The OWL - June 2020 - Featuring: Ariel White-Tsimikalis, Class of 2000

The OWL JUNE 2020

Class of 2000

A R I E L W H I T E -T S I M I K A L I S

The OWL JUNE 2020

Jump ahead 40 years to the Class of 2000 from last month’s prole of a 1960 grad to meet Ariel White-Tsimikalis. Ariel answers our questions about her life, in her own words: her academic career and what has followed, her family, and her goals for the future.

ARIEL W H I T E -T S I M I K A L I S Education I joined ACS Athens in the Spring of 1992, towards the end of the 6th grade and graduated in 2000. My mother re-patriated to Greece in 1992 having lived in the US for 25 years. ACS Athens was a natural choice for me and my sister given we had grown up in the US and did not speak any Greek at the time (although we are both uent now).

I played on the Varsity basketball and soccer teams, did track & eld, was President of the IB Council and recorded a record number of CAS hours under my presidency. One project I remember organizing was a reforestation project following the devastating res in Penteli. I was also an active participant in Model United Nations and Forensic Debate clubs.

As student Editor in Chief of the Blue & Gold newspaper, I remember running a survey amongst the student population seeking their views on the controversial national debate in Greece at the time: should religion be noted on a person's ID card in Greece, and writing an article on the results for the newspaper. My English teacher from the 9th grade and supervisor for the newspaper, William Papatassos, remains a good friend to this day. He attended my wedding and the baptism of my son.

I nished third in my class of 108 students; the top female – and received the only 7/7 in Greece on the Economics Higher Level IB examination in 2000. I was a Member of the Honour Roll, and received several other awards during graduation.

After graduating from ACS in 2000, I studied Law & Politics at the University of Edinburgh where I was one of only two students who nished that joint degree; most dropping the Politics course as it was too much work together with law school. I spent a year on exchange to the University of Oslo and learned to speak Norwegian.

Career I am a UK-qualied corporate nance lawyer specialized in advising corporates (and their boards), investment banks and private equity rms on equity capital transactions (including initial public offerings and secondary capital raisings on the London Stock Exchange), corporate governance and general public company representation matters.

I trained at the “Magic Circle” law rm Freshelds Bruckhaus Deringer, spent over 10 years at top US law rms Latham & Watkins and Davis Polk & Wardwell, and will join Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in late June 2020 as a partner in the M&A and Corporate Finance team, making me the 11th UK-qualied black female partner at a Top 20 law rm in London and the rst black female partner in the London ofce of my new rm. Over the course of my career, I have spent nearly two years on client secondments to the in-house legal teams of Goldman Sachs, Citi and Jefferies.

I have extensive international experience working on cross-border transactions across a broad range of sectors including hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, natural resources and aviation. Some of my representative transactions include advising the budget airline, WizzAir, on its oatation on the London Stock Exchange and being the key lawyer for Goldman Sachs on the two biggest oatations in Europe in 2019, the Prosus and TeamViewer IPOs. My goal is to continue building a thriving legal practice and having a positive impact on the clients I advise and the people I work with. In advising clients on capital raisings, I relish in helping companies grow and achieve their business strategies. In managing my own team of lawyers, I seek to mentor and inspire those I work with to develop their skills and reach their highest potential.

I am currently building out an emerging markets angle within my practice with a particular focus on Greece and Africa – harnessing the diversity of my own background.

I am keen to advise Greek and African companies (or the banks or private equity rms advising these companies) looking for international investment and the legal framework for doing so, particularly within the capital markets.

My longer-term goal is to be an impact investor and invest in social entrepreneurs and start-ups in Greece and Africa which have environmental, social and governance values at their core. I would also eventually like to sit on the board of a large Greek or African company so I can contribute my Corporate Governance expertise to the local market.

Service: Boards & NPs Admitted to the roll of the Supreme Court of England & Wales in 2009 Member of the Institute of Governance (ICSA) Chair of the Advisory Board of The LEAD Curriculum, a not-for-prot organisation which delivers leadership training programmes to students from inner city schools Committee member of the Women Lawyers Division of the Law Society of England & Wales, the independent professional body for solicitors.

