May Zanni
Co-founder & President, Women Act
May Zanni is the President and Cofounder of Women Act Greece, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization aiming at empowering women in leadership positions in the public sphere. She is a political analyst having served as special advisor at the Secretariat of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic until 2023. May obtained her BA in Politics with History from Queen Mary College, her MSc in European Politics from Birkbeck College, University of London and her MSc in Politics of Empire and Post-Imperialism from LSE. Throughout her career she had work experience at the House of Commons in London, the European Parliament in Brussels and UNESCO in Paris. She has worked in Brussels for the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) and in Paris for the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). She has served as advisor to the Minister for Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a political analyst in the private sector. She represented Greece at the State Department IVLP “Women in Public Service”, she completed the Harvard Kennedy School programs “Public Leaders in Southeast Europe” and "Women & Power" and participated in the Georgetown Leadership Forum 2023. She has one daughter, Olympia.
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[Panel Discussion] Empowering Gender Diversity: Driving Change in the Boardroom
Over the next five years, efforts to increase gender diversity in boardrooms will intensify. This push is driven by stakeholder pressures, government regulations, and cultural shifts. However, achieving true gender diversity involves more than just quotas; it also requires addressing biases, providing mentorship, and creating inclusive policies.
The upcoming panel discussion aims to underline the importance of gender diversity in corporate leadership and explore ways to instigate meaningful change. Panelists will share insights on the current state of gender diversity in boardrooms, discussing both progress and challenges. They will highlight the benefits of diverse perspectives at decision-making levels, which positively impact organizational performance and success.
Panelists will also address barriers that impede women's advancement, such as unconscious bias, limited mentorship opportunities, and systemic inequalities. Strategies for overcoming these obstacles will be explored, including inclusive hiring practices, supportive work cultures, and leadership development programs for women.
Moreover, the panel will stress the role of men as allies in promoting gender diversity, emphasizing the need for male leaders' active support and advocacy, and the establishment of gender balance policies.
The upcoming panel discussion aims to underline the importance of gender diversity in corporate leadership and explore ways to instigate meaningful change. Panelists will share insights on the current state of gender diversity in boardrooms, discussing both progress and challenges. They will highlight the benefits of diverse perspectives at decision-making levels, which positively impact organizational performance and success.
Panelists will also address barriers that impede women's advancement, such as unconscious bias, limited mentorship opportunities, and systemic inequalities. Strategies for overcoming these obstacles will be explored, including inclusive hiring practices, supportive work cultures, and leadership development programs for women.
Moreover, the panel will stress the role of men as allies in promoting gender diversity, emphasizing the need for male leaders' active support and advocacy, and the establishment of gender balance policies.
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