WSG 4: Charis Plakantonaki
WSG 4: Charis Plakantonaki
Women's Survival Guide
Women's Survival Guide
New and Improved Newsletter Volume 4+
Dear Readers,
Loving the wonderful ideas and feedback I am getting from you. So much so, I am going to send out the recent Newsletter with some suggested embellishments and see what you think. Speaking of feedback, if there are people you would like me to interview, I am happy to consider them. Just e-mail me, womenssurvivalguide@gmail.com.
We had the Super Bowl this week. That's a funny name isn't it? "Super" "Bowl?" I can imagine a scene out of Mad Men in 1964 (it was SB 55 this year). Everyone was white, male, dressed up, smoked a lot and didn't wear seat belts. They were talking about how baseball had the "World Series." That's a funny name, too. Canada is the only other country that participates in our baseball league, but, "World Series" it must be! Here is one take on the true origin of the name "World Series." So, among the heaping ash trays and cocktail glasses spread over the table, they threw around ideas for what to call the final football game of the year. "Fantastic Bowl?" "Keen Game?" "Righteous Cup?" Nope, someone got paid really well for the "Super Bowl" idea. And history was made. Here is the true history of the name "Super Bowl."
I wrote an entire introduction a few days ago and it disappeared off my computer somehow. Which is a shame. Hopefully, I've learned from my mistake, except I do not know what I did wrong. It sounds as though I am going to get deep and meaningful, but, no. My losing the introduction to this week's newsletter isn't a metaphor for life and learning. It's just another annoying thing that I did that my kids would never do. #dorkyparents With that, I will let the Newsletter carry on.
Maven of the Week!
Charis Plakantonaki
Please Welcome Charis Plakantonaki to Newsletter 4!
Charis lives in Athens, Greece with her husband and two sons, Stefanos, 9 and Manolis, 7 and has a very interesting profession (huge ships are involved) that would thrill most children (and adults) to think about. Charis Plakantonaki serves as Chief Strategy Officer of Star BulkCarriers Corporation, a Greek based, global shipping company. Star Bulk’s 126 ships globally transport dry bulk cargoes including iron ore, minerals and grain, as well as fertilizers and steel products, among others.
When times are not COVID, she travels quite a lot to the different head offices in the shipping hubs of Europe and Asia such as London, Copenhagen, and Singapore. Charis serves as the company liaison in a number of international maritime fora: the face behind the multinational dry bulk shipping firm, and the chief strategist for setting the company’s goals and planning the company’s resources, including human resources and information technology. She received a B.S. in International & European Economics & Politics from the University of Macedonia, where she graduated as valedictorian, and an MBA from INSEAD in France and Singapore.
Now, all of that sounds very impressive, no doubt. But, more impressive is the woman behind the job. It’s true, she is gorgeous and brilliant. But, she is also able to find time for the important parts of life outside of her profession. I have recently been informed that Charis is up forGreek International Woman Award in Shipping! You're welcome to vote:) She is not travelling due to COVID, and like many of us, has been able to create a more balanced life that includes time for meditation, tennis, close friends and of course her husband and children. So, to start my interview, I wonder….
Charis, Because of COVID, you are unable to travel and you have described a wonderful life balance in your current daily routine. What happens when the travel bans are lifted?
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many of us to slow down our hectic lives, and despite the unfortunate reason behind this change, we have come to appreciate more time for ourselves, our families and our close friends. We have also come to realize that it is feasible to continue being good at what we do albeit less travelling, less office hours, less business lunches/dinners, less physical meetings. I surely hope that once life is back to normal, the lessons learnt from the Covid-19 era stay with me, and I continue to make quality time for what matters most in life, including the “dolce far niente”.
I admired your national pride when we were discussing the shipping industry and Greece’s important place within it. As a smaller country, how has Greece remained as competitive as it is on the global shipping stage?
Greek shipping represents approximately 20% of global shipping which, considering our country’s size, is an extraordinary achievement. This to a large extent is the result of Greece’s history as a shipping nation due to its geography and the legacy of experienced and talented seamen that this brought about, many of whom went on to create their own shipping companies. It is also inextricably linked to the business acumen and risk appetite of the Greeks who fearlessly traded their vessels early on in every corner of the world and managed to develop the necessary expertise to excel in the global arena.
How do you relax?
