Remote working or online studying has become routine during COVID-19, but Greek-Australian Chrissy Symeonakis knows all too well what it is like to live and work from home.

Since 2013, when she was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, she has thrived despite her illness. Now, both she and her digital marketing agency Creative Little Soul, are finalists in two categories of the 2021 Sydney City Business Awards: Outstanding Business Leader and Excellence in Micro Business.

“It’s lovely to be considered and nominated. I’ve lived in Sydney for nearly 14 years now and it really feels like my home. I love the city and community, so it’s great to be recognised as a finalist,” Ms Symeonakis told Neos Kosmos.

Ms Symeonakis, whose Greek origins are from Evros in Northern Greece, started Creative Little Soul more than eight years ago after she was given the news that she suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, a progressive disease and chronic illness which affects the central nervous system.

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“I lost the vision permanently in my right eye. This and the consequent fatigue mean a work-from-home option was necessary for me. I started my own business which allowed me to work completely from home, online and on social media, assisting with marketing and strategies for businesses all over the world,” Ms Symeonakis said.

“All of this is to keep me positive and busy doing all I can to help others and myself.”

Running a digital marketing agency brings many challenges such as long hours, being ready at all times for your clients and keeping up to date with new innovations in technology.

“Things move quickly in the digital world and space and anything can happen online. I work usually six days a week and late into the evening, but I love it,” Ms Symeonakis said.

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“We work on everything from posters and paid adds, media opportunities and websites, plus more such as branding and styling too. I now have a team of 15 work for me which is kind of cool.”

Creative Little Soul has lots of clients in the hospitality industry, presenting them with various challenges in the COVID-19 era, though this has not hampered Ms Symeonakis.

“Not being able to open, running at only take away and delivery has meant the money they have to spend is limited or non-existent with us. We didn’t qualify for any Jobkeeper nor did I want to put myself or my team on Job Seeker, so we as a team worked really hard to work with other industries and businesses and it made us re-look our brand and offerings,” Ms Symeonakis said.

“During COVID, we started two new businesses which are all doing really well and it has meant we’re able to help a lot of small businesses and ourselves too.”

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With all of her business ventures, Ms Symeonakis still has plenty of time to connect with her Greek roots, especially with her grandmother Chryssoula, who is on her 80s and whose name she was given.

“I call my yiayia every Sunday to talk to her. She shares stories of our family and photos with me too. She is my most favourite person in the entire world. I just adore her,” Ms Symeonakis said.

“When I was a teenager, I used to volunteer at the ABC Radio in Renmark (my hometown in South Australia) and it was my job to put the weekly Greek radio show to air. My yiayia would make a list of words I couldn’t pronounce properly to give me feedback from when she listened and tuned in.”

Her grandparents, along with her then two-year-old father Jim arrived in Australia in 1956 and settled in South Australia. They originate from the village of Koufovouno near Didymoteicho. She also has Scottish connections from her mother’s side.

The winners of this year’s Sydney City Business Awards will be announced on 26 November, but it is not yet confirmed whether this will be an in-person event or online.