ICA Coaches Celebrate International Coaching Week in Partnership With Innovathens

Every year when International Coaching Week comes around we see new and interesting ways that coaching is showing up in the world. This year ICA was fortunate enough to take part in an extremely creative event. ICA Trainer and coach, Katerina Kanelidou collaborated with Innovathens (the Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the City of Athens) and Creative Empowerment to create “Coaching as a Tool of Development and Support” with Speed Coaching.

Katerina and ICA Coaches gathered on May 26th to explore how coaching can meet the particular challenges facing Greece and its citizens.

During the first part of the event, Katerina Kanelidou debunked some of the myths around coaching, and presented how coaching can be a tool for support and development focusing on the specific challenges of Greece in 2015.

After the presentation, participants had the opportunity to participate in speed coaching in the specially arranged ‘Coaching Zone’ of Innovathens.

The ICA Athens Speed Coaching Event was a resounding success and plans are now underway for more such coaching opportunities in Athens, Greece.

When we spoke to Katerina, here is what she had to say:

The feedback was very encouraging. Participants loved the fact that the presentation included the coaching in the Greek reality and put on solid ground what it can offer. Τhose who participated at the speed coaching commented additionally about the different perspectives they gained by the 4 different coaching conversations each one had.

Coaches need to take a stand and work within the reality in which citizens operate; and support them, empower them and be the catalysts that will help them to develop navigating through the challenges. In Greece, and in many other countries, the new conditions, the results of the years of austerity and crisis, are inviting us to use our knowledge, skills and tools to serve and facilitate positive change. It is our duty and responsibility. After all, as ICF coaches too, we are in the mission in service of humanity flourishing.

The other exciting part of this event was to see how many ICA Coaches participated.

Noni Papastefanou, ACC
Fotini Chasioti, ACC
Panagiota Aleksiou, ACC
Dimos Kyritsis, ACC
Polydoros Karyofyllis – Poka-Yio
Violetta Psofaki
Nasos Fotopoulos

In a little over an hour (64 minutes!) 8 coaches and 12 clients had 48 coaching conversations!

All this coaching took place in a specialized space at Innovathens, which helped maintain the momentum and enthusiasm of the participants while according coaches and clients a safe and confidential space.

Once organized feedback is gathered from coaches and clients, the results will be published in an article later this year. Can’t wait to find out more about this experiment in power coaching!

More About Creative Empowerment

Katerina is a highly trained professional coach with over 18 years experience of working with teams and individuals. Katerina works with leaders from around the world who are committed to honing their leadership skills, creating healthy and high performing workplaces, and positive sustainable change. Having experience in leadership positions, she brings her insights to support her clients overcome their challenges and thrive even in the most adverse environments. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, a Certified Professional Coach (ICA), a Certified Trainers’ Trainer (EKePis) and Certified Mentor Trainer (EOPPEP).

Recently Katerina was appointed Associate Director with Pivomo, provider of decision support tools for the Entrepreneur. She trains for ICA in English and coaches in Greek, English and Spanish, operating out of Athens.

More About Creative Innovathens

INNOVATHENS is an integrated support hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where you can meet experienced market executives and academia, as well as successful entrepreneurs that will help in a practical way to mature business ideas and develop or transform growing businesses.

INNOVATHENS is located in the heart of the most recognizable landmark in Athens Technopolis City, which is visited by more than 700,000 visitors each year. There you can watch seminars, talks, lectures and take part in open discussions. You can also take part in events that are specific to entrepreneurs and business growth. On the first floor you can visit exhibitions of innovative products and services, meet with professionals who already innovate and discuss aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship. On the second floor, you can make an appointment with aqualified professional for mentoring and advice.