This article is part of a series published on our LinkedIn account by guest writers. Today's article was written by Eleni Rizikianou, Vice Chair IMA Global on 26th April 2026.
Leadership is often associated with change, movement, and new beginnings. Yet, some of the most impactful leadership journeys are built over time—within the same environment—through continuous learning, resilience, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.
In this article, Eleni Rizikianou, Executive Chair at IMA Global, offers a grounded and honest reflection on what it means to grow within stability. Her experience shows that leadership is not defined by titles or external moves, but by the choices we make, the way we respond to uncertainty, and how we build trust and influence over time.
My name is Eleni Rizikianou, and I have been working for the same company for 24 years now. However static or scary it may seem from the outside, this journey has given me opportunities to grow through dealing with change in a stable environment. I now run the administration department, while I am part of management team, actively participating in decision making about company’s strategy.
Dealing with reality
On my very first day at this company I faced a big challenge as the colleague who was supposed to train me on the job resigned, and one week later I was on my own, dealing with the unknown. I was 32 years old and I can still remember the fear affecting my judgment. It was precisely this fear that triggered the need for action. Instead of waiting for someone to tell me what to do, I worked on understanding the people and the business, creating processes to help me through. Everybody was very helpful answering my questions, kindly guided me through their knowledge. However, nobody did the work for me. At that point I was led by circumstances to create everything from scratch, the way I perceived it. I took over bureaucratic chaos and created a new digital reality, dynamic and functional.
The 3 Fs of survival
Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time, patience, persistence and discovering yourself in the process. As I move on several stages in life, many times things are very difficult for me to cope with. Not only because they are difficult situations, but also because I am not always in the right place to deal with them. I have now come to understand that I can’t just wait for something to happen or to be given to me; it’s either flight, fight or freeze. I don’t usually fly away but be certain that I froze up many times before I learnt to fight for myself.
Creating a personal growth path
Authority is something that can be built by consistent actions, reliability, critical judgement, proactive approach and willingness for problem solving, rather than hiding from them. When you deliver results, communicate with clarity, and show a deep understanding of priorities, others begin to rely on your perspective. This earned trust becomes a form of informal authority, allowing you to influence decisions, guide conversations, and shape outcomes. In this way, authority is not something you wait to be given; it is something you actively create through the way you show up and contribute every day.
Empathy driven leadership
As Simon Sinek says, "leadership is not about being in charge, it is about taking care of those in your charge". Many times, I have reflected on this phrase as there have been quite a few occasions in my life, personally and professionally, when I have taken charge of a situation. To me leadership is about caring, listening, understanding and offering what you have. As a person, I really can’t stand for people telling me what to do, without context or understanding. Therefore, I have promised myself, never to do such thing. When you tell people what to do, you lose them. When you invest your time to understand them, you gain their trust, and trust is the foundation of true influence. I always keep in mind that people require genuine interest, not mere expediency. It’s about connecting with people, not controlling them.
Sharing shows you care
Connection is built through empathy, consistency, and authenticity. Throughout my life, I have been fortunate enough to work with people who have shared their insights, offering part of themselves to others. They showed me the power of giving what you have and how much you gain by giving. None of what I am today means anything if I don’t have the ability to give it away, to share it with people around me and stay open to interaction and new knowledge.
IMA’s contribution
Much of my gained experience so far in my life is due to IMA – International Management Assistants. Actively participating in IMA’s business steadily gives me experience and skills I couldn’t have gained within the narrow confines of a specific job position, however great it can be. Being a part of IMA helped my mind to open as I stay connected with so many different people from all over the world, working with them on an equal footing and with mutual respect.
This article is penned by Eleni Rizikianou, Vice Chair IMA Global.
The Guest Writer series features contributions from IMA members worldwide, showcasing the diverse experiences and expertise of management assistants within our network. Each piece offers unique perspectives, practical advice, and personal reflections from professionals in the field. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
