Maria Militsopoulou, a multi-awarded leadership mentor, author, and global advocate for women’s empowerment and human development, has been nominated for the Visionary Leader Award at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026. The nomination recognises her work in building future-oriented leadership ecosystems that bring together mentoring, gender equality, mental well-being, motherhood, and human-centred innovation, empowering female leaders to navigate change with resilience, purpose, and meaningful impact.
She is the founder of WEWiL, Women Empowerment Worldwide Leadership Organization, a global ecosystem focused on developing mentors and empowering female leaders. Over the past two and a half years, a central part of her mission has been to expand mentoring through organizations and prepare the mentors of the future, using mentoring as a bridge between generations through which knowledge, experience, values, and human connection can be passed forward. This work also focuses on creating supportive environments where women can grow, lead, and thrive while maintaining their mental well-being and long-term balance.
Maria is also the founder of the MY DREAM™ Transformational Mentoring Platform, an approach grounded in cognitive neuroscience and positive psychology and enriched by mental health awareness, trauma-informed principles, and transcendent leadership. Her work reflects a holistic view of leadership development, addressing not only professional performance but the whole person behind the leader. Central to this approach is her understanding of the connection between mental well-being and leadership effectiveness, supporting sustainable personal and professional growth.
As CEO and Chief Visionary Officer of You Dream Tech Hub and MentOra Tech., she works at the intersection of leadership and technology, collaborating with international organizations while promoting greater female participation in innovation. Her belief that women should be at the forefront of technological innovation is further reflected in her role as an Ambassador for the WomenTech Network and in her commitment to creating pathways for women to enter, grow, and lead in technology-driven fields.
Her international engagement includes serving on the Global Advisory Council for Humanity, Technology, and Innovation of the G100, participating in the Women Economic Forum and contributing to the Committee of Global Women Leaders, and representing Cyprus as a Senator at the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF). She has also served as a Luminary Thinker at RedBoxMe by Cartier and supports organizations and initiatives dedicated to advancing women’s empowerment, including UN Women.
Most recently, Maria became Global Advisor to SpaceKidz India for ShaktiSAT, an all-women space mission designed to inspire and prepare girls for future leadership in the space sector. The role further reflects her commitment to breaking barriers and creating opportunities for women and girls in fields where they have historically been underrepresented.
Her recognitions include the Women of the Decade Award from the Women Economic Forum and the World’s Iconic Visionary Women Leaders Re-shaping the Future recognition by World Leaders Magazine (USA).
What distinguishes Maria’s leadership philosophy is her belief that the future of leadership will not be defined by achievement alone, but by the ability to combine purpose, resilience, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, human connection, innovation, and mental well-being. Her work is ultimately centred on creating environments in which women can lead, grow, and make an impact while preserving their authenticity, balance, and well-being.
Her nomination for the Visionary Leader Award at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026 recognises this multidimensional contribution to women’s empowerment, leadership development, mentoring, mental well-being, technological innovation, and the advancement of a more inclusive and sustainable future.
