21 Questions with NFI's Newest Board Member: Chris Efessiou [Interview]

Get to know our newest board member, Chris Efessiou, in 21 questions. 

Mr. Chris Efessiou is NFI's newest board member. The author, speaker, radio host and media personality has founded, co-founded, developed, and managed multiple successful enterprises—all the while being an involved, responsible, and committed father. Who is this busy dad and what makes him passionate about serving fathers?

Allow me to introduce to you, Mr. Chris Efessiou:

1) Name and title? Chris Efessiou, PhD

2) Place of birth? I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece, and came to the United States at age 18 with the goal to get myself accepted into college.

3) Current home location? My wife Juliana and I live in Vienna, Virginia.

4) Number and ages of children? Juliana and I are blessed with four adult daughters. While three girls are hers and one is mine from a previous marriage, the closeness of this blended family is beyond our wildest dreams. Alexis and Jessica live in Los Angeles, and Hilary and Persephone live in the DC area.

5) What do you do for a living? I am the founder and CEO of SRxA Strategic Pharmaceutical Advisors, a consulting firm providing marketing and education strategy to the pharmaceutical industry.

6) What made you decide to serve on NFI's Board? I raised my daughter as a single dad since she was 7.  She is now 26, a loving, compassionate, unentitled, successful young woman whom I admire. I served as both parents to her and she credits me for who she has become today. I loved the experience and felt that if I could help another father to see the beauty and value of fatherhood, that I could be helping the shaping of a young person’s life. That is what NFI does, and that is why I am honored to serve on its board. 

7) What was your first car? A 20 year old, third hand, 1961 VW bug with half its floor gone and only 3 cylinders firing on any given day. Yet, it was my first set of 4 wheels, albeit barely in place, it got me to and from school and work and to this day, I am supremely proud of it.

8) What was your first job? When I lived in Greece I worked in my father's shop in the summers doing minor repairs. He was an electrician. While I never learned to work with electricity, I was thrilled to have my dad to myself the entire day and to be exposed to his business acumen. I asked questions endlessly, and tried to understand every business move he made and why he made it. It all paid off later in my life.

9) Lamest gift you ever gave your dad? A hug and a kiss. At the time it felt lame and cheap. When I became a father, I realized that it was the best gift I could have given him.

10) Best advice you ever received? "The three ingredients of a successful union between two...humor, commitment & undying love." —Bill Cosby

11) One thing you always carry with you? Pictures of my family on my phone. I make it a point to look through them, particularly on long flights, and reflect upon them. It is also a good opportunity to say "Thank You God" for giving me the good fortune to have this family.

12) One thing you wish you could do more? I am a licensed pilot and love to fly whenever I have the time. I find that instrument flight requires absolute attention to every detail. Flying is the only time I know that I can purge my head from everything else and enjoy the 30,000 foot view. It is a sense of freedom and reflection. I'd love to do it more frequently but other commitments get in the way.

13) Man who most changed your life? My father. He was part dictator and part mentor. I always liked to analyze the way he thought and tried to understand why he made the decisions he made. I loved his innovative spirit and the fact that he could always find a way to accomplish what needed doing. Learning by watching him in my youth, paid handsome dividends in my adult life especially when I first came to the U.S. without knowledge of English and had to compete on the same field as everyone else. Yes, innovation and a can-do attitude work!

14) Thing you’re always telling your children? Find something you love doing, and find a way to make a living at it. Then you'll never have to work a day in your life

15) Dinner with famous dad: who? why? Bill Cosby. He single-handedly formed my early opinions of what kind of father I wanted to be through his book Fatherhood and later his TV show. Above all, he taught me the value of humor. I want to have dinner with him to thank him for what he's done for all fathers and to discuss with him my book CDO Chief Daddy Officer - The Business of Fatherhood. I'd love to know what he thinks of it.

16) Article of clothing every dad should own? An extra light coat in your car. Your wife and kids, especially daughters, would typically under-dress and you'd soon find yourself covering one of them with your own jacket. If you don't like feeling cold, you'd be well served by having an extra one nearby.

17) Book every dad should read? Fatherhood by Bill Cosby, and CDO Chief Daddy Officer - The Business of Fatherhood by Chris Efessiou  

18) Thing a dad should know about money? You can make it, save it, invest it, spend it, or give it away. Every dad should know the value of each, and teach it to his children.

19) Advice for a new dad? Always do what's best for your child, even if that's not the best for you. Always remember that children are smarter than we give them credit for. Don't underestimate their intellect or overestimate yours!

20) The “secret” to being a great dad? Always be emotionally available, and when able, be physically present. Nothing elevates a child's self esteem more than to know that he or she is important to you, and that their importance is acknowledged not by words, but by your actions. Remember, nothing speaks louder than your presence and there is no excuse for emotional absence.

21) To what are you most looking forward? Silly as it may sound, I look forward to the day that my daughter has a child so that I can relive those beautiful memories one more time.