Photo provided by Vasie Papadopoulos
Longtrepreneur continues to bring the best-in-class tech and business leaders to get their take on long-term thinking in the world of Commerce, Corporate Communications, Technology and Entrepreneurship.
This week’s “Take the L” series guest is a personality who needs no introduction: Vasie (Vasiliki) Papadopoulos, MSC, MBA – Ivey School of Business – Western University.
Here is the conversation in an interview format between Yawar Abbas(Longtrepreneur) and Vasie Papadopoulos(Argyle).
Yawar Abbas: What is the meaning of your name? What is its origin?
Vasie Papadopoulos: My full name is Vasie Papadopoulos, but I go by Vasie. Vasie is Greek for ‘Queen’ or ‘Royal’; the word’s origins come from the male version of ‘King’ or ‘Royal,’ which is Vassilios (“basileus/βασιλεύς” = king). My parents have joked over the years that they hope to have aptly named me, but I fundamentally got my name Vasie from my beloved great-grandmother, whose story was a remarkable one.
Yawar Abbas: What advice do you give entrepreneurs on getting their storytelling right for their startups?
Vasie Papadopoulos: It is difficult with startups since funding can be a challenge in the initial stages of a company; however, like building an MVP – a minimal viable product – every startup should work to have an MVP when it comes to their story. Knowing why you are doing what you are doing, especially from a humanistic approach, and being able to tell that story well from the beginning will help to build that product or service much faster and with greater clarity.
Yawar Abbas: What about photography do you like?
Vasie Papadopoulos: Photography is the window into our lives. It is a way in which we can capture things in moments in time. Every time I look at a picture, especially very good ones, I am told a story. And I love telling a good story.
Yawar Abbas: Which Canadian company do you see having influential corporate communications?
Vasie Papadopoulos: I feel Shopify is a good example of a Canadian company whose mission and story is clear; their leaders are out there telling that strongly and in a transparent way and have shaped some of the way we do business in Canada today.
Is any company perfect and without their communications challenges? No, but how a company consistently communicates and navigates them is what makes for a company that communicates well.
Yawar Abbas: Amongst your parents, who had more sway over you?
Vasie Papadopoulos: I am interestingly a 50-50 split of my parents when it comes to my personality: outgoing and social with a strong work ethic like my mother, and steadfast, resilient, and introspective like my father.
Yawar Abbas: How did you break the glass ceiling at PMI?
Vasie Papadopoulos: I am not sure I broke any glass ceilings at PMI, but I worked to help look at things differently and come up with creative and different ways for the company to approach its goals, including with how we address women’s issues and give women more of a voice corporately.
Yawar Abbas: How do you see the gender pay gap in Canada
decreasing? Or are we still far out as a nation?
Vasie Papadopoulos: The gender pay gap over the years has shrunk, but there is still a lot of research to show that it isn’t shrinking fast enough. According to the Pay Equity Office of Ontario, on an hourly basis, women still make 87 cents on average for every dollar made by a man. There is still work to do, but I believe there are various ways – both structurally and as individuals that we can tackle this.
How can we ultimately bridge the pay gap as women? I say negotiate, negotiate, negotiate, know your worth, say no to office housework and create the economic and social reasons to get and gain that equity. However, the onus isn’t just on women to push for this. We need allies and allies in positions of power to listen and help bridge that gap!
Yawar Abbas: What is something in your life that you indulge in your free time?
Vasie Papadopoulos: Reading. I not only love to read (I try to read 20-25 books a year; try is the imperative word most years), but I love libraries and book coffee shops. I could spend hours in them and when I travel, I ensure they are included in my itinerary. There is a wonderful Instagram handle called @1000libraries that provides me inspiration.
Yawar Abbas: What is the one piece of advice you have for minority young women who are starting their careers today?
Vasie Papadopoulos: Be steadfast in yourself and the value you bring to your work. Don’t waver.
Yawar Abbas: What are the most impactful things OurWrite has accomplished in the last nine years?
Vasie Papadopoulos: Focusing on local impact for women – with any project we are asked to volunteer on – is the best way to contribute towards lasting change. For example, helping to build a daycare in a remote part of the world so women can build their businesses while ensuring they have childcare options is exactly how local change occurs.
Yawar Abbas: What is your favourite cuisine?
Vasie Papadopoulos: I am obviously biased, but I think Greek food is some of the best in the world. If I had to pick others, it would be Italian, Mexican, and Indian food.
Yawar Abbas: What led you to launch a shoe line?
Vasie Papadopoulos: I love, love shoes. They are an expression of my style and my personality. Therefore, finding an accelerator program to work with to start my journey into designing my own shoes was an easy choice.
Yawar Abbas: What is the best way for people to connect with you?
Vasie Papadopoulos: I live to connect with people. Human connection is what fuels me. So, reaching out to me on various social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram (and Gmail) are the best way to connect. If you are looking for a genuine connection and reach out, I will reply.
Gmail: vasiep1@gmail.com
IG: @vasiepapadopoulos
Yawar Abbas: Who do you want to nominate for the “Take the L” interview series with me on Longtrepreneur?
Vasie Papadopoulos:
- Kim Wright – Wright Strategies
- Sheldon Solomon – Director – Home Trust
