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Olympia Korakidou - Proposal Manager
Olympia Korakidou embarked on a professional voyage, embracing challenges along the way to become a dedicated Proposal Manager at Seaway7. She shares insights into her career journey thus far and what drives her the most at work.
Olympia, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself.
I’m born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, where I lived the 25 first years of my life. I then moved to the Netherlands for my Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and split the last 13 years between Delft and the Hague. I met here my Italian husband and together we are raising our four year old son. Our family is often lost in translation between multiple languages and I have to admit, I perform the worst in Dutch.
I’ve never thought about involving myself with the offshore industry until I chose a thesis subject performed under the supervision of another marine contractor. I fell in love with the world of offshore constructions and ended up serving it ever since.
What is your role, and what does it involve?
I was recently appointed as a Proposal Manager, within the Sales and Marketing department. I am acting as a Tender Lead in the preparation of our Tender submissions. In plain words, I make sure that our tender offer complies with client requirements and at the same time, that the strategy offered is the most cost efficient, protects us from potential risks and is most attractive to the client compared to our competitors.
To achieve this, I coordinate all tender activities, facilitating the collaboration and alignment across various functions, including Engineering, Planning, Supply Chain Management, and Cost Estimating. Additionally, my role involves interfacing with clients to clarify and follow up on proposal submissions. Finally, I participate in contract negotiations, aiming to secure a contract award.
What fulfils you the most at work?
Oh, so many things! The satisfaction of overcoming challenges typically fuels my day-to-day motivation. Additionally, a day where I learned something new always gives me the feeling that it was a productive day even if there was no tangible product. Finally, a good working team, like a well-oiled machine, is also very fulfilling. Knowing that we can rely on each other for the final successful outcome, is inspirational. Looking back at what we succeed in as a team is really rewarding.
What makes working at Seaway7 special for you?
It might sound corny, but it’s the people. My day-to-day experience of the company is the interaction with its people. The people from the different disciplines, that provide me with support during tenders, that teach me new things constantly, that offer to me their expert opinion and that are always willing to help. They make me feel a sense of solidarity but also a sense of a shared passion and vision. That is what is special about Seaway7.
What is the greatest challenge you have faced in your career and how did you overcome it?
In the past, accepting a promotion and leading the preparation and execution of a massive decommissioning project, was a daunting challenge. I spent days deliberating if I was ready for such responsibility. In the end it was a colleague that told me: “You won’t become better unless you’re over your head in something. Fighting to stay afloat is what makes you grow.” This resonated deeply, and I asked for the position the next day. The following two and a half years were hectic and continuously challenging. But the drive to grow kept me going. I worked hard and learned a lot. But most importantly I learned to like challenges.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
The world is a big place, hard to make one choice only. Probably Madagascar would be one of the destinations I would like to visit next. The main reason would be its remoteness and untouched nature. It offers so many diverse settings (from rainforests to amazing beaches and coral reefs) and in my eyes seems like the perfect destination for adventure and exploration. I am hearing however, that it is not a trip easily done with small kids. So, I guess it will have to wait for a few years…
TOMBROK