Panagiota Polykarpou is the President of Be an Ally Foundation (BEAF), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion. BEAF’s mission is to challenge and transform societal norms that hinder equal opportunities for all. Through various initiatives, BEAF is actively reshaping the dialogue around equality and inclusion in Cyprus, targeting both civil society and public/private entities.
Panagiota holds a degree in Business Administration and Public Administration from the University of Cyprus, with further specialization in Social Innovation & Management through her master’s studies at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Her career is marked by a strong commitment to advancing gender equality and diversity, exemplified by co-founding “Thkio Logia”, Cyprus’s first multi-award-winning gender equality awareness campaign. The campaign also turned into a published book, “Θκυο Λόγια για την Ισότητα”, available in Greek, English and Turkish. Panagiota’s expertise in Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) has led to her role as an independent consultant, where she leverages her experience to advise on DEI strategies for companies and universities.
Since 2021, she is is also the co-founder of https://steamacademycy.org , Girls in STEAM Academy, a non-profit initiative under BEAF, designed to bridge the gender gap prevalent in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) fields. Girls in STEAM Academy’s vision is to empower young girls and women to emerge as leaders in STEAM disciplines, achieved through comprehensive training/educational programs, networking activities offered to beneficiaries and awareness raising actions. The ultimate goal is to establish a future where women are equally represented across all STEAM sectors, by inspiring other organizations and educators to collaborate with us on this vital mission. By dismantling obstacles and fostering fresh opportunities, the initiative aims to pave the way for the upcoming generation of female innovators and catalysts for change.
Panagiota is involved in other non-profits efforts such as the Gardens of the Future, and AIPFE “ Women of Europe. Her commitment to advancing gender equality in Cyprus is remarkable and is definitely worth more visibility.