ALEXANDER SHKEMBI

Alexander is a Communications student skilled in Management, Business and Advertising. Strong business development professional with a BA focused in Public Relations and Advertising from the American College of Greece. He is passionate about creating new ideas and working towards a brighter future. He considers himself to be a natural leader, reliable and organized. His strongest attribute is his positive outlook which encourages a strong team atmosphere.

“You are your future!”

Q: Tell us a few things about you! Your background, your childhood and early beginnings! 

My name is Alexander Shkembi, I am 21 years old and I am a senior at The American College of Greece. My major is communications and I would like to get into the business sector with my master's degree as soon as possible. One thing about me is that since I can remember myself I always had big goals. There is nothing that is unreachable and cannot be made true.

I started sending job applications to companies in the United States since the age of 12, writing to them that I am eager to learn more and start to work for them whenever they want. I am a person that will always get what he wants, no matter what happens. If you could ask me 10 years ago what I would think I would have done until now, I would tell you exactly what I have achieved until now.

I was the child who knew his goals from a really early age, and I am not talking about jobs, I am talking about my life goals which involve getting out of my country and building my own path. Going to the U.S. and studying was one of the goals that I did not think would come so early, even though I wanted to, but it eventually came out of nowhere and came true. Such experience changed my entire life! I cannot forget the day I had a job interview in New York, having five hours to get ready for it and find a suit.

Everything happens for a reason, as long as you go after your goals! You are your future.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

One of the major challenges in my society currently is the low salaries that dominate the job market. If you do not have any high position role in a big company, you cannot earn anything. This is the reason young people are leaving and seeking opportunities in other countries.

Q: Share with us some of the hurdles that you had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

A hurdle that I had to overcome was my awkwardness and inability to talk with people in social settings. I overcame such insecurity by talking to more and more people I do not know in places where I do not know anyone. Such a place was the U.S.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you? 

The role of a mentor is to inspire the mentees and be a role model for them.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

I have realised this multiple times in my life so far, and that is, that everything happens for a reason. I have thought of every major event that has happened in my life and realised that life plays us so badly. We think that we want something to happen but if that doesn't happen, something special is waiting for you in the future.

When I got rejected to go study abroad in the U.S. I was so sad and angry about it, because I looked forward to it so much. Three months later, I got a phone call that I was accepted to go there for the next semester. I would not have met the people I met if the initial rejection hadn't taken place. It would not be the same!

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives! 

The ONASSIS foundation is one that I admire and supports students by donating several millions of euros every year towards their scholarships and making their dreams come true.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

There are high rates of men killing women in Greece and we have observed an increase in femicides lately. The country is making efforts to raise awareness on this.

Q: Share with us a motto you live by. 

Do you, dream big, and everything will follow through.

Q: If you had all the money needed to launch the project of your dreams, can you describe what you would do? 

I would launch several little projects that I would come across, and invest in expanding them and maximizing their abilities. Go international or go home!