Olina Sokratous, Managing Director of O Group of Companies, tells Forbes Cyprus: “Three values form the foundation of how I think, make decisions and build relationships: humanity, integrity and loyalty. Humanity defines how I work with people, because beyond titles and roles, we all remain human. Integrity guides my decisions, even when the right choice is not the easiest one. And loyalty is, for me, the foundation of the relationships and teams I build: staying present not only in the successes but also in the challenges, always finding the next move that can lead us forward.”
Your professional path combines business strategy, organisational development and specialisation in Privacy Law. What was the driving force behind building your own personal brand, and what vision did you set from the start?
I am a better Business Growth Strategist because I am a Legal Strategist and I am a better Legal Strategist because I am a better Business Growth Strategist. This enables me to see business holistically: to identify growth opportunities while also assessing structure, technology, partnerships, negotiations, human capital and legal protection, so that an opportunity can be turned into meaningful and sustainable growth.
I remember little girls looking at me in the eyes, saying: “Ms Olina, when I grow up I would like to be like you.” I have always encouraged them to become even better.
Having worked in multinational companies, I came to know different business environments, cultures and models of growth. There were offers to tie my professional path to other businesses. I chose, however, to first build my own brand. Not as self realisation, but I believe that the clearer you develop the value you bring in and the way you can contribute, you can collaborate, create and give back in a more meaningful way. For me, this is also a form of responsibility, being my vision from the very beginning: as I grow and create value, to be able to return that value to my community. Because when you empower a woman, the impact reaches her business, her family, both women and men, the people around her and, ultimately, society.
Before you turned 22, you had already led two organisations to Outstanding Growth awards in a single year and helped more than 21,000 women gain access to capital. How did this early success shape your philosophy as an entrepreneur?
What I learned very early on is that growth does not necessarily come from more work, more services or more marketing. Very often, it comes from one right strategic decision. When I examine a business, I analyse where there is resistance to growth and where value remains untapped.
I also learned that business growth and social impact do not need to be separate pursuits. This remains my compass: results gain greater value when they create possibilities for others. It was with this philosophy that I founded Business is Female, the First Consultancy for Female Entrepreneurs™, with the aim of offering strategy, knowledge and access to opportunities, network, and capital. For me, success becomes meaningful when it translates into real change in people’s lives, a principle I also apply at O Group of Companies. It is also a particular honour that I was nominated for the “Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece” list.
As Managing Director, what is your strategic approach to the sustainable growth of a company in a constantly changing environment?
In an environment that is constantly changing, the greatest risk is not change itself, but continuing to apply what worked yesterday. A business can have an excellent product or service and still lose its relevance, because the market, the needs and collective consciousness have already changed. Businesses that grow sustainably recognise early on where value is shifting.
My holistic strategic approach, combined with my experience and instinct, helps me perceive these shifts before they become obvious. I examine the business model, legal strategy, emerging technologies, partnerships and the market as a whole, so that change can be turned into opportunity through strategic evolution.
What was the biggest challenge you faced in your professional journey, and what lesson did it teach you that continues to influence the way you lead today?
I took on the challenge to grow an already established business with decades of history. The challenge was not to create something from scratch. It was to identify untapped value in a structure that was already working, and to create growth without disrupting what was working well. Within one year, we doubled in profit.
This taught me that what brought a business to a certain point is not necessarily what will take it further. Growth doesn’t always require more; often it requires seeing what you already have differently.
What do you believe are the characteristics that make women’s leadership stand out in modern business?
I believe that women often bring to leadership a distinctive combination of instinct, empathy and resiliency. They have the ability to perceive not only the data, but also the people, relationships and dynamics behind it; to manage multiple parameters at the same time; and to combine decisiveness with a genuine interest in people.
A woman does not need to feel she must adapt to a traditional model of leadership. She can use her own perspective, instinct and characteristics as advantages. International research has linked the representation of women in leadership with stronger financial performance.
Based on your experience, what changes do you consider necessary for more women to gain access to positions of responsibility?
First, in the way we raise and empower girls. For generations, even fairytales presented women waiting for a prince to save them. Change begins when a girl grows up knowing that she can shape her own path, and that a woman does not have to choose between a meaningful career and a happy family life. She can pursue both.
There also needs to be real access to capital, networks, knowledge, mentoring and opportunities for growth. And structural changes, such as equal leave for mothers and fathers, so that caring for the family is not disproportionate.
What is the role of O Group of Companies in the new era, and what message would you like to send to the new generation of women entrepreneurs?
The role of O Group of Companies in the new era is to help businesses transform technology and innovation into real and sustainable business value, built on strong strategic, legal and corporate foundations. We operate in sectors such as health and wellness technologies, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. At the same time, we support businesses design a beneficial corporate structure, protect and strategically leverage their intellectual property and data, including the associated tax advantages, and navigate Privacy Law, AI and data governance, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.
In an era where technology is evolving faster than ever, our role is to bridge innovation with strategy, protection and growth. In other words, we help businesses not only to grow and to create something new, but structure it correctly, protect its value and grow it safely at an international level.
And the more our ability to create value through business grows, the more I believe our responsibility grows to open paths for the people who come after us, especially young women holding untapped potential. Through social impact projects from Africa to Latin America and Asia, we continue to build bridges between Cyprus, the rest of Europe, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
To young women, I would say: remember that previous generations opened the way with many sacrifices. Our responsibility is to go even further, without leaving parts of ourselves behind, and to open the way even wider for those who will follow. It is not only a matter of ambition; it is also a matter of responsibility, so that we contribute to building a better and more balanced future, for women and men alike.
