Program:
Master of Science Program in Information Technology and Management
Student Name:
Thomas Stamatopoulos
Graduating Class:
Class of 2019
Undergraduate Alma Mater:
About Thomas:
Coming from Athens, Greece I studied Mechanical Engineering and worked two years at a Construction company; first on site managing a team of contractors and then in the main office, before I got a Master’s at Marine Technology. After that, I jumped into a job at a Shipping Company, with which I had the chance to travel around Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf and spent a fair amount if time on board oil tankers. I also practiced judo for 5 years and would have gotten the black belt if it wasn’t for my military service.
On a personal note, I am committed and thorough and I will try to solve all crosswords of a book in order of appearance. I take pride into managing my personal problems, but will go out of my way to help others. I must always find something to do and cannot stand idle for the life of me, but the sea calms me and I have a soft spot for dogs.
Proudest Accomplishment:
While I was working at a construction company, I started realizing that my ambitions and interests were not in line with what the industry had to offer and decided to develop my skills and venture into a new path towards Shipping. While completing a Master’s Degree in parallel to working full time was challenging, I was proud when I completed it and managed to get a job in a strong and developing company. There, my hard work and devotion to my responsibilities was acknowledged and rewarded and I quickly rised through the ranks and was given huge responsibilities managing day to day activities of 8 multi-million vessels. It is always gratifying to achieve a personal goal and prove to yourself that you are capable of continuous improvement.
Why did you choose the MSITM Program?
Watching the evolution of business and the ever-growing integration of technology and analytics in every organization, I wanted to strengthen my technical skills and create a competitive advantage transiting into a more technical role. The MSITM program’s curriculum was filled with a mix of the latest and greatest technologies used by businesses, while being in the McCombs Business School was a guarantee of its quality and also ensured that the knowledge would by provided in a practical context.
What are you looking forward to most this year?
During the Spring Semester, as part of the MSITM curriculum, I will participate in a capstone project creating a solution to an actual business problem working with one of the great companies that are in Austin and are interested in the program. I am exicted about being able to take ownership of the problem and working with the company. I will have a chance to implement my acquired knowledge and get real life experience prior to the completion of my studies. I am also exited to go to the South By South West conference in Austin, where companies and entrepreneurs meet and present innovative solutions, getting a chance see the future of technology first hand.
More on Texas MS Student Spotlight:
Texas MS #StudentSpotlight is a recurring feature showcasing the talent, background, and aspirations of the McCombs Master of Science Program students! Learn more about the Texas Master of Science in Information Technology and Management on our homepage.
Current Texas MS students interested in appearing in our student spotlight should contact their Program Coordinator regarding access to the Student Spotlight Survey.