We were lucky to catch up with Eleni Garyfalaki recently and have shared our conversation below.

Eleni, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I was only 8 years old when the idea of the business came up. It was not, of course, a business idea, but rather a childhood dream of an ideal school. An idea full of freedom, inspiration, imagination and creativity. Much later, about 24 years later, when some failures and disappointments arose, I went back to my childhood dream for strength and so I made the brave decision to make the dream a reality. But beyond a childhood wish, it was also a deep need of mine as an adult to create something for all children, including my own, to experience an ideal educational process that would inspire their own dreams.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been working in the education sector for more than 20 years. It’s a job I’ve always wanted to do, ever since I can remember myself. Growing up, I observed my teachers and tutors and would pick out the moments when a teacher helped a student reach their potential and rise. When, as a student, I came into contact with the theory of Multiple Intelligences, I became aware of a new dimension and perspective in the educational process, which I have been trying to expand in every way over the last 20 years: through writing books, creating a new pedagogical theory I call Spin Theory, and teaching groups of students of all ages in my own space called “Kalos Agogos”.

The students who come to my business experience a unique learning process, which brings out their potential and helps them to understand how they learn best. They discover the importance of imagining and creating, as well as collaborating and sharing their ideas.
Over the last 4 years our activities have expanded to older age groups, targeting large companies and their staff to help them with innovation, creativity and co-creation.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The creation of this business, as I mentioned earlier, came from a childhood dream. There was nothing like it anywhere else, nor was there a clear business plan. I just knew in my heart that there was a need for such a business and that it would work out well because it had a truth in it. It sounds too romantic for sure and I won’t argue with that, as we had 2-3 customers every week for the first year. I had a hard time communicating exactly what I was doing or what my purpose was. I remember my husband and I mopping up and crying because we were desperate. And then, I thought to myself, I was very lucky because I was able to make a big dream come true and I wasn’t going to let it be shattered. I put the despair aside and started devising imaginative activities and school visits. I used the power of social media and friends and acquaintances. And the best part: when they called me to reserve a place, I told them there were no more places! So, slowly, a need was created that they didn’t know they had. The phone calls increased and so did the word of mouth advertising. Just what I needed. I knew that for a long time I wouldn’t have money to pay bills, but I had faith and a lot of patience. And I was confirmed.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner and I have been married since 2004. In 2012 we were quite disappointed with the situation in our country and were seriously considering to seek our fortune abroad. Just before we started moving in this direction, my husband told me: “Don’t you think that maybe all these skills and dreams we have should be tried here first?”. I objected, saying “But the education system is completely awful, how are we going to raise our children here?” And then he gave me the magic talk that created the conditions for us to start our business: “Well, then, let’s create a school like the one we would like our kids to go to.” And that was a great first step.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.kalosagogos.gr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalos_agogos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EleniGarifalaki/ & https://www.facebook.com/kalosagogos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenigarifalaki/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/EleniGarifalaki
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/kalosagogostv
• Other: https://pinterest.com/elenigarifalaki/

Image Credits
Image credits: Petros Koliavasilis – Project Studio