May Zanni is a political scientist and the President and Co-founder of Women Act, a Greek NGO promoting women’s leadership. She has held key advisory and strategic roles in government and politics, including as a Special Advisor at the Secretariat of the Prime Minister of Greece.

Could you briefly describe how Women Act began?

Women Act began its journey in Athens in 2017 but had been in development for some time. In 2011, I participated in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program as Greece’s representative in the Women in Public Service Project, an initiative launched to promote women’s leadership. During the program, I visited women’s networks across the US and had the opportunity to engage with many inspiring women global leaders. This experience highlighted the absence of a similar network in Greece to support women in leadership roles in the public sphere.

As I was already active in politics, I saw firsthand the lack of collaboration to empower women across party lines. This spurred eight co-founders to start Women Act, which has since expanded to 15 hubs across Greece, where women meet, encourage, and promote each other in leadership positions in the public sphere. More than 3,000 women have participated in our programs, creating a strong community of women in leadership.

How can Greek women today achieve greater political, social, cultural, and economic empowerment?

It is undeniable that there are still many obstacles to overcome. Stereotypes persist in holding women back, so we need to prioritize educating both women and men on what empowerment truly means and how it benefits families, society, and the economy. At Women Act, when we discuss the notion of the public sphere, we often encounter the paradox of capable, ambitious women facing resistance from those closest to them—family, social circles, and professional networks—who feel threatened instead of recognizing the broader social benefits of empowered women.

The power of networks like Women Act, the only Greek organization focused on women in the public sphere, lies in promoting and encouraging women to excel professionally and publicly. Networking is crucial, yet women often have fewer opportunities than men because they are typically the primary caretakers of both their parents and children. They work a “second shift” that prevents them from building networks or attending events that could advance their careers. As a result, they spend their most powerful decades— their 30s, 40s, and 50s—without stopping to ask themselves, “Is this what I want? What do I really want?”

Do your training programs and capacity-building initiatives address these challenges?

Yes, they are specifically designed to do so. For example, we hold networking aperitifs once a month, where women not only meet role models and hear their stories but also build their own networks. These events are limited to 30 women to ensure everyone has the chance to speak and connect. A strong network provides support, exposes women to different industries, and creates opportunities for career advancement.

Our Leadership Academies, held every three months in Athens and beyond, are intensive one- to two-day workshops on leadership, branding, public speaking, and media management— essential tools for women in leadership today. Many women who have participated tell us they now have the confidence to ask for promotions or seek elected office because they feel prepared.

Which partnerships have been critical in amplifying the impact of Women Act?

From the start, we have been fortunate to have excellent partners who helped us move forward. One key partnership was with the U.S. State Department for our Women Candidates Program, which enabled 700 women to run for office by helping them build their campaigns with support from both U.S. and Greek communications experts. The program was hosted on an innovative platform, ensuring women from across Greece could participate equally.

We have also collaborated with two other Greek organizations to publish books, including I Am Dangerous, which was later adapted into a TV show on Greek national television. Teamwork is essential to us, and we want to challenge stereotypes by proving that women collaborate effectively.

Another initiative we value is our No More Manels campaign, which calls for greater female representation on panels and conferences in Greece. Many organizations and think tanks have signed on, reinforcing the message that women’s voices need to be heard.

Given Greece’s diverse political landscape, how does Women Act maintain a non-partisan stance while actively promoting women’s empowerment?

We prioritize being non-partisan, though we recognize the challenges given the fragmented political landscape in Greece. To ensure broad representation, we invite women from all political parties to speak at our events, and all of our programs are inclusive.

Recently, we were invited to present our work to the Gender Equality Committee in the Greek Parliament, where we spoke to members from all parties. To highlight our nationwide reach, we brought in hub coordinators from Thiva, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, and Alexandroupoli.

Do cultural norms in Greek society influence women’s opportunities for leadership and participation? Have you seen changes recently?

There has been progress, but cultural norms still shape women’s opportunities. Consider a male political candidate—he is typically surrounded by a strong support system of colleagues, friends, and family who rally around him. In contrast, a woman running for office is often asked, “How will your family manage without you?” and made to feel guilty for stepping forward.

This not only affects elections but also makes it harder for women to sustain long-term careers in politics. The key is for women to be encouraged rather than discouraged by those closest to them. Otherwise, especially in smaller communities, the odds of a woman persisting until she is elected are significantly lower.

Please share some key milestones or success stories that illustrate the impact of Women Act.

One of our latest milestones is the launch of our W-Action initiative in September 2024. In collaboration with Interweave, a digital agency, we created a platform where women can showcase themselves as experts, mentors, and board members in their respective fields.

We developed this idea after realizing that women often lack visibility and are overlooked as panelists or board candidates. For example, at conferences, they are frequently assigned the role of moderator rather than speaker, simply to avoid an all-male panel (“manel”), but this still denies them a real voice. Many women have already signed up, and we are excited to see how the platform evolves.