Our central event titled “Women's Entrepreneurship in the spotlight: Innovative Initiatives, Motivation and Empowerment" was held on Saturday, October 1st, at 12:00, at the stand 14.

The role and contribution of women to research, innovative entrepreneurship, and corporate and institutional initiatives were discussed.

The event was organized jointly by NBG Business Seeds, Hellenic Development Bank of Investments, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Democritus University of Thrace, OK!Thess, the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, and Bayer Hellas.

 

Ms Evi Hatzioannou General Manager of NBG Group HR Division, Ms Antigone Lymperopoulou, CEO of the Hellenic Development Bank of Investments, as well as Ms Maria Karagianni, Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Culture in Thessaloniki Municipality and Mr Nikolaos Tzollas, representative of the Region, addressed the event. 

Ms Evi Hatzioannou noted in particular: “I am extremely happy because I am representing a bank that respects and supports its employees irrespective of their gender. And such gender equality is part of our DNA. Since the beginning of the 20th century, our vision is a world without gender-based prejudice, with equal opportunities for all, and we continue to take positive steps in this area". 

"Women were always at the core of NBG's workforce. We started when the working women were few and far between, and continued to recruit women in more positions and in every workplace of the Bank. It worth noting that in 1924 the "Women Workers Union of National Bank" was set up, and by the end of the 1920s the percentage of the female workforce was already high". 

"Today, more than half of our workforce is female, and women hold a significant number of managerial positions. We are proud to watch our vision come true.  Starting out from our own organization, we have undertaken a series of important commitments and support training programs and initiatives with a view to strengthening the diversity of out human resources and the successful integration of employees at all levels. At the same time, we promote female entrepreneurship and the presence of women in leading business positions by implementing the “NBG Loan for Female Empowerment” program". She closed her comments by saying “I want to congratulate all women, employees and entrepreneurs, who are here today. I hope that through our actions, we will be able to support every woman who wants to pursue a successful career path, without gender-based obstacles and restrictions”. 

 

Mr Michalis Dritsas, head of the office of Deputy Minister of Development and Investments, Ms Lina Tsaltabasi, Chair of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs and Ambassador of Female Entrepreneurship, as well as journalists also attended the event. 

The event was held in the context of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition, on the main stage at stand 15. 

 

BEYOND is the first international stage for Industry 4.0 in South-Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and the MENA area, as well as the first international fair on technology and innovation.