Loading Text-to-Speech...
The Mary Voyage is a retired private employee. He was born in the early 60s. Last week, at the second batch graduation ceremony «certified TikTokers» in Greece, she was happy and seemed to be in a very familiar place. Around her they blinked blinding ring lights and stood tripods. «You have exactly two seconds before the user does swipe (goes to the next video), make sure you use them properly», alumni said to each other, and herself. Mrs. Vojatzi had completed the Programme «TikTok Marketing: Strategy and Implementation» The Centre for Education and Lifelong Learning of the Athens Economic University (OPA) She was 2.5 months old and was at graduation accompanied by her husband Charalambo Mylonas.
Each certification cycle has a duration of 2.5 months and is addressed to those seeking a career on social media and those who want to specialize in marketing via TikTok.
«I like technology. I was almost from the first moment in Facebook and in Instagram. Contact with people fills me up a lot. I wanted to try this program, too.», says to «M». At first he asked for the help of a friend. Before uploading a video, he sent it to her and asked if she had done a good editing or whether she chose the right filter. Then, seeing that her first videos were impacted, she accidentally achieved an advertisement of the program. «At first I didn't believe it. I thought it was a scam. I was talking to my husband and he was like, "Is it possible, a program from the Economic University with such content?"», He says laughingToday, with the "graduate" in hand, she confesses her goal: «To practice what I have learned. I don't do it for a job, but that doesn't mean I don't want to try.».
Strict control
The 70-hour schedule began his first cycle in October 2025 and his success few waited for it. The second cycle with 40 participants began in February 2026. The first thought that comes to someone when they hear TikTok and Economic University of Athens is whether there have been difficulties and reactions to its approval. «There were no exactly reactions, but the program had to be very well structured and double-checked. Matter went through very strict control, perhaps more severe than other programmes.», says Pavlina Katyai, PhD candidate in the Department of Administrative Science and Technology and teacher of the program.
Above, the «graduate» TikToker Mary Voyage with her husband Charalambo Mylonas. «I don't do it for a job, but that doesn't mean I don't want to try.»She says so herself. Below, Professor Pavlina Katyai, in a hall of the OPA Training and Lifelong Learning Center. As he points out, «We leave traditional e-commerce and go to social commerce. People will buy directly through social media».
Who is he addressing? «In individuals pursuing a career in social media, students who wish to specialize in digital marketing via TikTok, as well as professionals who want to join TikTok in their advertising activities». The university decided to take action and train people with an intense presence in social media to read the algorithm, analyze the trends and statistics of their videos, build a comprehensive strategy, make it a profession if they wish. «The idea emerged mainly from the recognition of market needs. On the one hand, as a university, we work a lot with businesses that were looking for people who knew TikTok. On the other hand, we had a large pool of creators, whom businesses did not know how to evaluate to choose them. So we thought some certified creators should come out, who can actually do it as a profession and have studied it.», Mr Katyai stressed.
Important background
What do people learn about it? Matter does not include TikTok dances and filters, if someone's mind goes into something like that. According to Ms Katyai, participants are taught how to set up targeted advertisements, how to negotiate their fees, analyze the platform data and plan strategies for their clients. «It is important for candidates to have a background or even experience in marketing», explains herself, pointing out that 7 module programme is the only one of its kind in Greece. «Individuals from 19-20 to 55+ participate. We have the case of a lady who is a realtor in Thessaloniki. Through the program she started her own account. Finally, he also convinced the real estate company he works with to account for TikTok and has already closed three major sales».
Commemorative click after graduation. Marialena Konstantinidou, founder of a Greek fashion house, poses alongside Stamatis Yodsevsky, a freelance professional who manages social media businesses. From 1,000 followers at the beginning of the course reached 10,000 at TikTok, applying every time what she had learned, Mrs. Constantidou points out. Mr. Yodchevsky, for his part, in order to give him «remembers» the algorithm remains particularly active on the platform, which seeks to become its main source of revenue.
A history of success is also that of Marialinas Konstantinidou, founder and artistic director of the Greek fashion house Chromatica. «In TikTok from February when the program began so far, of the 1,000 followers I had reached 10,000 and instagram out of 16,000 I went to 46,000», reports to «M». After each lesson, he set up a business plan as he had been taught and the next day he posted a video applying what he had learned. «I like to talk about social issues, for example about dating. In TikTok you must be exuberant, authentic. What people love is seeing you through the keyhole. So the more you can put them into your everyday life, the better. People want to see all your personality», she notes.
That's exactly the point. «authenticity» Who seeks the public, is rarely random. Behind the seemingly raw material there is design and strategy. This confirms that 34-year-old freelance professional Stamatist Yodchevsky, who manages social media business on the brand side. His goal was to see the side of the creator. «What we see many times, a more spontaneous video, is not so spontaneous. He hides behind strategy, editing, someone who knows how to use the tools of TikTok and Instagram. It's not like someone just picks up a cell phone, pulls a video and uploads it.», reports himself. In order to get him «remembers» the algorithm remains highly active. He posts, interacts and comments various publications several hours of the day. Its aim is to become a key source of revenue. But so far TikTok does not pay creators directly in Greece, something that is already happening in other countries. «In Greece you only make money through collaborations or lives. Outside is a normal profession, there are people doing TikTok lives. They sell through there. I expect him to come to Greece.», adds.
Electronic sales
«We are now leaving traditional e-commerce and go to Social commerce. People will buy directly through social media», reveals Mrs. Something.. In China TikTok shop is already in operation. While someone is watching a video on TikTok, simply pressing a button the screen is minimized at the bottom right and the user can buy a product without getting off the platform. This trend has already reached Spain, England and the Netherlands, and in 2026 it is expected to reach Greece. «In China, apart from the huge impact, there is an academy that trains people to become Presenters on TikTok LiveIn fact, a saleswoman at TikTok Live sold services for $6.4 million launch rockets.», she notes. In Greece, a company that attended the first cycle of the program ejected its online sales from 4,000 euros to 150,000. «E-shops may become simple tools that will power the platform. Businesses that don't assimilate this change just stay behind. I don't know if it'll be easy to survive.», notes Mrs. Katyai. At the same time future TikTokers publish on social media videos from their graduation.
