Young executives look at how to deal with challenges that lie ahead

The Young Executives Session, officials under 40, discussed how Leadership Process”.

The discussion sought to examine what the challenges, setbacks and turning points faced by the young professionals are as well as the profile of a young leader. The panellists addressed the topics raised by drawing personal experiences and shared these with the audience.

It was suggested that the young professionals, in order to establish themselves as young leaders, need to be passionate about their profession and duties, be motivated attended by senior to “Challenge the by curiosity to experience something different, invest time, participate in organisations, grab opportunities and take risks.

As milestones and turning points, reference was made to the validation and recognition that the targets have been finally reached, the gaining of acceptance especially by senior leaders and the establishment of one’s self as the goto person. Challenges to the young leader were seen to be acceptance and recognition, the building and management of relationships, coaching and required expertise.

Finally the young leader’s profile and characteristics were extensively discussed and it was commonly concluded that a young leader should be ambitious, passionate, emotionally intelligent, innovative, intuitive, confident, loyal, adaptive to change and a risk taker where necessary.

The moderator of the discussion was Despina Panayiotou – Theodosiou, President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association – WISTA Cyprus, while the panellists included Giulio Tirelli, Director, Portfolio & Application, Wärtsilä Italia S.p.A; Stella Kazamias, HR Manager, Interorient; and hilippos Ioulianou, Chairman, YoungShip Cyprus.