Nicholas Kondoprias ’89 and his father after the School of Business lecture.
In the midst of a remarkable global career, Nicholas Kondoprias ’89 found himself back at his alma mater for an installment of the spring 2018 School of Business Lecture Series. From Manhattan and Germany to Italy and Greece, Kondoprias came back to visit where it all began, Albany, New York. Currently, he resides in Greece with his family.
His desire to settle in Greece began during his time studying abroad while at Siena. During his year abroad, he made a connection with a family acquaintance which ultimately guided him to the world of shipping. But that was just the start for Kondoprias.
“I came back to Siena for my senior year and I knew I had to keep growing and learning.”
He did just that- finding an internship in Albany at a company that had never had an intern before. Instead of moving on and continuing his search, he developed a program for them - creating his own internship agenda. His drive and passion for the shipping field eventually brought him back to where it all began, Greece.
“I was on a very fast track in my career. But every day I was put into difficult situations that were keeping me up at night…I was sitting at my desk all day talking on the phone. It didn’t feel like I was contributing anything.”
So, he made a drastic change, shifting his career to the world of art - where he found passion for the culture and education that came with the field.
“I wouldn’t be doing what I am today if it weren’t for my background in shipping. The logistics are the same. Instead of moving millions of tons of oils around the world, I’m now moving art collections around the world.”
In 2010, he partnered with the founder of the Herakleidon Museum to establish the PAN Art Connections Inc. which focuses on the management of fine art and science based collections - providing exhibitions to museums around the world. His passion and dedication to community outreach and scholarships for the less fortunate has benefited thousands of students in Greece.
“I’m still learning as I go. I don’t have all the answers yet - I don’t think I ever will… But [my wife and I] are really excited about making a difference, helping the world through art and education.”
