One of the gifts of the Cambridge MBA is the chance to work on a real consulting project for a client over four weeks. Thanks to guidance from Katy Harrison in the MBA Careers Team, I navigated the selection process and ended up with Navarino. As a Navarino Scholar, that felt like a full-circle moment I could not ignore.
What I did not expect was that the journey would begin with a visa miracle.
The week before the trip, I was stressed. Refreshing emails. Checking updates. Praying over my Schengen visa.
Then God came through.
Passport on Friday. Flight to Greece on Sunday.
And just like that, the story began.
The Journey Begins
Sunday morning started with a bit of chaos.
Jennifer came over to Wolfson and she ordered an Uber to the station. The driver cancelled on us, which made us miss our train.
For a moment, panic.
But we caught the next one at 8:51 am and somehow, everything still worked out. We got to Heathrow Airport on time, checked in, cleared security, and made our 1pm flight.
Jennifer was amazing through it all, helping me with my bags from Cambridge to Heathrow without a single complaint.
At the airport, we met Jack and Gabi. Quick pictures. Big smiles. Team Navarino was ready.
First Taste of Greece
When we landed, a company driver from Navarino picked us up and took us to the Port Tower Hotel in Piraeus, sharing along the way that Greece has around 6,000 islands. Later, I looked it up and found that only 227 of them are actually inhabited.
We checked in and headed straight for dinner at a spot Gabi found called Refene.
My first Greek meal did not disappoint.
Greek salad with feta, so fresh.
Doner kebab, so good.
Tzatziki and pita, my new obsession.
We laughed, ate well, and rested for the week ahead.
Day 1: Entering the Maritime World
Monday started slow because our client had kindly asked us to come in at noon.
We had breakfast as a team and Port Tower did not disappoint. Consistent meals, and their chocolate cake? Elite.
Day 1: Entering the Maritime World
Monday started slow because our client had kindly asked us to come in at noon.
We had breakfast as a team and Port Tower did not disappoint. Consistent meals, and their chocolate cake? Elite.
At Navarino, we met Nikolaos Papanikolaou, Chief Advisor to the CEO, our client contact John Stathis, and Dimitris from the tech team. Navarino is a technology company providing satellite and IT solutions for maritime clients, and I learned something completely new. Shipping is built on a “holy trinity”: ship owners, ship managers, and charterers. A vessel is like a moving factory, with thousands of systems, people, and processes.
We spent the day interviewing staff and understanding the business. My biggest takeaway was that the maritime industry is critical because it carries most of the goods we use every day. Trucks and planes simply cannot match that scale, and geopolitics plays a huge role in how the industry operates.
I ended the night back in my room, calling family and sharing how Day 1 went.
Day 2: Athens and Ancient Greatness
Tuesday was adventure.
Our client contact, John was so kind and gave us two days off. Jennifer found tickets online for the Acropolis and we headed to Athens on Day 1. We started early and reached the Acropolis before 10 am to avoid the crowds.
Gabi and I listened to a podcast by Rick Steves as we explored, and it brought history to life.
We saw the Parthenon standing high above the city, the Propylaea as the grand entrance, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion with its six sculpted maidens.
The Parthenon was breathtaking. Built over 2,500 years ago, it was designed with such precision and beauty, and estimated to cost over a billion dollars in today’s terms. It was humbling.
Fun fact about Greece: there were cats everywhere. Jack and Gabi are huge fans of cats so we found ourselves stopping often to take pictures of them.
We had lunch at Tzitzikas and Mermigas, recommended by our classmate Panayiotis. On the way, we saw school children and people marching in anticipation for Greece’s Independence Day parade the next day.
On our way to the Acropolis Museum after lunch, we stopped by a few shops and I took in the beauty of the town. In one of them, we came across a Pythagorean cup, a clever little invention designed to empty itself if filled beyond a certain point. It was amusing, but also symbolic, a quiet lesson on greed disguised as a drinking cup.
Later, we visited the Acropolis Museum and saw sculptures and artefacts from ancient Greece. One of the six sisters from the Erechtheion is still in the British Museum, a reminder of how history can be scattered across the world.
We walked over 18,000 steps that day, and every step felt worth it.
We ended the day with pastries and dinner, tired but happy. The team also tried the famous mice cake at a spot right opposite our hotel.
Day 3: Island Life and Kind Strangers
Wednesday took Gabi and I to Aegina Island.
Jack and Jennifer stayed back for the national parade, but we wanted the island experience. We walked along the beach, and it was quiet and peaceful.
We passed a small chapel and met a mother and daughter who noticed our Cambridge merch and got excited. Their son had studied at Cambridge too. They gave us pastries, shared recommendations, and took pictures with us. The kindness of strangers.
We had lunch at Maridaki with a perfect view of the Independence Day parade on the island. People in cultural wear, students marching, music in the air. I had a well-done steak, just how I like it.
Day 4: Back to Work
Thursday, back to Navarino.
John and Nikolaos took us around the different departments, and we also visited Navarino Elements, their hardware arm.
It was also a “name day” celebration. In Greece, people celebrate the feast day of the saint they are named after, so there were sweets in the office. I loved that.
I also met George, the son of Dimitris Tsikopoulos, who funded my Navarino scholarship. That moment felt full circle.
We had lunch at a traditional Greek restaurant where I tried Pastitsio. Delicious. We talked about travel too, and I learned that Santorini and Mykonos are best visited outside peak summer.
- Pastitsio
- Lunch with John and Nikolaos
- Nice pictures of Piraeus Port at the restaurant
- Nice pictures of Piraeus Port at the restaurant
We continued interviews and wrapped up the day.
Dinner that night was at our favourite restaurant across the street. The waiter had gotten used to us and would write our numbers on the table cover to help split the bill. On Thursday, he surprised us with a sweet treat when he heard we were leaving the next day.
- The sweet treat from our kind waiter
- Our last team dinner in Greece
- Some nice pictures at the restaurant
- Gabi and Jennifer
Small gestures, big impact.
Day 5: Goodbye Greece
Friday was slow.
Packing, reflecting, and feeling everything all at once.
I missed my bed in the UK, but I was already missing Greece too — the food, the people, the experience, and especially tzatziki and pita.
- The team at the Airport on Friday
- Team lunch (we had to eat pita and tzatziki for the last time)
Reflection
This week was more than a trip. It was answered prayers, learning in motion, and stepping into a new industry. It was history, culture, and connection all at once.
From navigating uncertainty with my visa, to exploring ancient ruins, to sitting in client meetings in a completely new industry, I felt stretched in the best way.
This experience reminded me why I chose the Cambridge MBA, not just for the degree, but for moments like this.
And I am so grateful.