SPOTLIGHT: EPHEMIA NICOLAKIS

Student, attending Quinnipiac University

I am a third-year 3+1 student at Quinnipiac University double majoring in Graphic Design and Public Relations. I am currently a Social Media Coordinator at a religious national non-profit, co-chair a scholarship fund at Quinnipiac, am a Web Designer for a disability news organization called Ability Media, and own my own photography business.

What inspired you to join NYWICI?

Getting awarded the NYWICI scholarship in 2022 was life-changing. Experiencing Matrix and meeting the other scholarship winners was so fun and only solidified my decision that I wanted to be a member! After becoming a part of this community of incredible women, I knew I had made the right choice. The amazing support, opportunities, and the people that I have met have been so inspiring.

What piece of career advice do you live by?

I think I often live by advice that I was given which was to say yes to opportunity. That being said, I have definitely been learning more about the value and importance of saying no when needed, for not only my mental health but for my future!

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I am a Gold Award Girl Scout! My community-based project focused on sustainability in Orthodox Christian communities.

What’s the best thing you’ve watched/ listened to/ or read recently?

I recently finished reading “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek for my MBA class. I am always inspired by Sinek’s writing as he brings up the important aspects of leadership that we don’t often think about when moving into leadership roles.

What 5 people living, or dead would you invite for dinner?

I would invite my Papou Alex (my maternal grandfather), my Yiayia Kaye (my paternal grandmother), my Papou Manoli (my paternal grandfather), my dad, and my mom. I was not only raised by all of these incredibly important people, but I know that there is so much more that I can learn from them, especially my Papou Alex who passed away two years ago. The amount of knowledge of business, etiquette, and even just common sense they share between the five of them is immense and unlike anything I could learn anywhere else.