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Executive Training: 23 October, T16 Boutique Office | Open Day: 27 October, Technopolis City of Athens

Enabling Talent. Transforming Tomorrow.

23 October, T16 Boutique Office

27 October, Technopolis City of Athens

If you’re somewhere in the middle, caught between what leadership expects and your team’s day to day reality, this event is built for you.
Join the free Open Day on 27 October, or go deeper, earlier, with the Executive Training on 23 October: a hands on day from theory to practice, for teams and individuals alike. This is the event for you if you are: 

New to the role
You’ve recently taken on your first management role and are finding your footing. 

Balancing leadership’s expectations
You’re caught between leadership’s expectations and your team’s day-to-day reality.

Expected to go digital
You need to bring AI into the way your team works without a roadmap or formal training.

Ready to lead better
You want more clarity, confidence and impact as a leader.

Not there yet, but leading already
You’re already leading, projects, people, decisions, just without the title yet

Designed for

Skill Up Forum in numbers

Meet the Speakers of Skill Up Forum 2026

Peter Economides

Brand Strategist, FelixBNI

Niki Kerameus

Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Hellenic Republic

Loudovikos Van-Heurck

Head of Informatics and Telecommunication Department, Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI)

Yannis Mastrogeorgiou

Special Secretary for Strategic Foresight, Presidency of the Hellenic Government | AI Strategy & Governance | Public Policy | Future Governance

Grigoria Artsanou

Senior Talent Development Specialist @ Kaizen Gaming

Alexandros Klonaris

Chief Marketing Officer @ Douleutaras

Sotiris Pappas

Director of Operational Strategy Campeon Gaming, Business coach

Pavlos Mavromatis

Founder & Strategic Advisor Creative Strategy | Education Systems | Startup Mentorship

Achilleas Kotrotzos

Founder, GrowthPal

Eleni Aktypi

Managing Director, WE LEAD

Ioannis Arampatzis

CFO | Leadership Coach (BoD Member - ΣΕΟΔΙ - Σύνδεσμος Ελλήνων Οικονομικών)

Thomas Malakis

Commercial and Strategic Advisor (freelancer)

Chris Georgakopoulos

Digital Operations & AI Director @ Sleed

Sandy Tsakiridi

Senior Director, Legal Counsel @ The Coca Cola Company

Nick Gonios

VP of Learning Transformation and Company Ambassador TalentLMS by Epignosis

Ioannis Papadimos

Strategic Communications & Public Affairs Consultant @ Ethos

Myronas Flouris

Senior Strategy, Innovation, Business Development Executive

Christina Konstantinidou Konstantopoulou

General Manager & Chief Academic Officer @ BCA – Business College of Athens

Yiannis Imelos

CEO @ linq

Giannis Anastasopoulos

Upper Education Sector Lead | Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Adriatics | Microsoft, Europe South

Dimitris Mallas

Journalist, CNN Greece

Nicolas Karidis

Program Manager, The People's Trust

Dimitris Kalavros-Gousiou

Founding Partner, WIRED Greece

Georgios Liapes

Co-Founder & CEO of SeriousMind | Forbes 30U30 | Phd Candidate in AI | TEDx speaker

Alexios Stellas

Co-Founder & CTO, Joberos

Angeliki Kapetanidou

Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant @ linq

Dr Angeliki Kosmopoulou

Story Strategist / Founder, Storymentor 

Stavros Theodoratos

Digital Marketing Director @ Novibet

Roza Tzima

Go To Market Team Leader, Qualco

Paris Dimitrakopoulos

Senior Technology Specialist @ Microsoft

Marily Mitropoulou

Architect of Influence | ex-Google | TEDx Speaker

Stefanos Karagos

Founder & Lead Instructor, CAIO Group

Rodanthi Alexiou

AI Partner Solution Architect @ Microsoft EMEA

Pavlos Efthymiou

Director General of the Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (EENE)/ Growth Partner, Fortune Greece

