Maria Terzi

Let’s talk about the GOAT Maria Terzi. This chick is the real deal, straight-up tech ninja. She’s a Cypriot boss who’s been crushing it across the board. Started out as a software engineer at Google in Zurich-imagine that, jumping straight into one of the biggest tech giants. But she wasn’t just there to chill; she’s all about pushing boundaries. She’s also been teaching and doing research at the University of Cyprus and Cyprus University of Technology, so she’s super deep into academia too.

Her brain’s next level, holding a BSc in Computer Science and a PhD in Machine Learning and Recommender Systems from Lancaster, funded by EPSRC. Basically, she’s not just coding for fun-she’s out here shaping the future of AI. And no cap, she’s won two Google hackathons in London back in 2011 and 2012-so she’s been at this grind for a minute.

Then, she jumped into startup land and co-founded Malloc Inc, which is all about AI-driven cybersecurity, especially for mobile security and spyware detection. Like, think about how crazy that is-she’s building tech that fights the bullshit out there, protecting folks from all the sneaky spyware. And guess what? Malloc’s the first Cypriot company to get into Y Combinator, and they’ve raised nearly $2 million. That’s a big deal-Cyprus isn’t exactly known as a startup hub, but she’s out here putting her country on the map.

She’s been recognized a ton-Europe’s ’35 under 35,’ dubbed a ‘Face of Europe’ by the European Parliament, and snagged awards like Forbes Cyprus Women in Tech and the Cyprus Innovation Award. But her focus goes way beyond her own success. She’s out here fighting for privacy, cybersecurity, and AI, backing Cyprus’s tech scene through hack{Cyprus} and other initiatives.

What’s clear is that Maria’s process isn’t just about tech-it’s about pushing the limits, breaking barriers, and making sure tech serves people, not the other way around. She’s driven by a desire to make a real impact, to show that Cyprus has top-tier talent, and to make cybersecurity smarter and more accessible. She’s proof that with the right mix of brains, grit, and passion, you can come from anywhere and change the game. That’s why she’s so important-she’s not just building tech, she’s building a legacy.