Elizabeth Filippouli

Filippouli is the editor of 'From Women to the World-Letters for a New Century' published by Bloomsbury/IB Tauris in July 2021.

Bringing together contributions from a global group of women – politicians, royalty, actors, writers, activists- the collection features Booker-prize nominated Elif Shafak writing a letter to Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, activist and TV presenter June Sarpong OBE addressing designer Diane Von Furstenberg, Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan, activist, journalist Mariane Pearl to the anonymous woman, and entrepreneur Annabel Karmel MBE to her daughter Laura. Each is based on these women’s personal histories and experiences, drawing attention to social issues such as gender equality, homelessness, war, LGBTQ activism, mental health, COVID-19, the refugee crisis. The book received praise in the international press, Vanity Fair, The Independent, The New Arab and it was featured at the Hay Festival in May 2021 with letters from the book read by actresses Kate Winslet, Juliet Stephenson, Suzanne Packer, Vanessa Redgrave, Louise Brealey.

In 2020 Filippouli co-authored with Dr Marc J. Ventresca of Said Business School a work on ‘Kindness in Leadership in Times of Crisis’, proposing ways to rethink the work of leaders in a post-pandemic world prioritising empathy and emotional intelligence. In 2004 an anthology of her opinion editorials was published in Greece by Ελεύθερα Γράμματα, under the title 'Η Αόρατη Πραγματικότητα᾽ (The Invisible Reality).

Athena40 was launched at UNESCO on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2018, to advance the role of women and support the UN Global Goals. Athena40 hosts a 'Global Conversation' organising panels in cities around the world, centrally moderated by BBC Presenter Tim Willcox. Filippouli has commented that "we cannot ignore the fact that women have been affected disproportionately and in multiple ways".

Filippouli gave a TedX talk in 2017 at Stormont in Northern Ireland where she talked about the eternal clash between emotion and reason and said that Ancient Greeks used the word ‘nous’ to define the connection between heart and mind and the importance to listen to both. “We say that women are guided by emotion while men by reason. Is it a clash of minds, or mindsets? Could it be a clash of systems too? Humanism vs. Capitalism? This world would be a better place if we allowed the 'Nous' (Greek for 'common sense') to become a bridge between emotion and reason”. In 2013 she gave a TedX talk at TedXSabanci in Istanbul.

In 2015 Filippouli launched the mentoring programs, 'Telemachus' and 'Athena' as a tribute to her mentor CNN executive Maggie Eales, who died that year. They are nonprofit and support aspiring social impact leaders by pairing them with seasoned professionals. The programs have supported 350 individuals in 75 countries and contribute towards the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The inaugural Global Thinkers Forum took place in 2012 under the patronage of Queen Rania Al Abdullah convening 300 leaders, innovators, social entrepreneurs, investors and academics.

In 2012 Global Thinkers Forum launched the 'Global Thinkers Forum Awards for Excellence', recognising the work of values-driven pioneers. Among the recipients have been Zaha Hadid, Sir David Frost, Arianna Huffington, Tobias Ellwood, Elif Shafak, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Professor Tu Weiming, Professionals for Humanity, Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, International Red Cross. The Global Thinkers Forum Advisory Board has been supported by thought leaders such as John Alderdice, Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Muna AbuSulayman, Prince Pavlos of Greece, Elif Shafak, Femi Oke. Filippouli is an advocate of values-driven thinking and collaboration, being vocal about 'The imminent need for our societies to build on a long-term vision and to prioritise 'we' instead of 'I'". She has publicly expressed her criticism about Angela Merkel's leadership as "creating cracks in the European Union community, with Germany's superpower role generating inequality and polarization within the EU"

Filippouli studied German Literature at the University of Athens. She acquired her master's degree on Transnational Media and Globalisation in 2010 from City University in London, followed by the MBA-level Diploma on Strategy and Innovation at Oxford University’s Said Business School and pursued Creative Writing at Harvard. During her career as a journalist she specialized on international affairs and worked for broadsheet papers, the Athens 9.84 Radio and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation in Greece as presenter and editor in chief of current affairs programmes. She joined CNN International as World Report contributor in 2000 and Al Jazeera English as presenter and documentary producer in 2005. She worked as main news presenter, broadsheet paper columnist and investigative reporter. For Al Jazeera English she produced the documentaries: Greekgate, Italygate, A King Without a Country. She has interviewed leading figures such as: Ted Turner, James Rubin, Deepak Chopra, Mohamed El Baradei, Santiago Calatrava, Enrique Oltuski, Alberto Juantorena, Chris Cramer, Al Gore, Susan Sarandon, Lord Robertson, Christiane Amanpour, Peter Arnett, King Constantine of Greece, Lord Coe.

In 2009, Filippouli transitioned to social entrepreneurship launching an online business network, Globeez, to help connect professionals and entrepreneurs from the emerging markets. In 2011 she launched Global Thinkers Forum a non-profit organisation in the space of values-based leadership, organising high-impact conversations and hosting mentoring programmes for women and youth.