Female entrepreneurship in the spotlight

The Cyprus Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Cyprus) this week announced that it commemorated Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, observed on November 19 every year, by holding its fifth Mediterranean symposium on female empowerment and cooperation in business.

The symposium, which was titled ‘Women leading the way in our new reality’, was also held on November 19 2022 at the Royal Hall in Nicosia.

“As we face a new reality, even in the way businesses now operate in the post-pandemic era, it is now more important than ever to ensure that women are not left behind,” the federation said in a statement.

In addition, the statement explained that in this context, the symposium brought together BPW representatives from all the countries bordering the Mediterranean, as well as members of the international and regional BPW.

The event’s opening address was delivered by BPW Cyprus president Tasia Yiannnara Yiallourides.

“In the wake of so many women around the world having to continue to defend their fundamental rights, it is even more important to recognise and face all challenges,” Yiallourides said.

“Men and women together, by sharing knowledge and experiences, empowering and inspiring each other, we can transform our future in the most promising way,” she added.

The event was also greeted by the Employers and Industrialists Federation (Oev) president Antonis Antoniou, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) president Christodoulos Angastiniotis, as well as Sophia Kounenaki-Efraimoglou, the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Moreover, House President Annita Demetriou, Minister of Energy and Commerce Natasa Pilides, Secretary of the European Commission BPW Carmen Taheny, as well as Porsche marketing and PR manager Pavlina Iacovidou, also delivered speeches at the event.

Among the topics discussed and examined at the conference was the definition of authenticity in female leadership, how women can take advantage of new challenges, the critical role of women in the future of business, as well as women in technology.

In the first panel discussion entitled ‘Defining authenticity in female leadership’ with moderator and speaker Francesca Burack, Angela Tomazou, Raluca Man and Caroline Fattal Fakhoury discussed effective ways in which women can respond to the challenges of the post-pandemic era while still providing authentic female leadership.

In the second panel entitled ‘The new reality: How women can take advantage of new challenges’, participants discussed how women are pioneering the future of business. “Through a diversity of perspectives, emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to devise outside-the-box solutions to challenges, women play a critical role in disrupting the status quo,” the federation said.

“With Larisa Miller as the moderator and speaker of this special panel, we also heard from Natasa Pileidou, Aurora Martin and Viola Edward,” the statement added, explaining that the panel’s discussion aimed to inspire women into rethinking their way forward through a new era of business leadership and personal growth.

The third and final panel looked at the critical role of women in the future of business, as well as the importance of women in the technology sector.

“Our panel of women leaders in their fields: Constantina Patsalou, and Phyllis Leah Speser discussed the challenges, obstacles and rewards when women take on leadership roles and careers in Business and Technology,” the federation said.

“Together with moderator and speaker Mel Asare, participants shared their experiences of the role and place of women in business, and how critical that role is in shaping and improving the future,” the statement concluded.