I love to meditate through guided narrations and breathing techniques and also to listen to the teachings of contemporary philosophers such as Alan Watts and Eckhart Tolle. Whether early in the morning or before going to sleep, the stillness that comes with going deep in one’s self grants me the power to deal with the stresses of daily life. Sports are also a great way for me to relax. Tennis, boxing, running, yoga, wind-surfing, are a few of the sports which are doable even during the pandemic and which I very much enjoy doing frequently. And last but not least, the sea … I am fortunate to live in a country surrounded by beautiful beaches and spending time by the sea listening to the waves is the biggest luxury in the world for me.
What books are on your bedside table?
During this past year the one book that has been consistently next to my bed has been Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari which is a mind-blowing account of the history of mankind. I enjoy going back to it and reading different excerpts on how humans and society have evolved throughout the centuries. It is written in simple language and presents the facts in a manner which is easy to digest and fascinating to ponder on at the same time. When it comes to novels, my two favorites of all times are Freedom by Jonathan Franzen and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.
Tell me about the most important thing you do outside of your profession?
The past 10 years of my life have been quite challenging in having to balance an international career with marriage and bringing up two young children. I therefore had to leave aside many extracurricular activities I used to enjoy, with the exception of one, and that is my involvement with Anatolia College, the Thessaloniki-based high school from which I have graduated. For over a decade I have been a Trustee of the Board of Anatolia College and have had the honor and pleasure to contribute to what I consider the educational gem of Greece, together with an exceptional group of Trustees and cabinet members.
Please tell me your thoughts on COVID and friendships
The pandemic has deprived us among others of the pleasure of socializing with others in large groups, whether for business or pleasure. What would I give for a good dance party! Spending more solitary time, however, has in a way driven us to focus on the people who matter the most in our lives, the ones who you care to call and catch up with even from a distance and without a specific reason. This for me has been an interesting realization, similar to answering the challenging question of “who would you take with you if you were to be stranded on a desert island”!
What category or subject would you add to the Guide?
I would normally suggest best places to travel to (with or without kids) but given the Covid-19 restrictions, I would be instead interested to hear about movie suggestions, meditation techniques, and favorite yoga asanas!
Charis's Favorite Recipe!
Pumpkin & ginger soup
by Jamie Oliver
Ingredients
1 kg pumpkin
2 shallots
75 g ginger
a few sprigs of fresh herbs , such as chives, mint
extra virgin olive oil
1 litre organic vegetable stock
125 ml coconut milk , plus extra to serve
½ tablespoon chilli powder
1 lime
Method
Deseed and roughly chop the pumpkin, peel and chop the shallots, then peel and finely grate the ginger. Pick and finely chop the herbs.
Place the pumpkin, shallots, ginger and some oil in a large saucepan and sauté until soft.
Add the stock, coconut milk and chilli powder. Season, then bring to the boil and simmer for 40 minutes.
Blitz in a food processor then serve with the fresh herbs, lime juice and a splash of coconut milk.
Question of The Week: Four Women's Answers
When you were in high school or before, what did you think you'd be when you grew up?
(Funny how two people wanted to be archeologists. I, myself was in love with Greco/Roman art and architecture in college as an Art History major and dreamt of being an archeologist. I wonder if the the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) with Harrison Ford had anything to do with it:).
Answer 1:I thought I would have both a career and a family. I went to an all girls HS that instilled this in us. I thought I would be an archeologist! I did end up becoming a city planner/historic preservationist...Running a household is so difficult to maintain a career ! I admire woman who have been able to do both.
Answer 2: I never gave a second’s thought to what I wanted to be…truly, I just lived in the selfish moment of being a teen!
Answer 3: For a long time I wanted to be an archeologist. Then my older sister pointed out that I couldn’t be out on a dig in the middle of the desert and be home in time to make my kids dinner. I guess I wasn’t that committed to the idea.
Answer 4: In high school I was thinking I’d go to law school - until I interned at a law firm - or thought I would have done something business related ? My mom always did something for work, so I’m actually surprised I was home as long as I was. I thought I’d always have kids.
What do you think? I'd love your feedback.
Thank you for taking the time to read the WSG Newsletter.
This newsletter is the first step toward the ultimate goal of a web-based community for women, see:
www.womenssurvivalguide.com. When enough people subscribe, the web site can work, but, until then, you can look forward to the newsletter.
Happy New Year!
xo
Kim Druker Stockwell
My current mantra is still: Remember to breathe deeply.
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