Meet: Marlene Philippou

I am the founder of S.M.A.R.T. Options Educational Services. In the last 20 years I have guided some 15,000 students through career coaching and educational counseling. Responding to a need for non-traditional forms of education, I designed workshops entitled Smart Young Achievers – Build your life as you want it and offered activity summer camps abroad for teenagers.

I am a trained Life Coach: I partner with my clients to guide them in finding their own strengths and potential and to create their desired lifestyle. I often serve as a speaker or moderator in conferences, presenting on women’s empowerment, education, leadership, and the impact of war and conflict. I have also led workshops for women professionals in cooperation with institutions such as the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, BPW Cyprus nominated me for the Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award, while in 2011, The European Commission appointed me as Mentor for Younger Women Entrepreneurs in Cyprus and a member of The European Network of Mentors for Women Entrepreneurs. In 2012, at the invitation of the US Department of State, I was part of the Cyprus Delegation, participating in the 1st Regional Conference Invest in the future – Women leading economic growth.