved working with people who had different perspectives and ways of approaching a task. Producing a strong result required coordination, collaboration and a commitment from each of us to take responsibility for our contribution. I found the process of bringing those different perspectives together very rewarding.
The highlight, however, was my dissertation. I greatly appreciated the flexibility to choose a topic within Marketing Management that interested me personally. The excellent support and guidance I received from my supervisor, together with our close collaboration, made the experience especially rewarding and contributed to the final result.
Do you have any advice for students who might be interested in this course?
My first piece of advice would be to take time to explore what you want to do after graduation and whether the programme supports those goals. Above all, make sure that Marketing Management is something you enjoy and want to study. Research the course and talk to people you trust, including friends and family, while keeping your own interests, needs and ambitions at the centre of your decision. Consider how marketing knowledge could support your future, whether you hope to work within an organisation or establish your own business.
Once you begin, make the connection between theory and practice wherever possible. Applying what you learn to your work or looking at how it relates to businesses around you, can make the subject more meaningful and easier to understand. This was particularly valuable in my own experience.
I would also encourage students to participate actively, ask questions and exchange ideas with their lecturers. Approach each assignment and presentation with care and commitment, aiming to deepen your understanding and produce work you are proud of, rather than simply completing a course requirement.
Finally, be prepared to dedicate time to your studies. If you are working alongside the course, organising your time well will help you engage more deeply with what you are learning and get more from the experience.
What's your' top tip' for making the most of being a student, and what was the most valuable lesson you learned?
My top tip would be to stay curious and open to learning, both from your course and from the people around you. Take time to build relationships with fellow students and lecturers, listen to different perspectives and use feedback to improve. I would also encourage students to enjoy the experience and recognise their progress along the way.
The most valuable lesson I learned was that there is always room to develop, even when you already have professional experience. My work helped me relate to the subjects we studied, while my studies encouraged me to question familiar approaches and reconsider how I worked. Collaborating with people who thought differently also taught me to appreciate how much other perspectives can contribute to a shared result.
Balancing my studies with professional responsibilities reinforced the value of patience and consistent effort. Breaking demanding goals into manageable steps helped me move forward and showed me how much can be achieved through steady commitment over time.
Can you tell us about your life post-graduation?
Following graduation, I continue to work as a brand ambassador for Château Favori and Champagne Nicolas Maillart, with responsibility for the Greek and Cypriot markets, alongside my role as a Food and Beverage Manager for a large hotel company. I now have more time to focus on my professional development, drawing on the knowledge gained during my studies to approach challenges more systematically and make better informed marketing decisions. Developing the wine producers’ presence in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe is also an opportunity I am interested in exploring.
I have already begun preparing to establish my own consultancy company specialising in integrated marketing and business development. I am taking a steady, considered approach, allowing time to build a strong foundation. I also intend to include services relating to business sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, an area I find particularly interesting and valuable.
On a personal level, I feel a great sense of satisfaction from completing my degree while maintaining my professional responsibilities and achieving strong academic results. I thoroughly enjoyed the learning journey and the experience has given me greater confidence in my next steps. I would like to continue that journey by pursuing an MBA, further developing my knowledge as I work towards my professional and entrepreneurial goals.
