Leadership involves more than just setting a clear direction—it requires addressing challenges directly, making strategic decisions, and fostering collaboration within a team. It’s about identifying opportunities in difficult situations and maintaining progress even when the path forward is uncertain. In industries like agrifood, where constant change is a reality, effective leadership is critical for long-term success.
Athanasios Mandis, Founder and Director of De La Tierra Ltd., demonstrates this form of leadership. He is actively engaged in the growth of his company, from recognizing opportunities to encouraging innovation. Under his leadership, De La Tierra has experienced significant growth in technological innovation and sustainable development, making a positive impact on the global food supply chain.
The Early Journey and Entrepreneurial Leap
Athanasios Mandis’ journey toward entrepreneurship was ignited by his realization that the traditional corporate environment was not conducive to fostering his innovative ideas. This realization pushed him to take a leap of faith and carve his own path. Recognizing the opportunities to enhance sustainability and technological advancement in the agrifood sector, he founded De La Tierra in 2012. The company started with a strong foundation in importing and trading fresh produce, but Mandis knew that diversification was key to long-term success.
Breaking away from the security of paid employment and starting his own company came with challenges. Mandis’ leadership was shaped by his ability to embrace risk while maintaining a strong focus on cash flow management, cost optimization, and diverse offerings. These strategies helped De La Tierra navigate systemic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, ensuring its resilience in a rapidly changing market.
Mandis views risk-taking as a calculated art. His entrepreneurial philosophy, rooted in his expertise in agricultural engineering and sustainability, allowed him to identify and capitalize on opportunities across the agrifood value chain. “Risk-taking is an art,” Athanasios Mandis explains, reflecting on how his bold decisions have positioned De La Tierra for growth and stability.
A Leadership Style Built on Collaboration
One of the cornerstones of Athanasios Mandis’ leadership is his belief in the power of collaboration. Over the years, he has cultivated relationships with professionals and organizations worldwide, recognizing the value that diverse perspectives bring to the table. His ability to foster collaboration extends beyond internal operations, as he seeks out partnerships with experts and firms across the agrifood value chain. This collaborative approach allows De La Tierra to remain agile and responsive to market changes while driving innovation within the industry.
Mandis places a strong emphasis on talent development within his company. His leadership philosophy encourages individuals to leverage their strengths in ways that contribute to the company’s goals. He fosters a culture of creativity and empowers his team to excel in areas aligned with their skills.
Leading Innovation in the Agrifood Sector
Innovation is the main aspect of De La Tierra’s success. The company operates on three key pillars: importing and trading fresh produce, providing consultancy services, and investing in technologies aimed at sustainability. Athanasios Mandis’ leadership in driving innovation is evident in De La Tierra’s ability to address critical challenges in the global food supply chain.
Under his guidance, De La Tierra has developed solutions that focus on postharvest management, food processing, distribution, and marketing. “The demand for innovation across the agrifood sector has never been greater,” Mandis states. He sees technology not just as a tool for physical products but as a vital component for creating value-added capabilities that address complex industry challenges, such as reducing food waste and optimizing economies of scale.
A key strategic shift in De La Tierra’s evolution was the company’s move from trade to consultancy. Recognizing the low-margin, high-turnover nature of trade, Mandis pivoted toward higher-margin consultancy services, which offered a more sustainable and profitable business model. This shift allowed De La Tierra to continue addressing the pressing needs of the agrifood sector while expanding its influence and impact through its technological expertise.
The Launch of CUBOS SOLUTIONS LTD.
In a bold move to further expand De La Tierra’s offerings, Athanasios Mandis recently launched CUBOS SOLUTIONS LTD., a company focused on providing double materiality assessments (DMAs) for sustainability reporting frameworks. Cubos aims to offer accessible and cost-effective sustainability solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe. In just six months, CUBOS SOLUTIONS LTD. has generated significant revenue by white-labeling services to other consultants, solidifying its role as a leader in sustainability consulting.
Athanasios Mandis’ strategic foresight and ability to identify emerging market trends have been critical to the success of De La Tierra and CUBOS SOLUTIONS LTD. By staying engaged with industry developments and leveraging his extensive network of partners and collaborators, Mandis ensures that his company remains competitive and relevant in the fast-developing agrifood and sustainability sectors.
Adapting to Market Challenges
Throughout his career, Athanasios Mandis has demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt to market challenges and turn them into growth opportunities. His expertise in identifying pain points within the agrifood sector, coupled with his strategic decision-making, has enabled De La Tierra to remain at the forefront of the industry. From diversifying the company’s offerings to addressing sustainability demands, Mandis’ leadership has been instrumental in De La Tierra’s ability to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Mandis’s holistic approach to leadership and business development ensures that De La Tierra stays ahead of the curve. By combining logical analysis with intuitive insight, he keeps a close eye on market demand and regulatory changes while remaining engaged with industry trends.
A Legacy of Sustainable Impact
As De La Tierra continues to grow and expand, Athanasios Mandis remains focused on his ultimate goal: creating a lasting impact on the global food supply chain through sustainable innovation. His dedication to promoting farming communities and driving technological advancements is at the core of De La Tierra’s mission. By developing solutions that address the most pressing challenges in the industry, Mandis is leaving a legacy of positive change.
Athanasios Mandis’s leadership philosophy, centered on collaboration, innovation, and sustainability, has positioned De La Tierra as a trailblazer in the agrifood sector. His ability to adapt to changing market conditions while remaining committed to his vision of sustainability has been crucial to the company’s success. “Do what you love and love what you do,” Mandis says, encapsulating his passion for creating meaningful solutions that benefit both his business and the world at large.
