In an era where the Greek economy is desperately seeking new sources of growth and productivity, the discussion on gender equality is shifting from the realm of social justice to that of hard economic strategy. Rania Aikaterinari, President of the Executive Committee and Vice President of SEB (Hellenic Federation of Enterprises), through her recent intervention, points to a stark reality: Greece cannot afford to leave 50% of its talent on the sidelines.
The Paradox of the Greek Labor Market
Greece presents a remarkable paradox. While Greek women are distinguished by their high level of education, often outperforming men in academic achievements and tertiary degrees, their participation in the labor market remains disappointingly low compared to the European average. According to the EIGE Gender Equality Index, our country consistently ranks among the lowest in the European Union.
Ms. Aikaterinari points out that this gap is not just a statistical outlier but a massive loss for the country's GDP. The underrepresentation of women, particularly in high-value-added sectors and leadership positions, deprives businesses of diversity in decision-making, which has been proven to correlate directly with innovation and profitability. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that many women drop out of their professional paths mid-way (the so-called 'leaky pipeline') due to the inability to balance professional and personal life.
From Corporate Intentions to Substantial Action
One of the central points of Ms. Aikaterinari's analysis is the distance separating corporate declarations from the reality of their daily operations. Many companies adopt ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policies and talk about inclusion, yet the numbers in management teams remain stagnant. The 'glass ceiling' is no longer an invisible barrier but a structural feature of a corporate culture that often rewards physical presence in the office over results and maintains stereotypes about women's leadership abilities.
SEB, under Ms. Aikaterinari's guidance, promotes specific initiatives to bridge this gap. These include:
- Encouraging women to choose STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) studies, where female presence has historically been low.
- Adopting transparent recruitment and promotion processes based on meritocracy.
- Creating mentoring and coaching networks to support women at critical stages of their careers.
- Pressuring the state to improve childcare and elderly care infrastructure, which traditionally burdens women.
Technology as a Catalyst for Change
Within the framework of the fourth industrial revolution, Ms. Aikaterinari emphasizes that technology can act as the great equalizer. Teleworking and flexible employment models, if applied correctly, can enable women to remain active in the labor market. However, there is a risk that the digital transition might leave women behind if there is no targeted reskilling and upskilling.
"Equality is not a 'women's issue'; it is an issue of economic survival and social cohesion for Greece," she notes emphatically.
The challenge for Greek entrepreneurship is to realize that inclusion is not a 'luxury' for periods of prosperity, but a necessary condition for addressing the demographic problem and the shortage of specialized personnel. Rania Aikaterinari, with her experience in both the public and private sectors, calls for a national mobilization to make gender equality a reality, turning the untapped power of women into a driving force for a new, more dynamic Greece.
