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Role Model

Marica Labrou

Job Title:
Founder & CEO
Company - Organization:
CEL (Compassionate Entrepreneurial Leadership)
Experience:
37 years
Education:
MBA
Universty - College:
La Verne (US)
Nationality:
Greek

Your organization field and mission:

Business & Leadership Consulting – offer top-level leadership services to organizations and individuals eager to apply agile transformational strategies in a dramatically changing world.

Please tell us briefly about your role in the company / at your organization:

I founded CEL consulting company to offer top-level leadership services to organizations and individuals eager to apply agile transformational strategies in a dramatically changing world. My professionalism, passion, commitment to results, and forward-looking approach are a natural result of my authentic stance in life: fighting spirit, structured (engineering) approach, compassion, assertive resilience, and continuous learning alignment.

I have written the book “”Secrets of Success for Family Businesses in the New Era“” (2020), and have contributed to the book “”60 Leaders on Innovation“” (2021). I currently offer consulting services to medium and large family enterprises, also regarding AI strategy.

Your interest in STEM

When and how was your interest for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) born?

I studied a STEM discipline — I am a Chemical Engineer. My first real professional exposure to the technology sector came when I joined HP in 1996 to take on the Product Management role for PCs and laptops. At the time, I was already a proven professional in product management, but relatively unfamiliar with the IT sector.

However, I quickly grew to love the industry — and it seemed to love me back. I went on to serve in several IT companies, both local and international, for more than 20 years, eventually moving up to the role of CEO of one of the largest IT groups in Greece.

Who was your first role model and do you have any role models that inspire you at present?

I greatly admired Carly Fiorina, who served as Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard from 1999 to 2005 with the mission of transforming the company. She was also the first woman to lead a Fortune Top-20 company. I found her particularly inspiring for her dynamic spirit and her anti-stereotypical profile — a woman leading a global technology giant while having studied History and Philosophy.

Later on, I came across the remarkable story of Ping Fu, the Chinese-American entrepreneur who moved from China to the United States and founded Geomagic, an exceptional 3D printing company. She has also served on the U.S. National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship since 2010. In my view, Ping Fu is a powerful example of resilience.

Your studies

Your biggest challenges (SWOT), during your studies?

Being one of the few women studying Chemical Engineering at the time was not a problem to overcome; on the contrary, it was a source of pride and confidence. I truly enjoyed that experience.

STEM studies were still relatively uncommon for women, but those who chose that path and succeeded were widely admired. I carried that sense of confidence with me throughout my life.

The real challenges began after I graduated, when it was time to find a job as a woman engineer.

Your advice to girls and women who want to follow their studies in your sector?

Some years ago, while speaking with young women who were considering pursuing studies in the IT sector, I shared with them what I called a “sailing decalogue” — a set of simple principles to help them navigate their journey. I believe these ideas remain just as relevant today.

The Sailing Decalogue
1. Be yourself
2. Aim high
3. Include effort in your dreams
4. Build resilience
5. Dare to fail
6. Never give up
7. Always look for the next great opportunity
8. Stay optimistic
9. Remember: we receive back what we send out
10. Enjoy life — (YOLO)

You at work

Can you share DEIS (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Sustainability) initiatives from your organization?

I can share some DEIS (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Sustainability) initiatives from previous organizations where I served as Managing Director or CEO:

1. Promoting equal opportunities in recruitment and career development, ensuring that talent and performance were the primary criteria for advancement.
2. Actively supporting women in leadership roles and encouraging more balanced representation in management teams.
3. Establishing internal mentorship programs, pairing senior women leaders with junior female employees to support their professional growth and confidence.
4. Organizing speaking events and discussions with inspiring external women leaders, who shared their experiences, challenges and lessons learned with our teams.
5. Holding monthly meetings for all women managers in the company, creating a space to discuss challenges, exchange perspectives and agree on initiatives that could further strengthen inclusion and development.
6. Creating a work environment based on respect, openness and meritocracy, where different perspectives were valued and encouraged.
7. Supporting flexible working arrangements and policies that helped employees better balance their professional and personal lives.
8. Encouraging a culture of learning, inclusion and collaboration, where people felt empowered to contribute their ideas.
9. Integrating responsible and sustainable practices into the organization’s operations and strategic priorities.
10. Last but not least, establishing a Women Managers Team to objectively oversee and support the company’s Diversity & Inclusion practices.

What are you most proud of having achieved in your work?

A few years after I had completed my studies, when I joined a global IT company as a Product Manager, I found myself in a professional environment that was overwhelmingly male-dominated. As I progressed in my career and assumed roles of greater responsibility and authority, this imbalance became even more evident — the higher I moved, the fewer women I saw in those positions.

At times, it could feel quite lonely: as a woman participating in Boards, and later as a Managing Director and CEO of large organizations. That said, I was fortunate that in business interactions I was always treated with respect and professionalism.

What I am most proud of, however, is leaving a positive “stamp” on the people I have worked with. I feel truly happy when I meet former colleagues, and they tell me that, in some way, I influenced them to make a positive change in their professional or personal lives. For me, that is the most rewarding achievement of all, especially if the recognition comes from women ex-colleagues

Your point of view

How can technology empower women?

Technology — and especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) — can empower women in several powerful ways, both professionally and socially:
– Access to education and skills: AI-powered learning platforms enable continuous upskilling and easier access to STEM and leadership knowledge.
– Greater work flexibility: Digital tools and remote work allow better balance between professional and personal responsibilities.
– Entrepreneurship opportunities: Technology and AI tools help women start and scale businesses by automating tasks, and reaching global customers.
– Reducing bias: Well-designed AI systems can support more objective decisions in hiring, promotions, and evaluations.
– Amplifying women’s voices: Digital platforms allow women to share ideas and build networks, strengthening their professional influence.
– Better decision-making: AI tools help women leaders process complex information and make more informed strategic decisions.
– Mentorship and communities: Technology enables global networks for mentorship, collaboration, and support among women professionals

Your advice to girls and women who want to work in your sector?

Follow the studies “decalogue” above plus: Never give up and never question your ability achieve even trh emore challenginf tasks. You can! Just dream and work!

What would you like to happen when it comes to DEIS in your sector by 2030?

Never give up and never doubt your ability to achieve even the most challenging goals. You can do it — just dream and work for it!

To finish with

Your values

Four years ago, while delivering a TEDx talk, I realized that my life and professional journey had been shaped by two seemingly opposite forces: ambition and humility. Ambition pushes me to aim high and pursue meaningful goals, while humility reminds me to keep learning, stay grounded, and respect the people around me. I try to practice both — and I draw inspiration from each of them.

Your future challenges as a person within the professional context:

Getting older usually means becoming wiser — and I hope this proves true for me as well. Of course, it can also mean becoming weaker, but I hope that moment will be delayed for as long as possible.

My challenge is to continue learning, staying curious, and remaining relevant so that I can keep contributing meaningfully to people around me.

By 2030, how do you hope your career will have grown or evolved?

I hope to continue being helpful to both individuals and organizations for many years to come. I would like to keep developing new and creative ideas that support my clients — especially family businesses — as they navigate the challenges of the future.

I also hope that I will finally find the time to write the book I dream about on leadership.

The current activity has been implemented in the framework of the Project: Code4Europe,
GA Number: 101158834. Official project website : https://codeweek.eu/