My Favourite - Manos Nikolakis

Favorite books 

In the business context, I particularly enjoyed reading The Nameless King by Artemios Miropoulos which has 15 tales from ancient Greek history translated to reflect modern business leadership behaviours. In terms of poems, Konstantinos Kavafis' Ithaca is my favourite because it skillfully uses the historical tale of Odysseus’ return back home from the Trojan war to highlight learning and the importance of the journey itself.

Favorite Sports 

I am a keen sportsman who loves playing basketball and tennis, the latter being a sport I have been training in. I try to play with my personal trainer once or twice a week and also love becoming a “coach” while teaching my two young kids. It’s important that they appreciate good sportsmanship, learn how to fight to win but also understand that losing is a part of life and one must learn from it.

Favorite Travel

I have been fortunate enough to visit many places around the world but three have stayed with me. The city of Bariloche in Argentina with its breathtaking scenery and good food, the Garden Route in South Africa for being the ultimate 300-km coastal road trip full of adventure and rich flora and fauna, and the Southern Island of New Zealand with its constantly changing landscapes varying from glaciers to fiords and wineries.

Favorite Food

As a Greek, I cannot escape the simple, natural, and light Mediterranean cuisine. Fresh fish grilled with only olive oil and lemon on top, accompanied with a fresh Greek salad makes you feel the sea, enjoy the sun and the summer. To end a great meal like that, one needs nothing else but a platter of fresh and juicy fruits.

Favorite Drink

In my view, a good and enjoyable drink comes always in parity with the right ambiance, the time of the day and the company someone is with. Sundown goes perfectly with a Campari mixed with fresh orange juice and dinner with a nice glass of wine. A late night goes with nothing better than a glass of malt whisky while listening to jazz music.