‘Confidence will help rebuild the country,’ says government’s Chief Creative Officer Steve Vranakis

Many virtual meetings begin these days with references to our cranial and facial hair, and the unfortunate state it is in due to our isolation at home. Greece's Chief Creative Officer Steve Vranakis jokes about his shaved head - the work of his wife and the cause of a state of mild embarrassment when he had to do a video conference call with the prime minister. I say something about my beard and that helps break the ice.

How is daily life going? "We live in an apartment in Maroussi. We're lucky to have a tiny garden and a shed that we turned into a guesthouse/office. I get up in the morning and get ready; I feel like I'm going somewhere, and that makes all the difference. I am extremely fortunate."

At the same time, the 48-year-old former executive director of Google's Creative Lab for Europe, the Middle East and Africa is accustomed to teleworking. Even Greece From...