Elina Patrioti and Yiannis Patriotis, executive directors of Leo Patriotis Ltd, tell Forbes Cyprus about their vision for the family business, balancing tradition with modern strategy, and their recent recognition with a “Young Entrepreneurship” award.
Congratulations on receiving the “Young Entrepreneurship” award. To what extent does this recognition reflect your vision and the efforts of the new generation at Leo Patriotis Ltd?
Elina: Thank you sincerely. This award is a significant distinction—not merely a personal acknowledgement, but the outcome of a shared journey between my brother, our team and myself. As the second generation in a family business built on history, values and relentless effort, we carry forward a legacy that guides us every day.
Above all, this honour belongs to our parents—the people who built this company literally from the ground up, under difficult circumstances, driven by resilience, sacrifice and endless hours of hard work. Their legacy is our source of strength, inspiration and responsibility.
Our philosophy is to move forward with strategic thinking and human sensitivity—to evolve without losing touch with our culture, to innovate whilst remaining closely connected to our team, partners, suppliers and customers.
As young leaders in a company with a long-standing history, how do you perceive your role in both preserving tradition and introducing innovation?
Yiannis: We perceive our role as a balance between preserving tradition and applying modern business thinking. The company’s long-standing experience gives us a strong advantage: we have deep knowledge of the industry, long-standing relationships of trust with our customers and suppliers, and a solid understanding of the market’s needs.
Our mission is to leverage this valuable foundation through a contemporary lens—strengthening strategic partnerships, exploring new product development opportunities and upgrading our internal operations.
How do you maintain the balance between tradition and innovation?
Elina: Tradition is the foundation we stand on—the trusted relationships and human-centred culture our parents built, which we honour through our everyday work.
Innovation, on the other hand, is a necessary step for us to continue to exist dynamically and respond to today’s challenges. We integrate it into the company with strategic thinking and respect for our identity.
A characteristic example is the digital transformation of our company, which has been gradually evolving in recent years and is being implemented with the active participation of our entire team.
We feel proud, because many of our people have been with us for 20, 25, even 30 years—and yet they embraced technological evolution with flexibility and an open mind.
We also strongly believe in the blending of generations. When the experience of the older generation combines with the enthusiasm and ideas of the younger one, and when there is a shared goal, space is created for real progress and healthy growth.
Collaboration between siblings can be both a challenge and an advantage. How does this dynamic work in your daily professional relationship?
Yiannis: Although each of us has taken on our own area of responsibility within the company and we operate autonomously, there is always close communication and complete understanding. Strategic decisions are always made together, with respect for each other’s opinions and perspectives. In our daily routine, honesty and open dialogue are the tools that allow us to separate the personal from the professional and focus on what truly matters—the well-being of the company and our team.
Elina: Our collaboration as siblings is, for us, a significant advantage, because our different personalities complement each other. We may think or approach things differently, but we share a common vision, common values and deep trust. This relationship enables us to always find common ground with respect, love and understanding.
Which initiatives or areas are you focusing on the most?
Yiannis: Our goal is the continuous strengthening of the brands we represent, as well as the enrichment of our product portfolio.
At the same time, we systematically invest in the development of our own brands, which we consider a key growth driver and competitive advantage for our company. For the past 15 years, we have had our own office in China, which serves as our strategic arm for developing our own brands, as well as private label products for our clients.
Through this structure, we have built a strong network of reliable suppliers, we apply strict quality controls, and we ensure the quality of the products we offer our customers—both in the Cypriot market and abroad.
What is your vision for Leo Patriotis Ltd, and how do you imagine the company’s evolution over the next decade?
Elina: We are currently planning a new state-of-the-art distribution centre, with larger and more functional warehouses, advanced automated systems, and welcoming, comfortable office spaces for our people. This is an important investment that will strengthen our capabilities, upgrade our customer service, and create an even more flexible and productive environment.
This infrastructure will give us the opportunity to further develop our existing sectors with new products, take on additional brand representations, and expand into new commercial categories.
At the same time, we are investing in our technological upgrade—both in terms of tools and culture. We are exploring the integration of modern technologies and artificial intelligence tools that will allow us to improve our productivity, decision-making and internal organisation.
Finally, we want to continue enriching our team with people who share our vision and culture, whilst investing in training, skill development and the continuous empowerment of our human resources.
What message would you like to send to other young professionals who aim to create, lead and innovate?
Elina: To young professionals seeking to grow within their family businesses, I would say: equip yourselves with patience, understanding and an open mind, but also remain true to your instinct, your values and your character. Remember that trust and respect are not demanded; they are earned through consistency, hard work and the way you carry yourself.
Yiannis: I would tell them that the road ahead is full of opportunities, as long as they have the courage to pursue them. Not to be afraid to experiment, to challenge the norm, and to give shape to their ideas.
Leadership does not mean authority—it means vision, responsibility and inspiration.
Innovation is not only technology; it is a way of thinking and discovering solutions where others see obstacles. And above all, the most important thing is to believe that even within an established system, there is room for growth, innovation and creation with your own unique imprint. The future belongs to those who dare.
CONTACT DETAILS
2 Tasou Leivaditi,
3118, Agia Fyla, Limassol, Cyprus
Tel: +357 25 87 21 25
Website: www.patriotis.com