WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP - STARTUP SAFARY

Startup Safari Athens was organized for the third time this year as a part of a series of events celebrating the Global Entrepreneurship Week- a week dedicated to innovation, entrepreneurship and research. During the 3-day event, held on November 18-20, the participants had the chance to attend various workshops and seminars,in addition to expert talks, career days, exciting startup presentations and a plethora of networking events.
 

I received my invitation to participate via Iliada Kothra – the life and soul behind the Living Postcards platform. Iliada discovers, supports and brings attention to fresh and unique creators, producers and designers – young talented people and visionary individuals. Iliada's proposition to be a part of her event at the Startup Safari was so exciting that my answer had to be YES.
 

This year's event was dedicated to the Internet and female entrepreneurship and as a part of this thematic, Living Postcards invited eight new female entrepreneurs, eight women who managed against all odds to overcome the obstacles and make their dreams come true, to share their stories on the last day of the Startup Safary at the Orange Grove.
 

During a time when dreaming seems like a luxury, these women followed their own path, launched their startups and shared their success stories, all featuring one thing in common; dedication.

 

Women Enterpreuners in Startup Safary Athens

Among those stories was mine too.
 

My journey in the aviation world and my career as a VIP Flight Attendant, setting up and growing my blog and my latest professional step, the Vip Excellence Career Center were the three key-steps where my presentation was based on. The invitation to participate came as an excellent opportunity not only to share my story but mostly to listen seven other stories from women who also managed to succeed with dedication and hard work – just like I did.
 

Not only I could relate with them but I felt deeply inspired and moved.
 

Even though we shared the same difficulties, we chose to not let anything get into our way and by investing into the perfect partnerships, we won the bet. I firmly believe that a dream doesn't guarantee you professional success. Loving what you do is crucial but there's much more than that: you have to do research, thoroughly study all aspects in order to learn how to "sell"your product or services in such a way that will guarantee you a successful outcome.
 

A country under the impact of the economic crisis, should promote similar business initiatives in order to sustain a healthy and viable economic growth. Entrepreneurship involves a great deal of risk, however that is exactly the element that separates a simple idea from a successful startup. For my dream to be realised, I had to take several risky decisions, being fully aware of the difficulties I had to deal with in the long term.
 

It was a difficult transition from being an employee to being an employer and a businesswoman but I felt rather ready thanks to my experience on a international scale over the past 10 years – working with people from all around the globe prepped me for my next career step and gave me the confidence to make my dream come true.

 

A bigh thank you to Iliada Kothra, her team and the Living Postcards platform for giving me the opportunity to share my dream. A huge thanks to Vasilis Mpartzokas and the Startup Safary Athens for letting me take the stand at the Orange Grove. The seven amazing women attending the event were:
 

Loula Leventi / "A totem fur Elita"

Alexandra Theochari / "Klotho Thread of Time"

Marilou Pantaki / "Madame Ginger"

Kiki Domazridou / Polyphemus Dairy Products

Martha and Kelly Chatzigianni / "Verve Juices"

Georgia Ouli / "Mastos"

Anastasia Rizou / "Odeia Eco cosmetics"