Athan Didaskalou and Yianni Skliros on what the HACCI Mentoring Program looks like in practice.
When Yianni Skliros spoke at the 2026 program launch, he had only a rough sense of what the HACCI Mentoring Program involved. A few conversations with Chair Fotini Kypraios changed that, and one name in particular caught his attention: Athan Didaskalou, founder of Melbourne luggage brand July.
"What really drew me in was the potential of working with Athan," Yianni says. "I work in the brand and marketing space, and he is someone who is continuously driving innovation and has had a lot of success in the brand world already. He has seen things that I haven’t yet, and he knows what it takes to succeed in a competitive environment."
Yianni is Head of Marketing, Communications and Brand Management at SklareXen, the Australian distributor for Carroten and Bioten. What he wanted from the pairing was specific: practical advice on business, marketing tactics, spotting opportunities, scaling, and managing people.
Athan came at it from the other direction.
"I joined the HACCI mentoring program because I wanted to give back to the Greek Australian business community and support the next generation of entrepreneurs," he says. "I hoped my experience could help someone work through challenges with greater clarity, while also giving me the chance to learn from a fresh perspective. Plus, I enjoy the youthful energy they give off."
How it works in practice
Coffee about once a month, and constant contact by text in between.
"I’m really enjoying it, and Athan is such an easy person to get along with," Yianni says. "While I admire and respect what he has done in business, we communicate with each other almost as friends."
Athan describes his role as deliberately restrained. "My role was not to give him all the answers, but to ask questions, challenge his thinking and help him step back to see the bigger picture. The best mentors I have had never told me what to do but guided me in other areas to think about."
That has meant some productive friction. "Athan is a go getter and a proactive person, whereas I probably default into being a little more conservative and structured," Yianni says. "He challenges my thinking and how quickly I am moving on certain things, which I think is a good shake up for me."
What surprised them
For Yianni, it was how easy the whole thing turned out to be. "The process has been far more seamless than I thought. For someone who has heaps on his plate, Athan is super responsive, and he is interested in what I am doing and willing to help out and offer fast advice."
For Athan, it was the reminder that mentoring runs both ways. "I was impressed by Yianni’s combination of ambition and openness. He has strong instincts and a clear belief in the brands, but he is also willing to listen, reflect and challenge his own thinking. I was also reminded that mentoring is very much a two-way relationship. I took plenty away from our conversations too."
One conversation stayed with Athan in particular, about balancing immediate opportunities against building something that lasts. "We discussed being clear about what you want the business and brand to stand for, then using that clarity to guide decisions. It reminded me that mentoring often creates the space to pause, think and reconnect with the bigger ambition."
Yianni has noticed the shift. "Our conversations have opened up my mind to what really matters in business, what the core components are, and what actually moves the needle versus what is fluff. Thinking about the next phase of my professional career is also something I don’t put much thought into, so that has been another thing we’ve been able to discuss."
For anyone still deciding
"Getting into the same room and being close to people who inspire you is one of the best ways to learn," Yianni says. "The insights and one-to-one feedback you can receive are priceless. Don’t hesitate, sign up."
Athan’s advice is for the other side of the pairing. "You do not need to have every answer to be a valuable mentor. Being willing to listen, share your experience honestly and ask thoughtful questions can make a real difference. It is a small investment of time, but a genuinely rewarding experience for both people."