New York — The Consulate General of Greece in New York marked International Women’s Day on March 6 with an event highlighting the achievements and leadership of Greek-American women across generations.
The program, titled “International Women’s Day: Celebrating Generations of Amazing Leaders,” was held at the Consulate and organized in partnership with the nonprofit Philo4Thought Inc. The gathering brought together members of the Greek-American community from fields including business, medicine, media, and hospitality for an evening of discussion focused on leadership, mentorship, and the evolving role of women in the diaspora.
Opening the event, Consul General Ifigeneia Kanara spoke about the significance of International Women’s Day as an opportunity to recognize women’s contributions and strengthen ties within the Greek-American community.
Kanara noted that the program was intentionally designed as a cross-generational dialogue, bringing together established leaders and younger professionals. The goal, she said, was to connect experience with the energy of the next generation and encourage younger Greek-Americans to remain engaged with their heritage and community.
Women in Leadership
The first panel, “Women in Leadership,” explored the challenges and opportunities women encounter in professional life, particularly in business, science, and organizational leadership.
Speakers included Eftihia Pylarinou-Piper, President of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Evelyn Bilias Lolis, President of Hellenic Professional Women; Dr. Lorraine Chrisomalis-Valasiadis, Advisory Board member of the Hellenic Medical Society; and Nancy Papaioannou, Advisory Board member of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce and Lifetime Member of HABA. The discussion was moderated by Nomiki Kastana.
Next-Generation Leadership
A second panel, “NextGen Leadership,” focused on the emerging generation of Greek-American professionals and the perspectives they bring to community life and their careers.
The panel featured Vanessa Diamataris, Co-Editor and Publisher of The National Herald; Dr. Theofano Orfanelli, Advisory Board member of the Hellenic Medical Society; Maria Christodoulou, President of Cypriot Young Professionals at the Cyprus-U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Anastasia Aktipis, Events Manager at Kellari Hospitality Group. The discussion was moderated by Christina Salvoudi.
Bringing the Community Together
The evening concluded with a reception, giving attendees the opportunity to continue conversations and build connections in an informal setting.
Organizers thanked the participants and supporting organizations for contributing to an event that highlighted women’s leadership while reinforcing ties within the Greek-American community.