Sharing Expertise, Building Connections, and Fostering Growth: Takeaways from Three Top Cyprus Events

May was a rather busy month for the business world of Cyprus, with a plethora of events focused on tech, HR, and entrepreneurship. Business executives and other representatives gathered in various settings for different causes. Catch up with some of May’s events below.

Sofa Academy

On May 24th, Growth Hacking Cyprus organized the Sofa Academy in their studios in Paphos. During these sessions, experts from various fields provide insights into their areas of expertise. This time, Marianna Hadjiandoniou, Executive Vice President of Energame, and Founder and Director of PERHA Group, was the spokesperson.

Leveraging her extensive knowledge in Human Resources and workplace wellbeing, Marianna emphasized the critical importance of fostering a healthy corporate culture and introducing wellbeing initiatives within organizations. She highlighted that prioritizing employee wellbeing is essential for achieving organizational success. Using Energame's wellbeing initiatives as an example, she stressed that a thriving workplace environment not only enhances employee satisfaction and productivity but also drives overall business performance and growth.

“By integrating comprehensive wellbeing strategies, companies can create a supportive and motivating atmosphere that benefits both employees and the organization as a whole,” she noted. This perspective underscores the significant impact that employee wellbeing has on the success and growth of a business.

Best Invest Congress

Another important business gathering was the Best Invest Congress, which took place on May 28th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol. The Best Invest Congress offers both B2B and B2C networking opportunities aimed at promoting investment opportunities in Cyprus and the MENA region. It included a conference, an exhibition, thematic board meetings, seminars, presentations, workshops, a formal reception, informal events, pre-arranged business meetings in 1x1 format.

The event included a moderated networking session in a roundtable format, called Business Meets Tech, for helping delegates to connect with other C-level leaders in the tech and non-tech industries. Each table brought together a diverse mix of congress participants, including owners and directors from high-tech industries such as IT, fintech, EMI, regtech, AI and game development. Moderators facilitated the discussions. A standout aspect of the event was the rotation system, where participants switched tables every 30 minutes. This setup not only promoted extensive networking but also enabled attendees to gain varied perspectives and insights from different sectors.

Reflect Festival

Reflect Festival, one of the biggest tech and entrepreneurship events on the island, was held in Limassol on May 30th and 31st. This two-day event was full of networking, idea exchanges, and brainstorming sessions. Divided into several stages, different speeches provided insights on various topics.

One interesting panel discussion was the "Tech Island'' panel titled “Mind the Gap: C-suite Perspectives for Talent Retention.” The panel was moderated by Cleo Papadopoulou, Partner, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, and Chief Learning Officer at PWC. The panelists included Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO of Payabl; Aleksandra Sulimko, COO of TheSoul Publishing; and Marianna Hadjiandoniou, Executive Vice President of Energame.

The discussion focused on how the right strategies can help companies overcome challenges such as generational divides, skill mismatches, and the gender pay gap while also retaining top talent. Ugne Buraciene, Group CEO of Payabl emphasized that company culture is crucial, and that leaders must set an example. She argued that if leaders do not adhere to these principles, quotas alone are not effective.

Marianna Hadjiandoniou, Executive Vice President of Energame discussed the reasons behind the gender pay gap and highlighted how Energame maintains a diverse and inclusive workforce, avoiding any gender disparities. She pointed out that investing in employees' development is crucial. “Job descriptions and skills don't always match and it's important to help your staff to catch up. Invest in the development of their skills. Don’t forget that their growth is your company’s growth”, she stated. She also praised Gen Z's eagerness to learn, develop, and challenge norms.

The Reflect Festival served as an excellent platform for thought leaders to share their experiences and strategies, fostering a deeper understanding of talent retention and diversity in the workplace.