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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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