From inception up until the setting up process, how did you start your business?
As a fashion designer I had my own manufacturing plant and retail chain in the mid 80s called Studio Jianni.
At the same time I was also involved in property development and during the recession of 1991 I lost millions in property development.
That played a major role prompting me to redevelop into a different human being. In the meantime, I studied International Business Management at Monash University and Media Relations at RMIT that I followed up with psychotherapy.
Together with my wife and best friend Patricia we launched a new coaching seminar business that specialises in personal and business brand management.
Nowadays, we are represented in 18 different countries and we have branded over the time executives, politicians, entertainers and elite sports figures including AFL football and soccer as well as your average fellow who strives to be his best or her best in this lifetime.
Did your Greek Australian background help you or impede you during your early days?
I’m a migrant child; I was born in Nea Ionia Athens and I came to Australia at the age of 6. As a migrant child you always wonder where you really belong and as you mature you become more grounded in that question.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve been impeded however the old story goes: if the experience doesn’t destroy you it can only strengthen you.
What would you say stands out as the comparative advantage of your business over the competition?
Our organization is counterintuitive and controversial and we’re not afraid to speak the truth.
A big key to our banding is authenticity and our righteousness persists at times because our intention is to support the people or the organisation to maximise their potential, so we don’t apologise for our approach.
I mention this because most of our competitors are scared to do this and keep on playing a political game. Our clients cannot afford political games .
What they want is a lot of support to get where they want to go as quickly as possible. In the present turbulent economic times authentic leadership is what we offer our clients.
How is business currently?
Our business growth is currently on a record for the last three months and our figures are bigger than last or the year before that.
The reason for that is going back to our differentiating factor.
The current market and people are scared of losing their jobs or their businesses and relationships are breaking left right and centre.
That is why people are looking to be led. I don’t mean to sound arrogant but people are looking for some sort of leadership.
We have also diversified our business: We have a holistic spa concept in India and we have a luxury goods business in China.
Another company I have is a sports management business that specialises in bringing South American soccer players to the Asia Pacific market.
What is your vision for the future of your business?
I want to continue doing what I love.
I can guarantee you on my last days on my death bed I will be celebrating the extensive life I have of great experiences.
I expect the business to continue growing in an eclectic manner and eclectic is a key word because it’s also part of my personality.
Asia is the future for us and we’re all very fortunate to be based in the Southern hemisphere in this time of history.
Given you’re an image consultant do you believe that the Greek community in Australia in general needs an image facelift?
Our image needs serious work and I’m not going to mention other communities that do it better than us.
Overall, long term we need to keep on repositioning ourselves as the great community we are and also the people that we are with unique spirit.