Maria Laina

Background

About Maria Laina

Following an early career in the Travel & Tourism Industry, fueled by my passion for traveling & foreign languages, I joined the technology industry, where I worked both as a Retail Marketing Manager and, in continuation, held a regional role in the EMEA Consumer Marketing team focusing on corporate training, advocacy, and e-learning. In 2011 I entered the NGO world and served as General Manager in the Greek chapter of Europe’s largest provider of education programs for entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy. That role gave me the unique opportunity to collaborate and establish partnerships with many multinational & Greek companies, public and private organizations, and entrepreneurs. My main focus areas were strategic business growth, fundraising, events management, volunteers’ networks establishment, mentoring, curriculum development, grant writing, Marketing & Communications, and working with the board and special committees. In 2015 I joined the American College of Greece, the largest and oldest, independent, private, nonprofit, accredited American academic institution of higher education in Europe, as Executive Director of Development & Alumni Relations (Advancement). Specialties- Strategy development - Partnerships & Alliances - Fundraising - Brand, Marketing, and Corporate Communication Strategy - Community Engagement Strategies and Programs - Hospitality & Travel Management - Entrepreneurial Education - New Markets development - Curriculum development - Alumni Relations - Project Management Languages: English, Italian, French, and Spanish (native language: Greek)