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Agapi Sbokou
CEO at PHĀEA | VP at SETE (Greek Tourism Confederation) | VP at Marketing Greece | BoD Member at INSETE | Board Member at HIAAD | BoD Lassithi Hotel Association
Agapi Sbokou is a prominent figure in Greece's tourism sector, currently serving as the Vice President of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) since June 2023. She also holds the position of Vice President at Marketing Greece and is a board member of the Institute of Greek Tourism (INSETE). With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Sbokou co-owns and serves as the CEO of PHĀEA, a leading hospitality company focused on delivering innovative travel experiences in Greece.
Professional Background
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Current Roles:
- Vice President, SETE - Greek Tourism Confederation (June 2023 - Present)
- Vice President, Marketing Greece (January 2018 - Present)
- Board Member, INSETE (June 2023 - Present)
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Previous Experience:
- Chief Executive Officer, PHĀEA (April 2019 - Present)
- Director of Sales & Marketing, Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa (September 2002 - December 2015)
Education
Sbokou holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and an MBA from Bayes Business School.
Contributions and Initiatives
Agapi Sbokou is dedicated to shaping the future of tourism in Greece, focusing on sustainable practices and innovation within the industry. She is also actively involved in social causes, notably supporting initiatives against Alzheimer's disease.
Her extensive expertise and leadership roles underscore her commitment to enhancing Greece's tourism landscape and promoting its rich cultural heritage.
Highlights
Honored to have participated in a lively panel discussion at Delphi Economic Forum shedding light on fostering environments that champion women's entrepreneurial endeavors.
I would like to express my gratitude to the moderator, Dimitra Kroustalli for facilitating this discussion, as well as all the inspiring women in the panel Sofia Zacharaki, Maira Myrogianni, DIMITRA KOLOTOURA, and Kalia Konstantinidou, for their impactful contributions.
➡️ If we really want to support women’s entrepreneurship, we need to address the issue of new entrepreneurship and not just succession within family businesses, where there has been significant progress already. ➡️ New entrepreneurship is about three things: RISK: the willingness to take risks and knowing that you have to fail many times before you succeed. INNOVATION: Broadening up on the notion of innovation so that it is not only about obvious areas such as technology or biomedicine. ACCESS TO CAPITAL both human and financial.
➡️ We need role-models and mentoring, because the first step for young girls and young people in general is to feel that they can. And that failure is part of the process. ➡️ We need policies that allow for start-ups to fail and start again and for the people behind it to “survive” and restart. ➡️ We need strategies and polices so that banks properly evaluate business plans and innovative ideas rather than focus on securing loans with cash collateral or real estate. SMEs are key to our economy and we need to foster that environment.
➡️ At PHĀEA, we actively support Small Businesses through our innovative program PHĀEA Farmers, where half of the participants are women. ➡️ At PHĀEA, 58% of our management is women. This actively empowers women who can become role models themselves for others. ➡️ I try to share my experience with as many young people as possible, making sure that young girls do not see any barriers.
Change is a process.
#DelphiForum #WomenEntrepreneurs #Empowerment #Innovation #PHĀEATogether
It was an honour to participate in an enriching discussion on empowering women in the tourism industry, especially on this significant occasion of International Women's Day. I was inspired by the insightful perspectives shared by Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Deputy Minister Elena Rapti and esteemed colleagues Angela Varela, Vana Lazarakou, Maria Polykreti, Katerina Santikou on "Women in Tourism - Employment and Entrepreneurship." Gender equality is not just a moral imperative but also a driving force for sustainable development in societies and economies worldwide. At PHĀEA, we are committed to fostering an environment where women can thrive and contribute their talents across all levels of our business. Today, on International Women's Day, let's celebrate the achievements of women in tourism and recommit ourselves to creating more inclusive opportunities for women in the industry. At PHĀEA, we are proud to include 52% of women in our team. Most importantly 58% of our management team consists of women. #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInTourism #GenderEquality #SustainableDevelopment
