Spyros Yiassemides

Dr Spyros Yiassemides, Accountant (FCA) in the Treasury of the Republic of Cyprus who studied Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCCS), 2004-2005

Name and current job title?

Dr Spyros Yiassemides, Accountant (FCA) in the Treasury of the Republic of Cyprus.

What did you study at UCL Computer Science and during which years?

Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCCS), 2004-2005.

What kind of things are you currently working on and how does your degree help?

Along the course of my career, I found out that the combination of computer science and accounting is a powerful one, redeemable at all stages along the way. As such, I am putting my MSCCS into practice day in day out!

Tell us a favourite memory or something you like about UCL Computer Science

To this day, I vividly remember and cherish each and every lecture of the elective module "Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship" which I took as part of my MSCCS.

Although, sadly, I cannot recall his name, our lecturer was so effective in his delivery, that every time we left the lecture theatre we were pumped up and eager to go out and come up with the next million-dollar idea, invent a groundbreaking gadget, or create a startup that would take off like a rocketship.

A large part of the course's overall mark was ascertained through coursework, and it entailed finding a unique idea, formulating a business plan, and pitching it to prospective investors: A-to-Z entrepreneurship!

I teamed up with a fellow Greek-Cypriot (Aris Kleanthous) who was undertaking his Master's in Mathematics, and, together, we came up with the idea of putting together "rage rooms" where overstressed Londoners could blow off some steam by walking in and breaking certain items (TV sets, vases, etc.) with a "weapon" of their choice (baseball bat, crowbar, etc.) while listening to their favorite music track - "Balanced" we called it, "break your way to tranquility" was our motto.

So much our lecturer liked our idea and the associated material that he enrolled us to the London Entrepreneurs' Challenge 2005 to have a shot at fleshing out our idea.

The whole process of presenting before a panel of entrepreneurs, venture capital and intellectual property experts was one to remember.

In the end, we didn't walk away with the prize, unfortunately, but what we had won in terms of experience value was priceless. Some years down the road, we found out that somebody had brought this very idea of ours to life in major cities across the world!

We couldn't help but wonder between ourselves whether they stole our idea or came up with it by themselves!

Do you keep in touch with UCL, through events, activities, keeping up with news, etc?

Of course, through checking the FB page of UCL, by reading the alumni newsletters, and via reminiscing with old classmates about the good old days of enjoying a hot cup of coffee in the Refectory before the first lecture of the day!

How did you get from graduating from UCL Computer Science to where you are now?

Right after graduating from UCL, I joined Deloitte in Cyprus, did my ACA traineeship, went on to become a qualified Chartered Accountant, and worked in the private sector for thirteen (13) years in a career spanning auditing, accounting, financial management, and fiduciary, before being appointed in the public sector.

What is one achievement you are particularly proud of?

Obtaining my PhD in Film Studies and getting involved (even if just wetting my toes) in the enchanting world of celluloid!

Do you have any advice for fellow alumni who are starting out on their career path?

Never settle for anything less than extraordinary - life is too short to go for something that doesn't fulfill you.

In this vein, it's better to regret for the steps that you took and may have proved to be wrong rather than for those for which you pondered but eventually did not take.

We are the product of our collective experiences - the sooner we realize this and start building our life mosaic, the better.

What would you do for a living if you changed your current path?

That's an easy one: I would become a screenwriter, director, producer, or all of the above!

What did you want to be when you were younger?

Something, anything in the film industry, but fate had other, safer plans for me. Thankfully, deciding that it is never too late, last year I realised half of my dream (the academic/theoretical part) by obtaining my PhD in Film Studies. Now, I just need to notch the dream up to 100% by putting theory into practice!

What do you like to do outside work?

Anything film-related - from writing scripts, to doing film reviews, and from trying to get to the next film festival, to going to the movies to watch the latest Christopher Nolan (a fellow UCL alumnus) flick! Oh, and living in the moment with my wife and two young princes!

Do you have a favourite quote, motto or advice that you live by?

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away".

Do you know other languages aside from English?

Greek, my mother tongue.

Tell us something you like about being in London

Everything! From frequenting the Covent Garden coffee shops in-between lectures, to buying a half-dozen pick-me-up Krispy Kreme doughnuts from their kiosk at Tottenham Court Road, and from doing a pub crawl along the many drinking establishments on Upper Street, to taking the ferry to Greenwich from Embankment and back, the options presented with and the experiences lived while a student in London are, literally, endless.

One of my favorite activities was to go for long walks (Crocodile Dundee-style, i.e. "walkabouts") all across London. That was in 2004-2005, long before Google Maps!

Tell us one interesting / random fact about yourself?

In 2014, as a perk of my PhD in Film Studies, I got ahold of two VIP tickets for the Tribeca Film Festival that takes place annually in New York City. Among other celebrities, I partied (hard) at a club in Downtown Manhattan with Stiffler (Seann William Scott) from American Pie, with him never breaking character, not even once. I have the pictures to prove it :)