Course lecturer: Ass. Professor Alexia Mary Tzortzaki, Ph.D., email: alexiatzortzaki@hmu.gr

Brief description

This course is designed towards the acquisition of knowledge relating to the basic principles of Management (Business Administration) and provides the grounding for the development of Leaders, in all disciplines and sectors, including social leadership. It is based on the premise that one cannot become an effective manager without being a leader and to be a Leader, one needs to first strive to become self-led.

It offers a sound understanding of what emotional and social intelligence skills are needed for young people to be “ready to run” and thrive in their careers, instead of merely survive them. As British education reformist, Derry Hannam said during his keynote speech at the European Conference of Democratic Education (2018), “in this day and age, preferred job candidates need to possess skills that computers lack, such as those of a leader”.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to understand:

• “Mindfulness” as being the basis of heightened awareness of self and the environment, for win-win decision making, increased outcomes, and effective crisis management.
• the importance of self-leadership and soft skills, such as adaptability, creativity, highly developed communication skills, a clear sense of mission, and social responsibility.
• the use of basic self-development tools.
• the difference between resonant and dissonant leadership.
• the practice of noticing patterns and trends in the interconnected and ever-changing micro and macro environment.
• the role of human capital as a key competitive advantage in a predominately service-led and hi-tech landscape.
• the five key functions of Management (a/ decision making and planning, b/organizing, c/ recruiting, d/ communicating and motivating, e/ evaluating).
• Corporate Social Responsibility and its link to sustainability.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods
In this course, effective management and leadership skills are brought to life through real-life examples, videos, personal, and teamwork. Many in-class team exercises will help you discover your hidden talents and bring out the leader in you.

Also included in the course are Self-knowledge exercises. An introduction to Emotional Intelligence and Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Time management and stress management tools. Anger management and conflict within the workplace. Presentation skills. An introduction to holding successful meetings and debating methods. Job searching strategies and successful job application techniques.

Meet your course lecturer – Alexia Mary Tzortzaki, Ph.D.

Prior to her academic posting, she worked mainly in the UK for 12 years, as a Marketing & Communications Manager for a variety of companies and finally, founded her own business. In 2001, she was one of three finalists for the ‘Welsh Woman of the Year in Media’ awards, as the owner of Montana Media, a strategic management consultancy based in Wales, UK. Alexia also acted as a Certified Business Advisor for “Business in Focus” (a UK Enterprise Agency), helping start-ups, especially female entrepreneurs get off the ground and prepare their business plans to attract venture capital. She was also a Certified Business Trainer.

She is currently an Assistant Professor in Management, a member of the Department of Accounting and Finance at the Hellenic Mediterranean University, and is the UK certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner. She is author of five academic books in Management and Marketing, which serve as textbooks in Greek Universities. Her latest book is “Speak Your Truth and Lead: Empowering Women to become Compassionate Leaders”, which she taught in summer workshops in Amrita University, Kerala, India.

She was a formal President of the European Women’s Management Development Network in Greece (www.ewmd.org) and has held webinars, for Cisco South Europe related to stress management and building a successful career in the Cybersecurity industry.

To serve her life’s Vision, which is the empowerment of young people, she has founded the initiative “Iris, Art of Joy”, whose activities can be found on her website, at www.artofjoy.gr (click on the British flag for the English version) and on her YouTube channel: IRIS Art of Joy.