Giving Back to Our Community

Giving Back to the Community

A Value I Grew up With. A Practice I Live by.

From a young age, I was taught that offering help, no matter how small, can make a real difference. I still remember my first experience with volunteering: I helped to collect recyclable materials in my hometown. It may have seemed simple, but for me, it sparked something meaningful.

Since then, giving back has been a constant in my life. As I grew into my professional identity, I felt a growing need to stay connected to people and purpose beyond work. That’s why I’ve chosen to give my time, to the open-source community, since 2013, as an organizer, contributor, volunteer, and speaker.

Mentorship became another way to give back. I support aspiring designers by helping them build and improve their workflow, explore new research methods throught problem solving and critical thinking, and gain confidence in their own process. For the past two years, I’ve also mentored early-stage startup. I help them brainstorm and organize their ideas, define their vision, and build MVPs with passion and clarity.

Each of these experiences has shaped me. It helps me to supports important individuals and causes, while it helps me to become more effective leader, colleague and all-around individuals. I build business and enhancing relationships with these who I’m volunteering with, personally or professionally. It is a shared experience in making difference to the people and causes I’m serving.

For me, giving back isn’t just something I do or an activity, it’s part of who I am. It’s how I grow, connect, and stay grounded.

A Personal Journey of Impact Through Local Engagement and Meaningful Contributions.

2015

Fosscomm Athens

Speaker. “WordPress theme building from Scratch”

2016

WordCamp Greece, Athens

I served as an organizer and member of the design team for the first WordCamp Athens in Greece.

2017

WordCamp Greece, Olympus

Speaker.”Extending your WordPress Project with Custom Post Types”


WordCamp Greece, Athens

I served as an organizer and member of the design team, collaborating closely with the marketing team and four other designers.

2018

WordCamp Greece, Thessaloniki

I served as an organizer and member of the design team for the inaugural WordCamp in Thessaloniki. During my work, I collaborated closely with the marketing team, four other members of the design team, and an assistant from a digital agency.


Launch Free WordPress Blogging Theme

I collaborated with developers to create a free WordPress blogging theme.


WordCamp Europe, Servia (Belegrade)

As a volunteer and contributor, I had the opportunity to connect with other contributors and engage in conversations about user experience, focusing on the intricate details of the website.

2019

WordCamp Europe, Berlin

I served as an organizer and member of a 6-person design team for WordCamp Europe in Berlin. During my time, I closely worked with various teams, including marketing and content, to achieve our goals. As a team, we successfully met our objectives.


WordCamp Europe, Berlin

I served as the organizer and team leader for WordCamp Athens in 2019. During this role, I led a team of four members..

2021

WordCamp Greece Online

I had the honor of being a speaker for the presentation “Design for the Art of Communication”.


Mentoring, Training

I started mentoring twelve novice designers to help them improve their skills and workflow.


Consultant Designer and Ambassador. Non-Profit, Pay It Forward / Canada

I began contributing by providing consulting services to non-profit organizations, helping them improve their workflows. Additionally, I serve as a mentor to up-and-coming designers in the community.

2022

Fosscomm 2022, Lamia, Greece

I delivered a presentation titled “Change Your Questions. Build a Business Partnership to Desire”.


Additionally, I delivered a second speech titled “Work-Life Balance – Not a Myth”.

2023

Startup Mentor, Greece

As a volunteer startup mentor, I help entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. I provide valuable insights and support.I focus on improving the user and customer experience of their products or services. I also help them refine their business plans to ensure success “Startup Mentors”.


Job Fair Mentor, Greece

I aim to mentor recent graduates beginning their professional journeys. I can help young professionals. I will boost their employability and job market skills with guidance and resources. My mentees will gain practical skills for the early stages of their careers. This includes effective job searching and thorough interview preparation. I aim to help young professionals reach their career goals and succeed.

2024

Mentee in the WordPress Contribution Mentorship Program

As a mentee in the six-week program, I learned more about WordPress contributions . I also made meaningful contributions to the WordPress project.


Mentor at Hellenic Mediterranean University

As a mentor at the University of Crete, I guide and support students in their studies. I help them with academics, career advice, and personal growth. I aim to encourage and inspire students. I want to help them reach their full potential in a supportive learning environment.

2025

Photographer at TEDxUniversityOfCrete

I documented the event in collaboration with the marketing team, to follow TEDx branding guidelines. I edited and delivered professional photos for multiple platforms, created visual narratives that highlighted the event’s core themes, and performed exceptionally well under tight deadlines.

  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of
  • Thumbnail of

Before Leaving, Make Sure To Navigate to…

Mentees Success Stories

Discover how my mentoring has transformed careers and elevated UX design skills.

Vasilis is a professional in the field of user experience, a skilled mentor and a truly empathetic person!

He is a great listener, who focuses on assisting you with your quandaries and provides insightful feedback on your work. Through the experiences he shared with me, I gained valuable knowledge and insight on the field of UX design.

During our three-hour meeting, he explained the process he takes and his approach to a problem, as well as ways I could simplify my own. We discussed how to confront issues as they occur in the workplace and how to overcome obstacles. All of my questions where fully addressed, giving me clarity into what my next steps should be.

Miltos Koustas

Project Manager

Having recently transitioned into UX design, Vasilis’ mentorship really helped me with the process . We’ve been meeting every single week and he helped me refine my UX knowledge . He also shared a lot of handy resources that will support me throughout my career. I would highly recommend Vasilis to any aspiring UX Designers!

Kevin Aguesseau

UX Designer | Freelance

Vasilis is the perfect example of a mentor at heart. My experience collaborating with him as his mentee has allowed to get into the core of what UX/UI Design stands for. Vasilis goes beyond the surface of things that most tend to focus on but instead goes deep into the details, challenging you to find the why behind your actions. It is a delight to work with him and I highly recommend him to others.

Contantine Dranganas

Digital Product Manager | Philip Morris International