Rosanna Mortoglou

CEO Libra Philanthropies

Rodis Savvakis

CEO, fyi.news

Dimitris Mitroulis

Digital Transformation Lead, Krataion Consulting

Ilia Tzortzopoulou

General Manager for South East Europe, Wonderful

Eirini Sarantidou

Growth Strategist, Found.ation

Celia Gkavanozi

Business Development & Partnerships Manager, Found.ation

Joe Navarro

Former FBI Special Agent, author and expert on non-verbal communication

Maria Themeli

Strategic Advisor to CEOs, Corporate Reputation & Strategy

Stathis Anagnostou

Executive Director, Strategy, Business Development & Transformation @HEDNO

Dimitrios (James) Banos

Lead Specialist, TA Marketing and Communications @ TTEC

Georgia Paraschou

Founder & CEO, Humanity Greece

Giannis Krikris

Founder & Creative Mind @ Social Experience Athens

Konstantinos Geormas

Director General of Labour Force Policies, DYPA

Vangelis Kravvaritis

Senior Manager, Organisation and Work Transformation, Deloitte

Maria Kokkinos

Empowerment Coach, Psychologist & Workshop Facilitator

Kostas Kefalakis

Chief Customer Engagement Officer & Head of Cyprus, Roche

Alexandros Nousias

Managing Director, Envolve

Irene Kouriantaki

Food & Beverage Strategist

Lia Tekidou

Head of Consultants, Business Pathways

Kostas Xiradakis

CCO, Snappi

Mandy Persaki

Physical Education Teacher, PhD at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Pilates By Mandy

Yanna Andronopoulou

General Manager, Microsoft Greece, Cyprus, Malta & Adriatics

Pavlos Pantazopoulos (moderator )

News Anchor, NaftemporikiTV

Marilia Tompra

Country Director, Sephora

See how 500+ professionals experienced Skill Up Forum 2025

Discover the Open Day’s Fields of Discussion

Learn from the people shaping the future of work. Leave with more than inspiration and walk away with tools you can use on Monday.

Want to go deeper? The Executive Training turns these conversations into practice, in small groups.

Discover the Executive Trainings

One day, hands on, small groups. Leadership and AI, straight into practice you can use the next day.

