Alumnus Profiled: Vasilis Maritsas
Graduated: Deree 2005
Current Role: Partner at EY Cybersecurity Consulting Services
Vasilis is a Deree alumnus (‘05) with a BSc in Computer Information Science. From the early days, he displayed a passion for cybersecurity and ethical hacking. Deree played a pivotal role in nurturing his exploration of this then-emerging field of Computer Science. Continuing his educational journey, Vasilis pursued an MSc in Cybersecurity from Royal Holloway, University of London, further expanding his knowledge in the domain.
Currently, Vasilis is a Partner at EY Cybersecurity Consulting Services, where he leads the regional offensive security and cybersecurity strategy offerings. His strategic leadership and expertise have contributed significantly to the growth and success of the firm.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Vasilis enjoys various hobbies, including photography, snowboarding, music, and two passions that have truly stood the test of time: windsurfing and hacking.
Vasilis remains an unwavering supporter of Deree, cherishing the fond memories he amassed during his four and a half years on campus, and continues to be a vocal advocate for the institution.
Q&A
Q: What are three enduring values Deree has taught you?
Ambition, perseverance, and a can-do-will-do mentality.
Q: Describe Deree in three words.
Sic Parvis Magna.
Q: Which is your fondest memory from your time at Deree?
The orientation day, for sure. That was the start of a new era for me, opening up with so much potential!
Q: What do you miss most from your days at Deree?
Spending time with friends.
Q: If you could go back in time, is there anything that you would do differently?
Yes, I would invest more time in “being there” and living it “more.”
Q: Where was your favorite spot on campus?
The terrace, outside of the library.
Q: Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Prof. Evgenia Vagianou is still the best for me. (I think) she believed in me so much that it ignited a desire to excel in the field of science that I’ve chosen.
Q: After graduation, have you maintained a relationship with your school and classmates?
Of course. Almost 20 years later, I still have some very close friends from that time.
Q: Looking back, how did your time at Deree help you become the person you are today?
If you want to get results, you will need to do the work. This goes the other way around as well. If you do the work, you will get the results. For some context, I never enjoyed studying much, but there was a semester when something sparked, and I said I would get straight this time. I reorganized my life around this, stayed on the path, and gave my best. To this day, I remember myself, four months later, looking at the semester results board, smiling and saying to myself, boy, you did it!
Q: What advice would you give a new Deree student?
Respect the time you spend in Deree. You will never get it back, so make it count in any way that is important to you.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Family, books, hacks, and music lyrics.
Q: What is your motto in life?
What is past is prologue.
ACG Alumni: We Stay Connected!
