A one-day conference will be held in Athens on May 18 to focus on efforts to boost the wider region's business environment and cross-border trade cooperation. The same conference -- entitled "Building Powerful Influence: The New Face of Regional Business -- will take place in Belgrade two days later on May 20.

Presentations and discussions will touch on the issues of global leadership, international negotiations and conflict resolution, regional business development, strategic cross-border communications, international-regional relations, so-called "glocalisation" and entrepreneurship.

Bringing together insightful minds from around the globe who will share their visions and the tools to make them a reality, euronique+communications and Cross Cultural Cosmos are hosting a full-day conference in Athens at the Metropolitan Hotel on May 18 and in Belgrade at the Hyatt Regency Belgrade on May 20 to strengthen influence in the region's business environment.

In a means to inspire decision-makers to adopt key influential strategies that expand opportunities beyond current borders, high-calibre international speakers will offer personal and professional insights into business on a regional platform, while identifying room for advancement on local and global levels.

BPI’s interactive lectures will offer practical ways in which the speakers’ winning ideas can be incorporated into the Greek and Serbian business culture, as well as stir local interest in developing and trading with entirely different parts of the world. A full, updated, programme of speakers and topics can be found at http://buildingpowerfulinfluence.com.

The decision to hold this conference in both Athens and Belgrade was a strategic one. The BPI team aims to stimulate broader ideas of expansion across borders, as well as provide tools that allow decision-makers and those interested in change, the confidence and know-how to operate efficiently in their internal economic environment--one which is currently struggling but which is also full of opportunity now for the long-term.

Building Powerful Influence as a title defines just what it sets out to do: Broaden minds to bigger ideas so business players in the region can go beyond their current professional level by themselves becoming influential. It is about thinking big and looking beyond the present--making investments in strategy today in order to benefit tomorrow.

Some questions to be addressed include:

 

•  What roles do regional and global business trends play?
•  Where is the opportunity in today’s external and internal instability?
•  How does an individual develop his or her staff and bottom line at the same time?  
• How can visionary ideas be implemented locally to build a platform regionally, and eventually globally?
•  How can Greece and Serbia benefit from business innovation such as management strategies, networking tools, regional knowledge or leadership training?
• What roles do these tools play in day-to-day business life, in boosting short-term productivity, and in developing a long-term stable increase in profits?

Speakers (BPI Team – Both Venues):

• Alexander G Rondos (Athens, Global) Former Greek Ambassador at Large,
• International Foreign Relations Adviser
• Michael Landers, MA (San Francisco) Global Business Consultant (Yahoo!, Apple, Samsung, Google, Roche, Novartis, Nike, Isuzu Motors), Owner of Culture Crossing, LLC
• Oleh R Kaarmik, MA, DEA (Tokyo, Geneva, Los Angeles) Global Negotiator, Mediator, Trainer, Owner of EastxWest Consulting
• Dr Dimitris Keridis, PhD, JD (Thessaloniki, Boston) Professor of Regional Studies, Balkan Expert, (Tufts, Harvard, Panteion, University of Macedonia) Founder of The Navarino Network
• Annette Rondos (Athens) Cross-Cultural and Corporate Communications Trainer,
• Owner of Cross Cultural Cosmos
• Elisabeth Morris-Maragoula, MA (Athens, Sacramento) International Strategic Communications Consultant, Founder of euronique+communications
• Elena Panaritis, MA, MBA Economist, Social Entrepreneur, Author of Prosperity Unbound,
• Founder of Panel Group, LLC
• Ljubomir Dragicevic Country Manager at National Alamo Car Rental
• Speakers (Belgrade)
• Ambassador Dr Ivan Vujacic, PhD
• Former Serbian Ambassador to the US, Economics Professor
• Maja Piscevic Executive Director and President of the Board, Serbian Association of Managers
• Dr Borislav Radevic, PhD Economics Professor, Novi Pazar University
• Moderators:
• Athens: Andy Dabilis, MS Executive Editor of The National Herald
• Belgrade: Alexander Billinis, JD, MIM Writer, former Banker

Sponsors & Partners:
The event’s founding sponsor is BMP (Belgrade Mixed Enterprise); the major sponsor is Grand Casino Beograd; the sponsor is Vojvodjanska Banka NBG Group. The official communication sponsors are International Herald Tribune-Kathimerini English Edition, Naftemporiki and VREME; the television communication sponsors are Channel 9 and TV PRVA; the internet media communication sponsors are Naftemporiki.gr, Business Info Group and Serbia Business. The design sponsor is MNM Design. BPI partners include AmCham Serbia, Global Greece, V+O Communication, Linked2Balkan, The Navarino Network, Mondo, InfoStud, Hellenic Business Association of Serbia, Balkanalysis.com, Serbia Energy, the International Association of Financial Management and Mr Ioannis Michaletos.