Skill Up Forum 2026 Premium Partners

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Under the auspices of

Skill Up Forum 2026 Agenda

09:30 10:00
Welcome
10:00 11:00
T16 Boutique Office
Between Doing and Leading: When do you stop doing and start leading?
If you've built your reputation on flawless execution, stepping back to let others take the lead isn't easy. So how do you make the shift from doer to leader - without feeling like you're losing your value? Speakers: Stephanos Hadjiraptis (Country Manager Hemmersach / Chief Operating Officer Salescode) & George Kladis (Lead Manager Corporate Services)
11:00 12:00
T16 Boutique Office
Conflict Management & Difficult Conversations
How to raise pushback, underperformance or tension early and calmly, so the conversation clears the air instead of damaging the relationship. Speaker: Stella Malle (HR Executive & Organizational Psychologist)
12:00 12:30
Coffee break
12:30 13:30
T16 Boutique Office
Branding Matters: For the Individual and the Corporation
An engaging workshop exploring why branding goes far beyond logos and visual identity. Participants will discover how individuals and organizations can define what they stand for, shape meaningful perceptions, and build strong, authentic brands that create lasting impact in an increasingly competitive world. Speaker: Peter Economides (Brand Strategist, FelixBNI)
13:30 14:30
Lunch Break
14:30 15:30
T16 Boutique Office
Positive Leadership: Unleashing the power of Trust
Shift from giving answers to developing your people — the questions and habits that build a team that solves more on its own. Speaker: Alexadra Lekkou & Vicky Grigoriadou (Co-founders, TheHappyLab)
15:30 16:30
T16 Boutique Office
Automate the Work Nobody Should Be Doing by Hand with AI
Find the repetitive tasks draining your team's week and turn them into simple, reliable automated flows. Speaker: Dimitris Dimakopoulos (CEO, HappyOnline. Certified Partner in the Claude Partner Network)
16:30 17:00
Coffee break
17:00 18:00
T16 Boutique Office
Getting Your Team to Actually Use AI
Most teams get the tools and then quietly go back to the old way of working. How to make AI part of how the team actually operates, not a one-off training that fades. Speaker: George Kary (Senior Delivery Manager & Founder @ Blackaft)
10:00 11:00
Registration
11:00 11:15
Welcome
11:15 11:30
Fireside chat with N. Kerameus
Speakers: Niki Kerameus (Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Hellenic Republic), Alexandros Nousias (Managing Director, Envolve)
11:30 12:00
Main Stage
Who owns the future?
Speakers: Loudovikos Van-Heurck ( Head of Informatics and Telecommunication Department, Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), Pavlos Efthymiou (Director General of the Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (EENE)/ Growth Partner, Fortune Greece), Yannis Mastrogeorgiou (Special Secretary for Strategic Foresight, Presidency of the Hellenic Government | AI Strategy & Governance | Public Policy | Future Governance) & Myronas Flouris (Innovation and Business Development Executive)
12:00 12:15
Main Stage
Growing the People Who Work for You
Spotting potential, coaching and career conversations - how to develop your team instead of just directing it. Speaker: Grigoria Artsanou (Senior Talent Development Specialist @ Kaizen Gaming)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
PRESENCE: The Leadership Skills MBAs Don’t Teach
An immersive, hands-on session where participants don’t sit and listen, they stand, move, and experience three core leadership skills: Presence, Reading, and Redirect. Based on two decades of embodied learning research across three continents, this workshop uses live exercises to develop the capacity to read a room, lead without forcing, and change direction without losing the team. No slides. No theory. Only experience. Speaker: Pavlos Mavromatis (Founder & Strategic Advisor)
12:15 12:30
Main Stage
When Your Team Doesn't Trust You Yet
Speakers: Alexandros Klonaris (Chief Marketing Officer @ Douleutaras) & Sotiris Pappas (Director of Operations Strategy, Business Consultant, Campeon Gaming)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
PRESENCE: The Leadership Skills MBAs Don’t Teach
An immersive, hands-on session where participants don’t sit and listen, they stand, move, and experience three core leadership skills: Presence, Reading, and Redirect. Based on two decades of embodied learning research across three continents, this workshop uses live exercises to develop the capacity to read a room, lead without forcing, and change direction without losing the team. No slides. No theory. Only experience. Speaker: Pavlos Mavromatis (Founder & Strategic Advisor)
12:30 13:00
Main Stage
Behind Every Leader, There’s a Story
Speakers: Ioannis Papadimos (Strategic Communications & Public Affairs Consultant @ Ethos), Rosanna Mortoglou (CEO Libra Philanthropies), Achilleas Kotrozos (Independent Leadership Coach, Systemic Consultant and Trainer), Moderator: Eleni Aktypi (Managing Director, WE LEAD)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Networking
13:00 13:30
Main Stage
The Skills Race: Can Our Workforce Keep Up With the Future?
As technology, AI, demographic change and global competition reshape labour markets, how can individuals, businesses and countries stay relevant and competitive? Speakers: Konstantinos Geormas (Director General of Labour Force Policies, DYPA), Christina Konstantinidou Konstantopoulou (General Manager & Chief Academic Officer, BCA – Business College of Athens), Vangelis Kravvaritis, Senior Manager (Organisation and Work Transformation, Deloitte), Moderator: Rodis Savvakis (CEO, fyi.news)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
What's Your Leadership Style?
There's no single right mold for leading. A self-discovery session: find out how you naturally lead, where it helps you and where it holds you back. Speakers: Ioannis Arampatzis (CFO | Leadership Coach) & Thomas Malakis (Commercial and Strategic Advisor)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Working with Claude: From Blank Page to Finished Deliverable
A hands-on session with Anthropic's Claude: analyzing documents, drafting reports and building a repeatable workflow for your everyday tasks. Bring your laptop. Speaker: Stefanos Karagos (Founder & Lead Instructor @ CAIO Group)
13:30 13:45
Main Stage
Can AI Create a Brand?
Speaker: Peter Economides (Founder & Brand Strategist, FELIX BNI)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Working with Claude: From Blank Page to Finished Deliverable
A hands-on session with Anthropic's Claude: analyzing documents, drafting reports and building a repeatable workflow for your everyday tasks. Bring your laptop. Speaker: Stefanos Karagos (Founder & Lead Instructor @ CAIO Group)
13:45 14:00
Main Stage
Break
14:00 14:30
Eξωτερικός χώρος Technopolis
Move Better, Work Better Powered by FitKit
A quick reset for your body - 30 minutes of posture correction and stretching exercises designed for desk workers looking to move better and feel better. Speaker: Mandy Persaki, Physical Education Teacher, PhD at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Pilates By Mandy
Innovathens — Ground Floor
Gemini in Practice: Tools and Strategies for Leveraging AI for Middle Managers
In a business landscape that is rapidly transforming, middle managers serve as the crucial bridge between strategic direction and day-to-day execution. The workshop, “Gemini in Practice: Tools and Strategies for Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Middle Managers,” equips participants with the essential skills to turn artificial intelligence from an abstract concept into a practical driver of productivity, quality, and effective leadership. Speaker: Dimitris Mitroulis (Digital Transformation Lead, Krataion Consulting)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Networking
14:30 15:00
Main Stage
It's Not the Tool, It's the Culture: AI Adoption in 3 Different Organizations
