Last night, I had the honour and pleasure of covering the Power of She event, organised by the Red Diamond Awards, on behalf of the Cyprus Business Group.

As part of the coverage, I had the opportunity to interview speakers and key participants, exploring what inspired them to be part of this initiative, the challenges they face in their respective fields, and how they define and express personal power, both professionally and personally.

These conversations were not only insightful but deeply inspiring. I have always loved interviewing people, hearing their stories, understanding their journeys, and capturing their essence. And yes, I will admit, give me a camera and I feel right at home.
One of my key takeaways from the evening was the strong and genuine support for women expressed by Andreas Tsouloftas, President of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce. Many of the women I spoke to highlighted that their greatest source of personal power comes from their children, a beautiful reminder of the strength found in both personal and professional roles. My personal highlight, however, came from Farah Shammas, who expressed something that truly resonated with me: the greatest power we possess is kindness.

The event itself was beautifully curated by the incredibly dedicated Elizabeth Friedrich, who pours her heart and soul into everything she creates.

Elizabeth Friedrich is a visionary artist and fashion designer renowned for her hand-painted collections on cloth and glass. She is also the creator of the Red Diamond Awards, the Red Diamond Club, and the talk show CrossRoads with Elizabeth Friedrich. Through her work, she is committed to empowering women worldwide, fostering unity, and creating inclusive platforms where everyone is valued equally.

The evening was presented with professionalism and elegance by Marina Pittalis, Managing Director of the Opus Group of Companies, who also co-moderated the panel discussion alongside the dynamic and engaging Olesia Tschaikovsky, Chair of Red Diamond.

Anthia Papageorgiou, Secretary/Director of the Limassol Chamber, extended a warm welcome to all speakers and participants, setting the tone for an evening of connection and collaboration.

Anthi Theocharou, Vice President for Tourism of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce, shared a touching personal story about the balance between what we dream of doing and what we believe we should do, reminding us that, more often than not, things have a way of working out.

Among the distinguished speakers, Dan Michaiache, the Romanian Ambassador to Cyprus, expressed his strong support for women in leadership, highlighting global examples of female leadership and encouraging continued progress in this direction.

The presentations that followed were both thought-provoking and empowering.

Tanya Romanyukha, General Manager of TechIsland and leader of the Women in Tech Cyprus Chapter, shared insights from a study highlighting that women are still not sufficiently visible as a unified force and often feel the need to prove themselves more.

Marianna Hadjiantoniou, Founder and Director of PERHA Group and a previous Red Diamond Award winner, spoke candidly about the price of being strong, leaving us with a powerful message: “You don’t need permission, just go out and be great.”

Yiannos Georgiades, Managing Partner of Y. Georgiades & Associates, brought humour to the stage, reminding us that “behind every successful woman is a good lawyer,” while reaffirming his ongoing support for women’s advancement.

Farah Shammas, Managing Director of the St Raphael Resort and Marina, founder of Farah’s Club and a passionate advocate for holistic wellbeing, emphasised that what we feed our bodies and minds is fundamental. Her message was clear: food is information, and true health is a balance of physical and mental nourishment.

Christine A. Virardi, Founder of HRLadderbox, shared a deeply personal story about the challenges of starting a career and offered three simple yet powerful pieces of advice: keep going, say yes and figure it out later, and remember that less is often more.

Finally, Dr. Stefanos Ioannou, Professor of Neurophysiology, Neuroscientist and Psychophysiologist, spoke about the importance of communication and the evolving dynamics of relationships, highlighting how essential connection is in both personal and professional life.

Reflecting on the evening, several key messages stood out clearly:

We are stronger together. Women must support one another rather than compete. Many women underestimate their own power and do not allow themselves to shine fully. Emotional intelligence, a strength women naturally possess, is something that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.

Above all, the power we are seeking is already within us.

My sincere thanks to Elizabeth Friedrich for giving the Cyprus Business Group the opportunity to cover such an inspiring event, and to Tom Britton, Founder and CEO of the Cyprus Business Group, for allowing me to do what I truly love.

And of course, thank you to everyone who took the time to read this.

Elisabeth Villiger Toufexis

Author: Elisabeth V. Toufexis

Elisabeth Villiger Toufexis Elisabeth Villiger Toufexis is a woman of resilience and courage, who has navigated life’s turbulences, tamed her fears, and undertaken an incredible...