"MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE." ANDY CYRPIANOS

My roots come from a family of entrepreneurs with most of my working life being involved leading teams in the business arena. My early experiences in the IT industry augmented my interest in digital dentistry birthing a career that has spanned more than 27 years focusing on the Health Care Industry

27 years ago, I decided to make a significant change to start a new career in the Health Care industry. It has been an amazing journey of twists and turns, joy and hardship, but a rewarding journey of growth, developing an amazing network of relationships with doctors and fellow members within the MedTech segment.

During the last 17 years I served as GM for Dentsply Sirona South Africa where I was responsible for leading and developing the business in South & Sub-Saharan Africa, operating as a direct sales organization in South Africa and via a dealer network in the rest of Africa. During my tenure the company’s revenue grew 10-fold. My role required me to build a strong team encompassing sales, clinical education, service, operations, finance, all supported by an outsourced warehouse and logistics.

My career with Dentsply Sirona started in 1996 and spanned 27 years where I led the local entity as the company went through significant changes such as takeover, listing on the Nasdaq, mergers and a change in route to market. In 2023 I stepped down as GM to retire. 

I liken this journey and experience to that of being a Ship’s Captain of a large ship and crew that have navigated many waters and storms. The Transition has been one of learning to let go and move on. There have been some very emotional days dealing with change and interacting with so many clients that I have known for 27 years. It has also been one of mindfulness to anchor me in that “Endings are the Start of New Beginnings”. 

This awareness of new beginnings started 3 years ago when I started training to become an integral coach. During my final year of certification, I sensed that this was the beginning of a new pathway, a new journey (very much part of my Pathfinder journey), that becoming an Integral Coaching was a calling for me, sensing that while much of my life that has been invested in my business career, this was coming to an end and that coaching was the start of a new season in my life. 

As certification as a Professional Coach came to a close, the prayer of St. Francis (below) was very on my mind each time I engage in a coaching session and see the changes and shifts in my clients. I feel that coaching is a precious vocation and hope to be that to “instrument” to my clients. 

Make me an instrument of your peace Lord.

Make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy. Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 

This has led to a new narrative for my life – that of being The Pathfinder for myself and others (like a Sherpa guiding others through the mountains and challenges of life) walking with them for a short way along their journey, seeing clients grow and build sustainable shifts.