ACTIVITY

Give a good example of your entrepreneurship

Voluntary support, counseling and transmission of positive energy to young and female entrepreneurs.

How old were you when you started as entrepreneur?

33

What support did you have when you became an entrepreneur?

Personal research and finding a mentor from “KEMEL” (Volunteer Management Center of Greece) and a second mentor from 2014 until today

Hospitality at the Athens Business Incubator 2016-2018

Counseling from the Agri-Food Center of Messinia 2017 until today.

Sponsorship from “The People’s Trust” (2018)

SOCIAL IMPACT

What problem are you trying to solve and why?

Reduced female entrepreneurship in the country area, especially in villages and small areas.

Unemployment and low income in the Greek countryside, especially among women.

The low visibility of the unique agrotourism activities that can be realized in Greece by small producers and Women entrepreneurs.

The desertion of Greek villages and areas.

The reason is simple: Only with cooperation and teamwork can everyone gain: in personal, social, economic and national level.
Personally, I always wanted to deal with something that I enjoy and at the same time benefit others as well as my country through it.

What is your target group? Level of impact (concentrated to the specific group, local, regional, wider…)

Female entrepreneurs in the countryside and small local entrepreneurs.

Is social enterprise the best way they can help?

Yes, because the social enterprises prioritizing social benefit, serving their members’ needs rather than profit, building on teamwork and co-operation with each other and more widely in the community where they are active.

Why this industry/area/topic, and why now?

Because Tourism was and will continue to be a very basic business segment for our country. Gastronomic tourism and agrotourism are not only a rising trend in tourism but also a great opportunity to show ourselves as Greeks, our rich culinary heritage and the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet, combining them with the immortal Greek culture and our authentic Greek Hospitality.

KEY CHALLENGES AND SUCCESS FACTORS

What drives your motivation?

My passion for creativity and my thoughts that I support and collaborate with other people for a common purpose: Strengthening Women’s and local entrepreneurship and promoting my country through Gastronomic Tourism. Also, the fact that I want to convey to my children that determination and faith in themselves and the realization of their dreams can make them happy adults.

Does your job make you compromise with something or make sacrifices?

The sacrifice relates to personal free time and time with our own people. Everyday you have to manage your time so well that you can use it for the benefit of your work and at the same time give it to your family.

What does it take to be successful?

As a human and as a mother, I believe that our family and our people have priority. Trying to ‘balance’ between motherhood and entrepreneurship is really a daily challenge.

What are the benefits, both personal and social?

Social:
Enhancing Women’s and Local Employments in the Greek Countryside, highlighting their dominant role in local society, reducing unemployment, increasing their personal income. The visibility of Greek Gastronomy and Greek Hospitality

Personal:
Satisfaction of the personal need to create and achieve personal, family, and professional goals. Strengthening my sociability, constantly acquainted with new people, expanding my knowledge to new fields of interest, but above all my personal desire to convey my positive energy and to be inspired by those who have dreams and reluctant to realize them – especially to young people!

SKILLS AND COMPETENCES

The most relevant skills and competence to perform your initiative/business successfully

Determination and faith in the venture

Specific skills & Soft skills

Teamwork, adaptability, critical thinking, organizability, creativity, personal integrity and morality

Relevant experience

No relevant experience with Tourism, except on the subject of my studies (Librarianship). But my willingness to be as good and professional as possible in this new field is pushing me to be informed, constantly reading and doing things about my self-improvement every day.