Natasa Pilides' journey as a woman leader in the male-dominated fields of politics and business

“If you let the noise consume you, you will never be able to make the right decisions for yourself.” With these words, Natasa Pilides, CEO of Med Energywise Ltd and former Minister of Energy, shared her journey as a woman leader in the male-dominated arenas of politics and business.

In an honest and heartfelt conversation with journalist Emily Antoniou, held during Cyta’s “Women in STEAM” conference, Pilides reflected on her past.

She recalled the moment when—just before giving birth to her second child—she informed the former President of the Republic of Cyprus, and soon after met with the Attorney General to clarify the legal standing on maternity leave, as she was the first Cypriot minister to be pregnant during her term in office.

As the first Deputy Minister to be appointed to the Council of Ministers, she did not hesitate to speak openly about the discrimination she faced due to her gender and age.

“You mustn’t let it get to you. If you do, you lose your power,” she said, demonstrating how resilience is a leadership tool. Pilides asserted with confidence: “All societies are immature for change—unless we push for it.”

She made a special reference to gender quotas, urging for a correction of the common misconception. These are not a form of favouritism, but a means of restoring balance. “With quotas, we correct a distortion—we don’t create a new one,” she emphasised.

She explained that change does not come by itself—it comes when we dare to demand it, to disrupt, to break through stereotypes. “Things only get better if we make them better,” she said meaningfully, speaking especially to the younger generation of women.

In a deeply personal, honest, and inspiring discussion, she spoke about believing in oneself, about failures that make you stronger, and the “no’s” that build the loudest “yeses”.

She concluded with a powerful call to action: “Don’t let challenges discourage you. Because that’s where the key to change lies.”