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Life as a Forest
Hector Simoudis ’09
by Susan Tomases
When you mention alumnus Hector Simoudis to the more seasoned faculty and staff on Landmark’s High School campus, they light up. There is no denying that Hector has left a positive and indelible mark on the institutional memory of this place.
Making a Commitment
Hector arrived as an international student his sophomore year, reading at a third-grade level. He recalls sitting in his Lopardo 1 dorm room early one evening, leaning over, and staring at the ground in deep thought about his future. “I was telling myself that this was the turning point. I would commit myself to working harder than ever, accept everything Landmark could offer me, reach academic achievements I hadn’t before, and turn everything around. That year, I jumped from a third- to a tenth-grade reading level and received the ‘Overall Academic Award.’ I put everything else aside, set goals, and was dedicated to the decision I made.”
The Next Chapter
His next step took him to the University of Denver to study international business and marketing. He has always had a passion for business, people, and entrepreneurship. “When I was in second grade, I put a bedsheet out on our front lawn to try and sell toys that my mom wanted to donate to people walking by. I also opened a candy shop in sixth grade and sold candy to kids in my neighborhood and at my school. Then, when I was at Landmark, I’d take orders for clothes and accessories that my classmates wanted me to bring back from Saudi Arabia. I was always hard- wired for business.”
Turning points in college included winning an entrepreneurship pitch competition and conducting an independent study for entrepreneurship that launched his first official business. He admits, “Entrepreneurship has always been in my heart. When you fill a need for people, it’s thrilling.”
Finding His Purpose
Among Hector’s many successes is the venture he started after college with one of his college best friends, called eLearning Partners. The company provides an interactive platform with online educational and training courses for businesses and individuals around the globe. Having weathered the pandemic, and with business continuing to move forward, Hector began to consider what was next for his career.
This is where our story ends, and Hector’s journey continues. When asked to reflect on his Landmark days and a piece of advice he would give about overcoming obstacles, he said, “I love the analogy of life as a forest. A healthy ecosystem requires that the forest endure occasional fires to remain healthy. We all must experience some hard times to gain perspective, regroup, and start again. I want to share this message with more people, especially those with dyslexia, like me.”
“When I was in second grade, I put a bedsheet out on our front lawn to try and sell toys that my mom wanted to donate to people walking by... I was always hard-wired for business.”
—Hector Simoudis
