Maryam Rezaei
Chrissoula Manolakaki
Panos Chreppas
Stamatis Tsagias
Asimeni TountaPopi Skagia
Family… how important is it? A stable, healthy, and loving family that accepts you as you are, gives you wings to fly, and supports you no matter what—that's the family of the multitalented Popi Skagia. Alongside her brother Kostas, Popi leads the stationery industry in Greece.
Popi Skagia is a remarkable entrepreneur, and here is why... What struck me most and what I find incredibly admirable, is her accessibility and simplicity. Typically, CEOs of even smaller companies play it hard to get… requiring multiple levels of screening to get their attention. And the larger the company the harder it gets!
But not at SKAG, and especially not with their CEO, Popi Skagia! They exemplify how a large company, with over 100 employees, can be successful while remaining accessible, family-oriented, and friendly.
I remember calling the first time, biased that they wouldn’t put me through, so naturally I asked to speak with her secretary…and with great amazement the receptionist told me: “would you like to speak with Ms Skagia directly?” That is what I call a successful organization; when all the employees are friendly, helpful and feel safe to feel their workplace like “home”! And believe me with my long years of experience as an HR consultant that is very hard to come by.
Walking into their building, I was greeted by a subtle scent of peach…everyone I encountered with had a genuine friendly smile and their offices where full of colorful stationary, taking me back to my childhood years when I used my SKAG blue notebooks:)!
This leading Greek company was founded by Popi’s father, Theodor Skagia, who brought to life his dream a “Super International” stationary company, as he called it. What began as a small home production has grown into a leading firm with exports to 35 countries, producing over 8.5 million products annually in Greece, and earning numerous awards for quality and sustainability.
I must emphasize Popi’s wonderful qualities…Despite my questions about her achievements, she spoke more about her admiration for her father, mother, brother, and nephew. Here’s what I managed to learn about her: She’s been a part of the company for as long as she can remember. As a child, she and her siblings eagerly looked forward to accompanying their father on product deliveries as it would result in fun times with candies... Growing up, her parents gave her the freedom to choose her path, and she chose to pursue her passion for psychology.
After receiving her degree in psychology, she told her family that she wanted to pursue a career in psychology abroad. However, her genius father having seen beyond the obvious, asked her to help him out for a few months regarding administration before she left for abroad. But deep inside he knew that she would thrive within their company and at the same time would take SKAG to the next level! And he was right. What began as a few months in an administrative role evolved into establishing exports that actually resulted in more than one third of the company’s overall sales! Later, thriving in the marketing department for 2 decades, and eventually joining the board of directors as CEO, alongside her brother Kostas, who serves as the president of SKAG.
Popi Skagia has come a long way. Together with her family, she has achieved incredible things for SKAG. They have built a company with top-notch innovative machinery, addressed a wide range of market needs, created exports while competing with international leaders, and produced products that meet numerous ISO standards. They have also cultivated a strong, interconnected, and friendly workplace for their employees. Despite all the setbacks in the Greek market, they have managed to remain market leaders and keep excelling.
Their father’s legacy of creating a “Super International” company lives on strongly through Popi and her brother, Kostas—something we rarely see in family-run businesses.
Popi Skagia’s story is one of dedication, family values, and business acumen. Her journey from a psychology graduate to the CEO of a leading stationery company is inspiring. The balance of professional success with a warm, family-oriented approach makes SKAG a unique and admirable company.
Our takeaway from her: keep it simple, stay grounded, and never stop striving for excellence.
https://www.skag.gr/