Speakers: Chris Georgakopoulos (Digital Operations & AI Director @ Sleed), Sandy Tsakiridi (Senior Director, Legal Counsel @ The Coca Cola Company), Moderator: Yiannis Imelos (CEO @ linq)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
Gemini in Practice: Tools and Strategies for Leveraging AI for Middle Managers
In a business landscape that is rapidly transforming, middle managers serve as the crucial bridge between strategic direction and day-to-day execution. The workshop, “Gemini in Practice: Tools and Strategies for Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Middle Managers,” equips participants with the essential skills to turn artificial intelligence from an abstract concept into a practical driver of productivity, quality, and effective leadership. Speaker: Dimitris Mitroulis (Digital Transformation Lead, Krataion Consulting)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Networking
15:00 15:30
Main Stage
Responsibility Can’t Be Automated: AI, Accountability & the Future of Work
Speakers: Nick Gonios (VP of Learning Transformation and Company Ambassador TalentLMS by Epignosis), Giannis Anastasopoulos (Upper Education Sector Lead | Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Adriatics | Microsoft, Europe South), Ilia Tzortzopoulou (General Manager for South East Europe, Wonderful), Moderator: Dimitris Mallas (Journalist)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
The Gift of Feedback: Feedback that Fuels Growth
Change from having a “speaking up” mentality to a “growing together” one - how to turn honest conversations with our people into opportunities for growth and trust, so that we can really support their progress in the future. Speaker: Maria Kokkinos (Empowerment Coach, Psychologist & Workshop Facilitator)
15:30 16:00
Main Stage
Intrapreneurship: Build the New from Within
You don't have to leave to create. How managers turn ideas into new initiatives inside their organization - and how they win support for them. Speakers: Nicolas Karidis, Program Manager (The People's Trust), Alexandros Nousias (Managing Director, Envolve), Irene Kouriantaki (Food & Beverage Strategist), Moderator: Dimitris Kalavros-Gousiou (Founding Partner, WIRED Greece)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
AI in Project Management
AI has moved from answering questions to doing real work. This hands-on session shows leaders what that means for the way projects are run, and how to put it to work from Monday. What we’ll cover: AI, briefly: what AI is, how we got from 1950 to ChatGPT, and why we’re now entering the era of AI agents, The new job title: when AI does more of the doing, everyone manages projects. What project management really is, and how AI speeds up every stage Build your agent (live): we build an AI agent on stage that takes over a weekly chore Who it’s for: executives, managers and project leads. No technical background needed. Speakers: Eirini Sarantidou, Growth Strategist, Found.ation, Celia Gkavanozi, Business Development & Partnerships Manager,  Found.ation
Innovathens — 1st Floor
The Gift of Feedback: Feedback that Fuels Growth
Change from having a “speaking up” mentality to a “growing together” one - how to turn honest conversations with our people into opportunities for growth and trust, so that we can really support their progress in the future. Speaker: Maria Kokkinos (Empowerment Coach, Psychologist & Workshop Facilitator)
16:00 16:15
Main Stage
Coffee Break & Networking
Innovathens — Ground Floor
AI in Project Management
AI has moved from answering questions to doing real work. This hands-on session shows leaders what that means for the way projects are run, and how to put it to work from Monday. What we’ll cover: AI, briefly: what AI is, how we got from 1950 to ChatGPT, and why we’re now entering the era of AI agents, The new job title: when AI does more of the doing, everyone manages projects. What project management really is, and how AI speeds up every stage Build your agent (live): we build an AI agent on stage that takes over a weekly chore Who it’s for: executives, managers and project leads. No technical background needed. Speakers: Eirini Sarantidou, Growth Strategist, Found.ation, Celia Gkavanozi, Business Development & Partnerships Manager,  Found.ation
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Coffee Break & Networking
16:15 16:30
Main Stage
The becoming of a leader
Speaker: Joe Navarro (Former FBI Special Agent, author and expert on non-verbal communication)
16:30 16:45
Main Stage
Assessing teams and sourcing the right talent
Speakers: Georgios Liapes (Co-Founder & CEO, SeriousMind | Forbes 30U30 | Phd Candidate in AI | TEDx speaker), Alexios Stellas (Co-Founder & CTO, Joberos), Moderation: Angeliki Kapetanidou (Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant @ linq)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
Executive Presence & Storytelling: Showcasing your value
Speaker: Maria Themeli (Strategic Advisor to CEOs, Corporate Reputation & Strategy)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Think It Through With AI: Pressure-Testing a Real Decision
Bring a real call you're weighing. Leave with the options mapped, the risks surfaced and a recommendation drafted. Speaker: Rodanthi Alexiou (AI Partner Solution Architect @ Microsoft EMEA)
16:45 17:00
Main Stage
Leadership is an Odyssey. Learnings from Ancient World
Speaker: Dr Angeliki Kosmopoulou (Story Strategist / Founder, Storymentor)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Think It Through With AI: Pressure-Testing a Real Decision
Bring a real call you're weighing. Leave with the options mapped, the risks surfaced and a recommendation drafted. Speaker: Rodanthi Alexiou (AI Partner Solution Architect @ Microsoft EMEA)
17:00 17:30
Main Stage
Your Team Is a Business. Start Leading It Like One.
Great managers don't just lead people, they drive business outcomes, and this session explores the financial mindset, metrics, and decision-making skills needed to turn teams into engines of growth and impact.. Speakers: Stavros Theodoratos (Digital Marketing Director @ Novibet), Dimitrios (James) Banos (Lead Specialist, TA Marketing and Communications @ TTEC), Stathis Anagnostou (Executive Director, Strategy, Business Development & Transformation @HEDNO), Moderator: Roza Tzima (Go To Market Team Leader, Qualco Technology)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
Debate: Does AI at Work Need More Rules?
Two sides, an audience that votes before and after. Regulation, responsibility and the future of work in open debate. Speaker: Paris Dimitrakopoulos (Senior Technology Specialist @ Microsoft)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Think It Through With AI: Pressure-Testing a Real Decision
Bring a real call you're weighing. Leave with the options mapped, the risks surfaced and a recommendation drafted. Speaker: Rodanthi Alexiou (AI Partner Solution Architect @ Microsoft EMEA)
17:30 18:00
Main Stage
Break
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Networking
18:00 18:30
Main Stage
Unlocking Human Performance: What Truly Motivates People
What really drives performance, and why most motivation tactics quietly backfire. Speakers: Kostas Kefalakis (Chief Customer Engagement Officer & Head of Cyprus @ Roche), Lia Tekidou (Head of Consultants @ Business Pathways), Georgia Paraschou, Founder & CEO, Humanity Greece), Moderator: Giannis Krikris (Founder & Creative Mind @ Social Experience Athens)
Innovathens — Ground Floor
How to Build Your Brand as a Manager Inside Your Organization
Your reputation as a leader isn't accidental: how it takes shape, how it affects your career and how to change it. Speaker: Marily Mitropoulou (Architect of Influence | ex-Google | TEDx Speaker)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Networking
18:30 19:00
Beyond Disruption: The C-Level Agenda.
Kostas Xiradakis (CCO, Snappi), Yanna Andronopoulou (General Manager, Microsoft Greece, Cyprus, Malta & Adriatics), Pavlos Pantazopoulos (News Anchor, NaftemporikiTV), Marilia Tompra (Country Director, Sephora)
Innovathens — 1st Floor
Networking
19:00 21:00
Closing Ceremony & Networking

