Under the Spotlight: Yannis Goutakis, Chief of Staff at Dialectica

At the intersection of executive strategy and operational excellence, you’ll find Yannis Goutakis. As Chief of Staff to the CEO, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring clarity, coordination, and momentum at the highest levels of the business. But his journey to Dialectica wasn’t linear—it was shaped by curiosity, ambition, and a deep-rooted belief in growth through challenge.

From Blueprints to Boardrooms

Yannis began his career in a world of numbers and infrastructure. With a background in civil engineering, his love for math and physics initially set him on a technical path. But curiosity had other plans.

“I quickly realized I was more drawn to business challenges than engineering ones,” he says. That realization took him to Accenture, where he spent five years in management consulting. There, he worked across industries from telecommunications and technology to finance and non-profits, gradually building a holistic view of how organizations function and transform.

After earning his MBA at London Business School and spending several years in London, Yannis joined Deliveroo’s global strategy and operations team. He focused on optimizing supply-side marketplace dynamics, gaining first-hand experience in a high-growth tech environment. The decision to return to Greece was driven largely by personal reasons—primarily the desire to start a family. What made the move possible professionally was seeing how much the Greek economy had evolved, and how companies like Dialectica were redefining what a career in Greece could look like. In Greece, he joined FlexCar, a growing Greek scale-up, where he led operations excellence. From there made the move to Dialectica, first as Director of Operational Excellence, and more recently, into his current role as Chief of Staff.

Drawn by Vision, Grounded in Values

So what drew him to Dialectica? Joining Dialectica wasn’t a career leap—it was a clear choice. What attracted Yannis was the company’s rare combination of global vision and local roots. A Greek-founded company operating entirely on the international stage, Dialectica stood out for its scale, ambition, and meritocratic culture. 

“It’s rare to find a company founded in Greece that operates so outwardly, with no dependency on local clients,” Yannis explains. “The global ambition was compelling—and so was the talent.”

For Yannis, joining Dialectica wasn’t just a career decision—it was a chance to be part of a team building something ambitious, with the growth-mindset to keep learning along the way.

Wearing Many Hats—and Loving It

For Yannis, one of the most rewarding aspects of the role is its variety. He’s constantly exposed to new challenges—whether working with finance, product, operations, or marketing. This cross-functional exposure doesn’t just keep the work interesting—it’s essential for understanding the full picture and helping the executive team operate as one cohesive unit.

One day might involve preparing strategic presentations for leadership, while another could be spent aligning cross-functional priorities or shaping how the company embeds AI across its workflows. Much of his time is devoted to performance management—ensuring the senior leadership team stays focused on the right metrics and decisions. At the same time, he takes on high-impact projects that often require both strategic thinking and detailed execution. “I see my role as an enabler,” he says. “I help the CEO channel his energy where it matters most, while making sure the broader leadership team is working in sync.”

High Stakes, Higher Standards

Among the many projects he’s facilitated, one stands out: the reorganization of the Client Service Team. A shift of this magnitude required more than planning—it demanded alignment, timely communication, and execution.

“It was high-stakes and high-impact. We had to ensure everyone—from leadership to frontline teams—understood the why and the how,” Yannis reflects. “It wasn’t just an operational shift; it was a cultural one.”

Culture with Momentum

Having worked in both multinational corporations and startups, Yannis finds something distinct at Dialectica: collaborative ambition. “People here want to build. There’s a strong growth mindset and a genuine willingness to support one another,” he says. “We’re solving big problems, but we’re doing it together.”

Despite the company’s rapid growth and global footprint, there’s a strong sense of unity and shared purpose. People are open to feedback, eager to improve, and deeply committed to the company’s mission.

A Word to the Curious

Beyond resumes and skill sets, there’s something more important: attitude.

For anyone considering a career at Dialectica, Yannis offers this insight: “You don’t need to be an expert,” he says. “You need curiosity, grit, and a desire to grow. The rest, you’ll learn here.”

Whether you’re just starting out or bringing in specialized experience, the key is to stay curious, work hard, and embrace the learning curve. If you’re ambitious, open to growth, and willing to collaborate, this is a place where you can thrive.

Looking Ahead

Since joining, Yannis has been inspired not just by Dialectica’s ambitions, but by the people driving them. “I had high expectations—and I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” he says. “There’s real resilience here. Real talent. And a shared hunger to do better every day.”

In a role that demands clarity, speed, and constant learning, Yannis finds his favorite part in the variety. “It keeps me sharp. It keeps me engaged. And most importantly, it keeps me growing.”

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