Awards Nominated and shortlisted for WearetheCity Rising Star Award (2016) Selected for Thomson Reuters' publication Super Lawyer's List of Rising Stars (2013) University of Edinburgh Simon Gray Award for distinguished work in Politics course (2004) Received personal recognition from former UN Secretary General Ko Annan, the national press and the local community for organising Scotland's then largest student MUN conference in collaboration with Harvard University and the Model United Nations Society at the University of Edinburgh (which I co-founded having developed a passion for MUN at ACS) (2005)

Personal Interests and Charities Active in the Diversity & Inclusion space particularly with respect to supporting black and female lawyers.

Member of the Black Solicitors Network and mentor on their Creating Pathways program.

At my most recent rm, Davis Polk, I was Co-Chair of the rm's DPWomen group in the London ofce and a member of the EU Steering Committee for DPWomen groups across the rm's European ofces.

At Latham & Watkins, I was the London ofce leader for the rm's Women Lawyers Group, one of six associates appointed to the rm's global Diversity Leadership Committee and a representative for the London ofce on the rm's global Training and Career Enhancement Committee.

As mentioned above, I chair the Advisory Board of The LEAD Curriculum which is dedicated to teaching leadership skills and a growth mindset, as well as other soft skills not taught in the traditional academic curriculum but critical to thriving in the workplace.

LEAD targets students from inner city schools who are less likely to have such skills taught to them in extracurricular school activities, and therefore enter the workplace at an immediate disadvantage.

Family My mother is from Katerini, Greece and emigrated to the United States during the Hounta dictatorship in the 1970s. She was 13 years old. My father was African-American and grew up on a farm in the southern state of Tennessee in America's Deep South.

He died suddenly when I was 10 years old, the main

factor prompting my mother to move back to Greece, where she felt it was safer to be a single mother to an 8 and 10-year-old. Both of my parents were the rst generation in their families to nish school and go to university. They were my rst true role models of “black excellence” and “female leadership” and instilled in me an unwavering work ethic and strong sense of integrity.

I attribute my professional success entirely to them.

My husband, Markos Tsimikalis, remembers me from one of the IB sports tournaments I had organised with all of the IB schools in Athens, one of my CAS initiatives as IB President. My father-in-law, who was also at the tournament, says I stood out to him as I was the only black kid in the entire tournament and he remembers me getting on the microphone and announcing the rotation of teams as the key organiser before running onto the pitch to be a participant. He remembered exactly who I was when Markos brought me home 15 years later as his girlfriend. Markos owns of the most famous Greek restaurants in London called Hungry Donkey, in which I am also a co-investor.

During my rst week at university in Edinburgh, Scotland, a girl called Elli Papadaki came up to me in a shopping centre and asked if I went to ACS Athens and played on their soccer team. She went to Panagiotopoulos School and remembered playing against me. Let's just say I was well-known amongst the soccer teams at the various international and IB schools we played against as being very assertive on the eld! I was the second highest goal scorer in the league. To make a very long story short, we became roommates and best friends at Edinburgh.

After we graduated, she introduced me to my husband, Markos, who was a classmate of hers at Panagiotopoulos. The three of us remain extremely close friends; she was a “koumbara” at our wedding and I was her “koumbara” too.

We both now live 10 mins away from each other in London and our two boys are 3 months apart in age and regularly play with each other.

I have a son called Noah and he is 3 years old. I have already signed him up to attend an IB school. As you can see, ACS is at the core of my family relationships!

There is truly something special about the bonds you forge at ACS Athens. Our collective experience at such a unique and enriching school acts as a special glue which for me has held strong even 20 years after graduating from ACS. The other “koumbara” at my wedding was Faye Palmqvist, the rst person I met at ACS in the 6th grade as she was tasked to be my buddy and show me around the school on my rst day. She remains my buddy 26 years later.

My best friends from Middle School, Angelina Gares and Nicole Eliopoulos, remain my best friends today.