One day.
Real conversations.
Your next step as a leader.

Established in 2021, the Forum is the premier event for upskilling and connecting professionals with companies in both tech and non-tech industries. Organized in collaboration with Envolve and linq (ex CollegeLink), the 5th annual “Skill Up Forum” will take place on 27 October 2026 at the Technopolis City of Athens*. This year Skill Up Forum is bringing together middle managers, emerging leaders and ambitious professionals, it delivers practical insights, honest conversations and actionable content across Leadership, AI, Entrepreneurship, Policy and ESG.

Whether you’re leading your first team or preparing for your next step up, Skill Up gives you the tools, the confidence and the network to move forward.

One day. Practical learning. Real connections. Your next step as a leader.

*And for companies and individuals who are ready to go deeper, the Executive Training runs on 23 October: a hands on day to move from theory to practice, open to partner companies and individual professionals alike.

Ομιλητές στη σκηνή του Skill Up Forum μπροστά σε κοινό
Organized by linq και Envolve Entrepreneurship

By Envolve & linq

Skill Up Forum is co-organized by leading organizations from the recruitment and startup ecosystems.

linq is a multi-award-winning recruitment and retention solutions provider, recognized at the HR Awards for three consecutive years and a trusted member of the startup ecosystem. linq has curated a database of 250,000 candidate profiles, established partnerships with 5,000 companies, and hosted 75 educational and recruitment events.

Envolve Entrepreneurship is a leading startup support organization in Greece, working with tens of thousands of entrepreneurs and innovation agencies across Europe. The organization has trained more than 650 people through 120 seminars and has supported the creation of 2,200 jobs.

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