Marilena was born in Thessaloniki ,Greece. She graduated from the American college ‘Anatolia’ and continued her education in the UK at The London School of Economics obtaining a Bachelors degree in Economics and Sociology. She also holds a postgraduate Degree in International Business and Management from the University of Essex, UK. She holds a certificate in Strategic Leadership from the ILM, UK. She was trained in green coffee trading and logistics in Italy, working at Itochu group in Genova. She received her first certificate in Espresso tasting from the London School of Coffee in 2003. Since 1998 she has been working in the coffee sector, both in the import/export of green coffee and logistics, as well as in sales management. She holds various certifications in the coffee and tea sectors. In 2016 she was accredited as a trainer for the Beverage Standards Association of UK and since later that year she is the director of Coteco SA consulting company , representing the Beverage Standards Association of UK educational curricula in Greece and Cyprus. She holds a certificate in adult education from the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences and Is currently completing the first ever Post graduate Certificate in advanced studies of Coffee Excellence by The University of Zurich (ZHAW) She is the principal of the WSPC Coffee ,Tea and Cocoa school. She is a cofounder of Café Femenino Greece She lives in Athens and is married with two children.