Gold Magazine February - March 2013, Issue 23

ELENA PAPANDREOU Managing Director, E. Papandreou & Co LLC CHRISTINA SARRIS Senior Partner, Polakis Sarris & Co LLC ALEXIA ASPRI & CELIA POURGOURA Directors, CA Advocates IRENE CHRISTODOULOU Senior Manager, Head of Corporate Division, Kinanis LLC ELENA MICHAIL Director, Ioannides Demetriou LLC ARETI CHARIDEMOU Advocate– Managing Partner, Areti Charidemou & Associates LLC EMILY YIOLITIS Managing Partner, Harneys Aristodemou Loizides Yiolitis LLC CHRYSO PITSILLIDEKATRIS Senior Partner, Dr. K. Chrysostomides & Co. LLC, Law Office ELEANA ECONOMIDES Chairwoman, E. Economides & Partners LLC KATIA KAKOULLI LawyerLitigator, Chrysses Demetriades & Co LLC women are being given equal opportunities and are receiving the credit they deserve. Women and men often approach situations in a different light and have different leadership styles but companies benefit and thrive within a gender balanced environment. CHANGE: Improving Cyprus’ economy by rebuilding the reputation of the banks will promote further confidence on the part of foreign investors. NICOLE IOANNOU MANAGER ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT, HTT AUDIT LTD In the past our profession was dominated by male professionals so it was quite challenging for me to enter that “man’s world” but my firm provided me with guidance and support. Women tend to be more thorough and look at the details while men usually see the ‘big picture’ so the qualities of one gender complement the strengths of the other and together they can achieve better results than alone. CHANGE: Improvements to the efficiency CONSTANTINA ECONOMOU Senior Lawyer, George Z. Georgiou & Associates LLC and productivity of many government departments are needed. PERSELLA IOANNIDES DIRECTOR, MERITKAPITAL Capital markets around the world are generally male-dominated but there is an increasing influx of women and this trend towards gender balancing should continue. There are now more women than men in higher education in the developed world so, equipped with the necessary technical know-how, women in the professional sector can apply their intrinsic attributes to the work formula and positively contribute to the end result. CHANGE: The authorities must maintain and bolster the regulatory framework and new markets should such as India and China should be explored. MARY TRIMITHIOTOU DIRECTOR, ORANGEFIELD - FIDELICO Women can succeed equally within the profes- sion in terms of competencies and skills but there are occasions when it may seem like “a man’s world” when we are trying to balance work and family commitments. It is no coincidence that women are increasingly taking on leadership roles in businesses but gender diversity is needed especially at the top management level for an organisation to achieve better performance. CHANGE: We must improve the level of professionalism within the services industry that will eventually lead to greater specialisation. LOUIZA SAZEIDOU DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR, SHARELINK SECURITIES & FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD While progress has been made in advancing gender equality in recent decades and the number of women in the professional services sector has increased significantly, men continue to dominate the senior ranks of most big firms. The professional attributes of men and women are not black and white but rather have to do 28 Gold THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT, FINANCE & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES MAGAZINE OF CYPRUS cover_story.indd 28 01/02/2013 14:04

Gold Magazine February - March 2013, Issue 23 | Page 30