Xenia Ambatzoglou
Xenia Ambatzoglou is a human-centered strategist, business and operations consultant, and founder of 1988., a mission-driven company dedicated to women’s business advocacy and consulting. She holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Design and Management from Parsons School of Design, where she developed expertise in design thinking, creative problem-solving, and building scalable systems that bridge vision and execution. Xenia’s career path spans retail, financial services, and program development, including launching a Women in Business program at a local bank that empowered women entrepreneurs through education, access, and community-building. After being unexpectedly let go from the corporate sector, she turned her experience, networks, and strategic acumen into her own venture, 1988., translating her passion for women’s empowerment into tangible, impactful work.
As the founder and operator of 1988., Xenia manages a full spectrum of business responsibilities, including product design, website development, social media strategy, sourcing, and financial planning. Her approach combines creativity with a strategic focus on financial performance, ROI, and operational efficiency. She has successfully built the company from the ground up, establishing a cohesive brand presence, launching digital platforms, and cultivating a community of engaged customers—all while balancing family responsibilities. Xenia’s ability to connect networks, foster communities, and leverage her background in strategy and design thinking has been instrumental in scaling her business and delivering meaningful outcomes for women and organizations alike.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Xenia is passionate about fashion, music, and the arts. She enjoys a diverse range of music spanning the 1960s through the 2000s and shares her love of musical theater with her three children. An avid learner, she prefers audiobooks and selects educational shows and films that provide insight and inspiration. Her personal interests reflect the same curiosity, creativity, and intentionality that drive her professional life, underscoring her commitment to growth, innovation, and community both at home and in business.
• Women’s Entrepreneurship Certificate
• AI Essentials Bootcamp
• Foundations of Project Management
• Parsons School of Design - The New School - MS, Strategic Design & Management
• Female Founder Collective
• Empowering Women That Rock
• Entreprenista
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to vision paired with execution. Ideas are easy. Doing the work — consistently, imperfectly, and without external validation — is what moves the needle. I’ve built across industries by staying curious, disciplined, and unafraid to pivot when something no longer fits.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t wait for permission.”
The most pivotal advice I ever internalized was that no one is coming to tap you on the shoulder. If you see a gap, step into it. If you have a vision, build it. Confidence often follows action — not the other way around.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is simple: do it sooner, fail sooner, and keep going. Embrace failures as valuable lessons—they build your strength, expand your knowledge, and help you grow. Persistence and a willingness to learn from mistakes are what ultimately lead to success.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is visibility. While social media can be saturated, I’ve found that personal storytelling in physical spaces and one-on-one interactions resonates most effectively with audiences. At the same time, this presents a great opportunity: by taking consistent steps to build my audience and share my brand story authentically, I can create meaningful connections and grow my impact.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value integrity above all in both my professional and personal life. In my work, it guides me to act with honesty, accountability, and ethical responsibility, ensuring that I provide the highest standards of care and maintain trust with patients, colleagues, and the community. In my personal life, integrity means staying true to my principles, being reliable and trustworthy, and treating others with respect and fairness in all interactions.
Locations
womenowned88
NY/NJ Tristate Area, NJ 07663