Leadership Academy

“Leadership & Public Speaking”

Leadership Academy “Leadership & Personal Branding”

On 26 September 2022, Women Act was organized, with the support of Friedrich Naumman Foundation for Freedom, a Leadership Academy in the city of Thessaloniki. The event was a half-day experiential workshop focusing on “Public Speaking” and aimed at offering participants the necessary skillset for projecting a more concrete and assertive image in the public sphere.
 
Prior to the workshop, journalist Nefeli Lygerou shared her experience with the participants, as a public figure constantly exposed on the media, via her radio show, daily TV appearances, and as a columnist in an established newspaper.

Additionally, remarks were made by Christina Kanataki, journalist and host of one of the most popular daily TV shows in the Thessaloniki region. She focused on the importance of being true to yourself when exposed in public and on the necessity to stay vocal and assertive despite ongoing challenges.

May Zanni, President, and co-founder of Women Act, presented the work of the organization giving particular emphasis on the work done concretely and actively supporting women to claim leadership positions and to participate in the decision-making centers. In particular, Mrs. Zanni mentioned the Women CANdidates program, funded by the USA Embassy in Greece, the first online platform in Greece that supports women who want to run for office (www.womencandidates.gr) and the W-action initiative, the first platform that connects women professionals to high-level conference organizers in Greece, giving women the opportunity to be more vocal in the public sphere. She also mentioned the work done by Women Act throughout Greece, via the various hubs that the organization has created in different parts of the country - one of them being Thessaloniki.

Eleni Siapikoudi, speaking on behalf of FNF, highlighted the important work undertaken by the foundation regarding the promotion of democratic principles in Europe and offered an overview of the projects supported by FNF in relation, specifically, to gender equity, diversity, and social inclusion.

After the introductory speeches, Dr. Maria Gianniou, Women Act co-founder, Empowerment & Leadership Coach, and Corporate Trainer, facilitated the workshop on “Public Speaking”. Participants had the chance to better understand the challenges most women face when they have to speak in public and how they could address them in a productive way. Through interactive teaching techniques, Dr. Gianniou facilitated a discussion around the value and the usefulness of being vocal in the public sphere and shared with the participants specifics techniques on how to become better public speakers.

The session closed with an overview of the key take-aways regarding women professionals and leaders and the importance of public speaking.