In an exclusive interview with newsit.gr, Themis Hasiotis — founder of Mentwr, a new venture focused on personal and professional development — discusses his latest entrepreneurial endeavor. After a 20-year career as a senior executive at the tobacco company Papastros — where he led Commercial Operations, Communications, and Sustainability — Hasiotis describes launching Mentwr as a ‘natural evolution of a journey that had matured over time’.
A Holistic Ecosystem for Growth
Mentwr is designed as a comprehensive ecosystem supporting both personal and professional empowerment. Its services target university students beginning their academic path, as well as working professionals, independent practitioners, and organizations. According to Hasiotis, the company’s self-improvement offerings are built around five core pillars: productivity, leadership, self-awareness, wellbeing, and career management.
The company’s portfolio includes more than 50 physical and digital products, grouped across ten distinct categories of tools and resources.
Next Steps: A Model Student Residence
Looking ahead, Mentwr aims to establish a flagship student residence in Peristeri by 2027. This residence will host young university students — future professionals and corporate talent — throughout their studies. Residents will simultaneously follow Mentwr’s specialized four-year educational program.
Three Pillars: Inspiration, Guidance, Action
Hasiotis explains that Mentwr’s strategic framework rests on three interconnected principles: inspiration, guidance, and action — themes he explores in depth in his recent book, Just Do It. The book outlines a ten-step methodology for career development, features thirty practical self-awareness exercises, and includes fifty experiential stories. One such story highlights the ‘growth mindset,’ which Hasiotis encapsulates in the phrase ‘We never stop’ — a philosophy he says he lived firsthand during his tenure at Papastros.
Diplomas Are Just the Entry Ticket
When asked whether academic degrees remain essential for success in today’s professional landscape, Hasiotis offers a telling analogy: degrees are merely the ‘ticket to enter the field.’ What truly matters, he stresses, is an individual’s internal ‘equipment’ — their value system, guiding principles, lived experiences, and soft skills — all of which shape long-term professional trajectories.
Mentwr operates under a structured three-year business plan, with its strategic roadmap set to unfold further in the coming months. Hasiotis also points to a defining trait of the Greek market: the overwhelming majority of domestic businesses employ fewer than ten people — a reality that shapes how Mentwr tailors its solutions for local needs.