A human rights lawyer, determined to eradicate inequality! How did it all start?

I’ve always had an interest in human rights and equality issues. My legal studies reinforced that interest and I then went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Human Rights at the London School of Economics. This opened the door to an incredible new world: for the past ten years I have been a human rights and gender equality advocate, working for numerous international organisations, including the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Union institutions, the United Nations as well as Non-Governmental Organisations. Through my job, I’ve had the honour to meet extremely aspiring people, participate in truly exciting projects, live in hugely inspiring cities and focus on promoting women’s empowerment. And I absolutely love that I get to be part of this exhilarating change towards a more inclusive society.

Can you remember a pivotal moment in your life, that led you to this path?

From a very young age, the idea that the place and culture you are born in can determine your rights and the life you will lead, made me shudder. But I remember a specific moment around the age of 13, after reading Desert Flower by Waris Dirie, when I thought that I will do anything I can to help women less lucky than me to obtain a better future. The book is a thrilling memoir of a woman who put her life on the line to escape from a brutally oppressive life in Somalia, where she had been subjected to the horror of female genital mutilation. And that’s when I realised that there are women out there who would risk their life to get a taste of the freedoms I took for granted. I had to do something to help, in any way I could.

How well would you say today’s society is doing when it comes to inclusion and diversity in the workforce?

I would say that the younger generations are making big progress in achieving a more inclusive and diverse environment in the workplace in every sense. When it comes to women, more and more are gaining better access to all levels of education, and thus the power to shape their own lives and actively contribute to the workforce in senior positions. Large corporations are realising the importance of diversity to achieve creative and innovative results and are thus more inclusive when employing their staff. We can, therefore, say that in a lot of parts of the world considerable progress has been made in normalising diverse and equal-opportunity environments. Unfortunately, this is not the case everywhere and there is still a need for change on a global scale.

Have you ever felt lost or disorientated and that you needed to take a step back?

I think that it is only natural to change course in life and to grasp new opportunities when they arise. Sometimes, the path we are on may not feel right any longer; I would think that most people face a moment like this in their career. For me that moment was a few years ago, when living in London and working for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. I had never really paused to think about my life until then and, quite frankly, it didn’t feel the same any more. I needed a change.  For the first time I paused and thought for a while, and I must say that was an unsettling and not so comfortable process. I had to force myself to really listen to my deeper emotions and needs. That was when I made the decision to return to Athens and restructure my life in a way that was better aligned with my bigger vision. I underwent an important transition, letting go of habitual patterns that had outlived their usefulness: I spent more time with family and old friends, went back to my roots, avoided the professional ‘rat-race’ and re-evaluated priorities.

What would you say was the biggest personal challenge that you have faced so far, and would you say it made you stronger? 

The hardest and most challenging time in my life was when I lost my mother. Coming to terms with loss has been such a long and painful process and it fundamentally changed the way I think. I would say it forced me to see my life from a new perspective and reevaluate my priorities. We aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow, so the least we can do is live each day to the fullest.

Any advice to our followers?

Add colour to your life! Both literally and metaphorically. Colour rainbows brighten up our lives; they bring joy and light