Building Connections That Last: Christina Athanasiadou’s Customer Success Formula at PitchBook

Meet Christina Athanasiadou, a Senior Customer Success Manager, Team Lead at PitchBook. With her passion for technology and innovation, Christina has built a remarkable career by bridging the gap between customer support and customer success, focusing on long-term retention and growth for her clients. She is also an advocate for women in tech and exemplifies the company’s values through her leadership and drive. Here’s her journey, advice, and insights on thriving at PitchBook and in Customer Success.

Why Customer Success?

Christina’s path to Customer Success was inspired by her desire to work in a dynamic, fast-paced industry. For her, a customer success role meant constant interaction with diverse clients—from founders and venture capitalists to private equity firms and research teams. As she puts it, “I get to connect with our amazing clients…and have interesting and enhancing conversations on what’s going on in the different markets.”

At PitchBook, Christina’s curiosity for industry trends is constantly fed. “PitchBook gives me the opportunity to explore and discover something new,” she shares. Working with a comprehensive database that includes everything from FinTech to SpaceTech, she stays ahead of emerging trends in technology.

Christina is not one for routine and finds PitchBook’s evolving environment a perfect fit. “There’s always new projects, products, and changes to how we work,” she says, emphasizing how adaptability and a drive for change—values central to PitchBook—align with her own.

A Pathway to Leadership: From Customer Support to Team Lead

Although Christina always envisioned a Customer Success-focused career, she began her journey at PitchBook in Customer Support. “I was curious to learn all about PitchBook’s clients,” she explains. This foundational experience gave her a deep understanding of client needs, which she now uses to deliver value and foster long-term growth.

In her current role, Christina works closely with mid-market clients, focusing on both retention and growth. Additionally, as a team lead, she supports new hires through onboarding and helps her team develop and thrive. Leadership, she says, is “a pathway I’ve always been interested in as I gain a sense of reward from helping others grow and flourish.”

Success Tips for Client Retention & Growth

Christina has developed a strategic approach to ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty. Here are her top tips for retention and growth:

Be Creative: Experiment with different techniques and strategies to strengthen relationships. “Focus on in-person meetings and go where your clients are,” Christina advises. Attending events and conferences has been invaluable for building personal connections with clients.

Watch for Client Behavior: In a time of cost-cutting, understanding client behavior and knowing when to ease negotiations is key. Christina recommends staying informed by following clients’ LinkedIn activity, signing up for newsletters, and tracking any hiring or cost-cutting moves. “Don’t be afraid to ask about competition,” she says, as understanding what other tools clients use can offer insights into their needs.

Focus on Long-Term Relationships: Building a relationship often means compromise. “Meeting in the middle and working with client budgets can nurture a long-lasting connection,” she notes.

Leading a Team by Example

As a team lead, Christina follows a few essential practices to ensure her team is supported and motivated:

Be Available: “Be present,” she emphasizes. Sometimes, this is as simple as taking off headphones to show you’re approachable.

Stay Proactive: Lead by example and look for ways to support the team.

Celebrate Wins and Share Tips: Christina openly shares her own successes and insights with the team, fostering a collaborative atmosphere.

Thriving as a Woman at PitchBook

PitchBook stands out for Christina as a workplace that truly supports women. “You feel like you can succeed at PitchBook because there is huge representation across leadership roles,” she shares. Christina’s department is led by female leaders, and this visibility of women in leadership empowers her and her colleagues to aim high.

Christina has been actively attending the events hosted by PitchBook’s own Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), a community that hosts monthly panels and events to uplift women in the company. “Through all these initiatives, I feel like I can show up for any challenge, apply for any promotion, and succeed in such a supportive environment,” she adds.

Advice for Women in Tech Customer Success

For women looking to excel in the industry, Christina’s advice is to be authentic, proactive, and to seek connections with inspiring people. “Put yourself forward and raise your hand for any opportunity, even if it sounds challenging,” she encourages. She notes that women often hesitate to apply if they feel underqualified, but her message is clear: “Just give it a go. You’re always more capable and confident than you think you are.”

Christina’s story highlights not only the opportunities that PitchBook offers but also the vibrant, supportive community it cultivates. Her career is a testament to the rewards of curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to building meaningful relationships—both with clients and colleagues.

Learn more about careers at PitchBook here.