I was honoured to be their “koumbara” at their respective weddings. I am also godmother to Angelina's son, Markos, and she is godmother to my son, Noah. Despite the fact that we live in Washington D.C., California and London, the three of us speak regularly and coordinate summer holidays every year in Greece to see each other. Angelina and Nicole even ew over to London to throw me a baby shower when I was pregnant. Faye, who is a professional patisseur, made the cake for both my wedding and baby shower!

Even my rst boyfriend, Stephan Kalinski, and I remain good friends and regularly keep in touch. I think at the time we completely underestimated how lucky we were to be in an environment where it was socially acceptable for a guy from the eastern part of Germany to go out with a black female – this was nearly 25 years ago.

To New Graduates I have kept in touch with so many of my friends from ACS and some have even become clients of mine! My advice to current students would be not to underestimate the importancee of the network attending a school lik ACS gives you. Cherish and nurture those relationships because they truly last a lifetime. In my case, playing on the ACS soccer team (in the years before there was even astroturf!) led to my nding true love.

“There is something very, very special about our school.”

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discounts

Members of ACS Athens Global Association can enjoy discounts and incentives from our global community’s discount partners - a great way to network and support each other’s businesses! To take advantage of these great offers, Global members have only to present proof of membership to local businesses in either printed or digital format when redeeming discounts.

If interested in becoming a discount partner to our members, please follow these easy steps:

ND SAILS Greek Island Charters on Fabulous Sail Boats 10% OFF for Global Members!

We love sailing, understand people who sail, and have decades of experience and knowledge of the Cyclades and Saronic Islands to give guests an unforgettable trip.

The ND Sails team understands that you work hard all year and your free time is precious. We’re an independent charter company determined to deliver a wonderful sailing holiday, including our ACS colleagues!

Myra Economides (class of 90) Nicolas Economides (class of 97) Website: www.ndsails.com Tel. + 30 69444 55 497

You must be a member. Join us at www.acsathensglobal.org Please send us your Business Name, website link and discount percentage you will be offering ACS ATHENS GLOBAL Members to info@acsathensglobal.org

Mercury Integrated Services Full Service Marketing!

Ongoing Discounts for Global Members!

We will list your business on the BIZNET Discount Gallery of our site for members to view.

I will have special offers for all ACS Alumni with no expiration date. M.I. Services, for signage, decals, print, digital and event planning! Call for current alumni discounts.

Once you have become a registered member you may print your card from your prole and present it for the discount.

Constantinos Loucaides (class of 07) Website: www.mi-services.gr Tel. +30 210 3004 578

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DXN Supplements for Human Health 30% OFF Retail for Global Members!

Product lines include dietary supplements, food and beverages, personal care products, skin care and cosmetics, household products and water treatment system.

George Koutsoukos (class of 79) Website: www.dxn2u.eu Tel. -210 9213105 Cell:- 6941600940

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BizNET Alum NEWS

Euphoria the band

Available now on all digital platforms via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records!

Spotify: https://spoti./2BhSblE Apple Music: https://apple.co/2YeVbs0 Deezer: https://bit.ly/2Nawnen Tidal: https://bit.ly/2YPB2Yz Google Play: https://bit.ly/3detZOp

Professional Notes ACS Athens Alum Chrisanthi Kasabali is half of the unique duo of Euphoria.

Chrisanthi is a gifted vocalist who combines her songwriting abilities with those of guitarist Tony Kash, to create Euphoria.

Euphoria is rock music band, t for all who crave for drive in guitars and melodies charged in optimism and energy. Their newest release, Heaven is a Breath Away, is part of their self-titled debut and was released June 19!

Enjoy “Heaven Is A Breath Away” here

ACS Athens NEWS

If you’re interested in reaching prociency in English and accelerating your academic achievement, then the ACS Athens (American Community Schools) English Language Acquisition (ELA) program for Non-Native Speakers is exactly what you need!

Click on the button to the left for more details!

Going into Year 1 of the IB? The ACS Athens (American Community Schools) IB Department and Faculty have developed the ideal 3-week IB prep course just for you!

Click on the button to the left for more details!

We’d love to hear from you. Let’s stay connected!

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