George Fylaktou holds a degree in Literature, three postgraduate degrees and a PhD from Hayek University. His personal goals for the coming years are the development and establishment of the Xenion Boarding School, the boarding school, as well as the development of a network of collaborations with other educational institutions and schools abroad as was done recently with the Guangdong Guangya High School by China. In his free time, he enjoys the mountains, the sea and is engaged in traditional fishing.
The Director of Xenion Education. is a member of the millennial generation. That is, the entrepreneurs who were born from the beginning of the 80's until the end of the 90's. Those who, while still focused on ensuring the profitability of their companies, are also interested in making their own change in the world.
George Fylaktou reveals to the camera of InBusinessNews, aspects of his professional and personal life.
What are the main activities of Xenion Education?
Xenion Education has been active in the field of education for 39 years. We started in 1980 with the establishment of the Xenion Institute, a Private Tutoring Center, which expanded with 9 branches throughout the province of Famagusta offering options from a wide range of courses. In 2001 we founded Xenion High School, a bilingual seven-grade Secondary School. Then came the Xenion Junior School, a Primary School and the Xenion PreSchool, a Pre-School. At the same time, we operate the Xenion Unistudies Services which offers guidance and career guidance services and the Xenion Summer Fun Club. We have also been operating with great success since 2005 the Cyprus School of English for students aged 5-18 from European and other countries, who are hosted for educational holidays in Cyprus. In recent years, the Xenion Boarding School has been operating, a boarding school for students who wish to attend our school. Hopefully, the construction of the new accommodation centers for our students will be completed soon.
How important are the people of the organization to you plet;
The people at Xenion are the body itself. The members of the management, the teachers, the teachers and all the support staff, these are Xenion Education. The same of course on the other hand, our students and their parents. As an organization people are what we value most.
What are your personal work goals for the next 5 years?
My personal goals for the next 5 years are the development and establishment of the Xenion Boarding School, the boarding school, as well as the development of a network of collaborations with other educational institutions and schools abroad, as was done recently with Guangdong Guangya High School by China. Also, the goal is the development and creation of a new business activity and investment in the tourism sector.
How difficult is it to work in a family business?
There is an extensive literature and many seminars are held on family businesses and especially on the difficulties they face. My personal experience and opinion is that 90% of the success of a family business is based on what parents will give to their children long before they enter the business. I consider myself very lucky and happy that my parents, both to me and to my three siblings, have passed on values and ideals, the passion for education but especially the love between us, the understanding, the support, the constant effort for improvement. I feel really happy working with my siblings because I feel like I always have someone by my side. How much more to have three not one! There are definitely disagreements between us. But when you know that the goal is common, the situations are treated in good faith and the glass is half full, then everything is solved.
What is the best business advice you have ever received and from where?
The best business advice I have received is that success requires hard, honest and clean work trying to never wrong anyone and giving all the importance we need to everyone whether it is family and friends or teachers and school staff or for students and their parents.
What and where did you study?
I got my first degree in Literature from the University of York. I then obtained a TEFL, an English language teaching degree, a Master's degree in Education Management from King's College of the University of London and an MBA from the University of Cyprus. I also recently completed my PhD at Hayek University.
What time do you start work in the morning and what time do you leave the office?
I wake up at 6 in the morning and am at the office at 7.15. There is no time to leave the office, I usually try to leave at 5.30-6.00 in the afternoon, but this depends on the obligations inside or outside the office. Every day I sleep between 11-12 at night, after my 3 boys finish me up.
How do you achieve work life balance?
The truth is that work life balance is difficult, and I usually feel that sometimes I do a little injustice to my wife and my 3 boys. Fortunately, Sophia also takes care of this, to remind me quite often. Outside of work I like to do sea and traditional fishing, mountain and my dogs.
Which book have you read the most?
One of the last books I have read and I particularly liked is "Ta eis ego" by Markos Aurelios.
Source: inbusinessnews.reporter