Irena Georgiadou, Chairman of the Board of Di­rectors of Hellenic Bank, has extensive professional experience in senior positions in public and private companies. She studied Politics and Eco­nomics (BA) at Bristol University in the UK, is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA) and has a diploma in Corporate Finance, recognised by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). She is married and has a son.

How did you come to this position at such a young age?
The shareholders were looking for a young, energetic person who was to­tally unco­ntaminated from the past banking sins that have brought Cyprus to the edge of death. I was the one! I don’t believe this has to do with age or gender, as a matter of fact. What counts is experience and per­sistence. I was the right person, at the right place at the right time.

Do you consider yourself a tough leader?
I consider myself as a fair leader. A leader does not only manage. A leader leads, sets the example and get things done. That’s what I want. I ask for actions rather than words. I want things to get done.

How do you balance yourself between your family and your career?
Outside the Hellenic Bank, I am just a regular person and I pursue balan­ce more than anything. Everything is a matter of choice rather than sacrifice. It’s in our hands to make time for our family, our friends and the things that we enjoy and we find relaxing. At the same ti­me, we must give 101% in our job.

You revolve in the world of men and, probably, you have many male friends. Do you believe in friendship between a man and a woman?
Friendship is not a matter of gender. It’s a connection between two people who are willing to stand by one another, support one another and share their thoughts, their sadness and their joys, no matter what. Ah, yes, I do have male friends!

What do you think is more important, friendship or love?
Without a doubt, both. Who can survive without friends or without love? After all, friendship is all about love!

Do you manage to live the life of a normal woman?
Define normal! I am a professional, a mother, a wife, a friend and many, many other things. I have to run a bank and confront tremendous challenges and everyday problems at the same time. It is important to find balance in li­fe and I believe that I’ve got it.

How do you relax? Do you find time to travel and, if so, which countries do you love to return to?
Relaxation, for me, is to have a drink with my friends or watch basketball with my son, Jason. I love traveling, especially to destinations such us Athens or London, but, most of the time, my trips concern business.

How do you see the future of Cy­prus in the European Union?
Having enforced structural reforms, Cy­prus managed to set an example in the European Union of how a country can be reborn from her ashes, twice! With hard work, credibility was regained. Cyprus is able to maintain its role as a hub of stability and opportunity in the region, offering excellent prospects for business and investment.

How do you feel about criti­cism, in general, and criticism in the press, in particular?
My motto is that we must always ignore the noise and concentrate on our work. Either the noise comes from the press or from our environment. The best choice that we have is to ignore it. Stra­tegic decisions should not be ba­sed on insta­ntaneous “effects” created by press headlines.

What, in your opinion, is the role of modern women in our society?
Women have a multidimensional role in our society. It is important for them to realize that they are capable of doing much more than what they were once taught. My advice to women is to forget stereotypes, believe in yourself and your capabilities and chase your ambitions with determination.