Motto: Break Barriers. Be Unstoppable.
Where did your professional journey begin?
My journey didn’t begin in a boardroom or follow anyone’s fast track. It began the moment I decided to rebuild my life—personally and professionally—after everything changed. I was divorced when my twin boys were just 15 months old. At the time, I was at the peak of my career, but I chose to pause everything for four years to raise them on my own.
When I stepped back into the business world, nothing was handed to me. I had to carve out my place again. And it wasn’t just about managing calendars or workloads—it was about battling self-doubt, pushing back against assumptions, and proving that full-time mothers can also lead full-time in business. I believe that with hard work and dedication, one can achieve one’s goals, and this is the truth of my journey.
What was the hardest part of breaking into boardrooms as a woman?
The biggest challenge was constantly being underestimated. In the early days, HR was rarely viewed as strategic, and women who led with empathy were often seen as “soft.” I was often the only woman in the room, expected to take notes rather than make decisions. But I refused to let that define me. Every time I walked in, I made sure my presence had purpose, and my voice weight.
Working in industries like telecommunications, hospitality, healthcare, fintech, shipping, and forex required adaptability and courage, and I had to earn the right to be heard. HR was often seen as administrative, not strategic. I spent years proving otherwise—introducing people-first practices, facing resistance, failing fast, and trying again until the results spoke louder than the doubt.
How did you transform your experiences into something bigger?
I built PERHA Group from everything I learned (and unlearned). Through PERHA, I help companies do HR differently: more human, more impactful, more forward-looking. And beyond my business, I’ve committed to service:
- I serve on the Executive Committee of the Cyprus International Businesses Association (CIBA),
- I sit on the Board of CYENS, shaping innovation and research,
- I’m the General Secretary of the Cyprus National Paralympic Committee
- I’m an Accredited Trainer by HRDA (Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus), and I support the next generation of leaders through mentorship, support, and empowerment
- I’m a Member of the Committee and Vice Presidency for Technology and Innovation within the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- I volunteer with Red Cross
- And I support One Dream One Wish, granting wishes to children with cancer.
For me, success only matters if it uplifts others.
How do you balance leadership with personal life—especially during difficult times?
The truth is, balance isn’t always graceful. It’s not a perfectly symmetrical equation, especially when you’re raising children alone. There have been days when I left the Oncology Center after visiting my father—who fought cancer for 16 years—and walked straight into a boardroom meeting. Not because I had to pretend everything was fine, but because I had learned to honor both spaces: the personal and the professional. I believe that kind of duality—carrying deep emotion and still showing up with strength—is part of what defines human leadership.
Motherhood shaped the way I lead. It taught me compassion, endurance, and how to move forward even when things feel overwhelming. It also taught me that being unstoppable doesn’t mean never falling—it means getting up, again and again, and staying true to your values even when no one is watching.
What’s your most real advice for women in business?
Don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect version of yourself. Start from where you are, even if it feels messy or uncertain. You can pause, you can even step away—and still make it to the boardroom.
You don’t have to choose between being a devoted mother and a powerful leader. You can be both. Build a support system, invest in your growth, and don’t let anyone make you feel like you have to shrink to fit the room.
If the door won’t open for you, build your own. Be wise enough to ask for help, and bold enough to believe in your voice. Because real leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about authenticity. It’s about rising with integrity and lifting others as you go.
What kind of leadership does the future need?
I believe we need leaders who listen more than they speak, who create space for diversity of thought, and who lead with empathy, courage, and clarity. Human leadership, not performative. That’s what I strive to model every day.
My vision is to see more women redefining leadership on their terms. Not just surviving at the table, but reshaping it. Because success in the boardroom shouldn’t come at the cost of who you are. And every time we show up as our whole selves, we break another barrier. And that’s exactly what I intend to keep doing.
Break barriers. Be unstoppable.
Let that be the invitation—for every woman who dreams of more, doubts herself, and keeps going anyway. Your story is powerful. Use it.
Originally published by Top10HRVoices (Cyprus Edition) — https://cyprus.top10hrvoices.com/#marianna-hadjiandoniou
