Driven by a passion for innovation, I focus my energy to "bringing the outside in" at Cargill. Based in Amsterdam, I lead innovation collaborations and technology scouting for cocoa and chocolate, aiming at bridging technology gaps through new partnerships and capabilities, including artificial intelligence. Originally from Greece, I pursued my studies in food science at the universities of Leeds, Cornell, and Wageningen, and dipped into the world of the culinary arts with an Associate Arts degree, and later becoming Certified Culinary Scientist. My career began with a 15-year tenure at PepsiCo R&D, where I led various new product development and innovation teams, resulting in several consumer product launches and patents. Besides chocolate, I am also passionate about brewing and have founded a small commercial craft brewery in Amsterdam.