My Favorite President

A Conversation That Sparked Reinvention: Reflections from Cyprus

The driveway was discreetly secure, lined with trees that opened into an inviting parking area. As we approached the home, I was struck by its attractive, modest scale—presenting itself to the world with quiet confidence. The entry foyer and adjoining office were exquisitely designed, yet retained a humble proportion uncommon in residences of this stature.

We were informed that the President had a major television interview in fifteen minutes.

When Nikos Christodoulides entered the room, he carried the presence of both a university professor and a seasoned diplomat. His demeanor immediately put us at ease, and without delay, we began discussing the pressing challenges facing Cyprus.

Before COVID and the war in Ukraine, Cyprus had a thriving service sector and a robust tourist economy, heavily reliant on Russian visitors and capital. The pandemic dealt a severe blow, and the war pushed the economy to the brink. In response, Cyprus made the bold decision to eliminate all Russian capital from its economy—effectively erasing its primary source of revenue overnight.

What struck me was the President’s openness to this reality and his clear recognition that Cyprus needed to reinvent itself. That acknowledgment became the foundation for the rest of our conversation.

I had been invited to Cyprus before the war began, at the request of the head of PwC Cyprus, who asked me to outline opportunities for the country. I accepted because I wanted my team to explore what reinvention could look like—not just for companies or large nations, but for smaller ones like Cyprus. In many ways, change is more achievable at that scale, and we hoped to demonstrate that reinvention is possible everywhere.

We began by identifying Cyprus’ strengths:

• A well-educated population and strong post-secondary institutions

• A beautiful, livable environment with abundant sun and wind

• Strategic proximity to the fast-growing economies of the Middle East and India

• EU membership

• A political and economic structure where consensus among a few could drive rapid change

The urgency of our visit intensified after Cyprus’ decision to sever Russian ties. We explored a range of ideas, but three stood out:

1. A Gateway to the EU: Cyprus could serve as a testbed for companies from India, the Middle East, and North America seeking entry into the EU. We drew parallels to how P&G used the Czech Republic to test products—representative of European demand but manageable in scale. Ireland served as another useful analogy.

2. Harnessing Solar Energy: With abundant sunlight and emerging storage technologies, Cyprus could transition from a centralized, oil-based system to a decentralized, renewable one. This shift would enable energy-intensive industries and localized energy production.

3. Sectoral Leadership: We identified a few sectors where Cyprus could take the lead, with likely support from both the EU and the United States.

Our conversation extended well beyond the time his staff had allotted. Though I haven’t returned since, I hope to now that I’m retired.

Some time later, I received an article from the Cyprus Times describing the transformative changes President Christodoulides was making to the country’s brand—and the public credit he gave me for helping crystallize his thinking. It’s rare for a President to act so decisively, and even rarer to acknowledge a brief conversation with a foreign visitor as influential. I was genuinely surprised and deeply humbled.

In retrospect, I shouldn’t have been. That’s the impression he left: someone who listens seriously, acts swiftly when advice resonates, and gives credit where it’s due. He was, and I believe truly is, a brilliant, honest, and forthright leader who deeply loves his country. And one who truly understood the urgent need for reinvention.