Stella Kasdagli
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Female Founders' Hub 2023Greece
Stella Kasdagli is a writer, a gender expert and the co-founder of Women On Top, a non-profit organization in Greece dedicated to women's professional development and gender equality in the public sphere. In 2020, Women On Top became the first nonprofit organization to participate in the National Council for Gender Equality. Representatives participated in key policy consultations with major stakeholders from state institutions and industry.
Stella is also a published author, a translator, a book club enthusiast and the facilitator of workshops on professional development, gender issues and social change. She studied French Literature in Athens, Greece, and Media Studies in London. She previously worked for more than 10 years as a women’s magazine online editor. She is the recipient of the Social Impact UK Alumni Award. She has published eight books for the empowerment of girls, women and teens. She lives in Athens with her husband and two daughters.
2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Female Founders' Hub 2023
The project engaged approximately 200 female entrepreneurs, supporting them to achieve their business goals. The six-month program included four online fireside chats and webinars tailored to participants' self-identified needs; two in-person speed dating events for networking and connecting with potential investors and funders; an online or in-person mentoring program; and six newsletters focusing on the needs and interests of mid-stage female entrepreneurs. Female entrepreneurs boosted their knowledge around key business issues; accessed tools and frameworks to help them increase the profitability, impact, and sustainability of their businesses; and became part of a peer-to-peer learning community to improve self-confidence, leadership, and well-being.
“[The project] was informative and eye-opening, not just in terms of the available funding opportunities in Greece. Seeing the variety and range of female entrepreneurs, who are actively working to expand and better serve their business, fosters a sense of camaraderie - plus, it's super inspiring and motivating.” - Project participant
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Mentors’ Training: The Series
During the COVID-19 pandemic, applications for mentoring support through Women On Top soared. Through four bi-monthly practical and interactive webinars, 414 professional women from all over Greece were trained as female mentors. They were provided with skills that will allow them to support mentees in pursuing professional opportunities, building new businesses, scaling their projects, and accessing economic opportunities.
"The webinar was excellent in every way. The trainer had excellent immediacy. I felt she was talking directly to me and that she was there to support us." - Project participant
IVLP Exchange Experience
Stella participated in the IVLP Project Women and Entrepreneurship in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and CRDF Global. She also participated in the IVLP Project Women and Entrepreneurship II in 2022, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City, WorldBoston, Georgia Council for International Visitors, Global Ties Detroit, International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles, Global Minnesota, San Diego Diplomacy Council, Tulsa Global Alliance, World Affairs Council of Kentucky & Southern Indiana and World Affairs Council of Philadelphia.
Stella's exchange experience led her to develop her IVLP Impact Award Project: "My IVLP experience provided me with a host of insights both about the challenges and the potential of female entrepreneurs from around the world, but also about initiatives, measures and practices that non-profit organizations can implement to help maximize the impact of those changemakers across borders."
U.S. Communities Visited in 2022
Los Angeles, CA; Washington DC; Kansas City, MO; Philadelphia, PA; Dallas, TX
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021
Huntsville, AL; Sacramento, CA; Washington, DC; Akron. OH; Cleveland, OH; Charlotte, NC