Financial Frontiers - Leaders in the Field

03/07/2025

Did you know the first programmers were women?

In this powerful episode, Elena Georgiou Strouthos, CTO & Co-Founder Cocoon Creations, sits down with Dinos Michaelides to challenge the myths around coding, gender, and artificial intelligence.

How did ChatGPT is still winning the AI race?
Can GitHub host malicious code you’re unaware of?
Why do we lose girls in tech and how early does it start?

Together, they explore:
- The role of women in early programming history
- How stereotypes still shape opportunities
- AI in coding: opportunity or risk?
- The real reason we don’t see enough women in tech today

30/06/2025

What does it take to prepare kids for real life?

In this episode, Komodiki Antigoni, Executive Director of Junior Achievement Cyprus, joins Dinos Michaelides to share how JA is building self-efficacy and entrepreneurial thinking in students, from age 8 all the way to university level.

They discuss:
- How JA Cyprus integrates into public & private education
- The structure and purpose behind their 14 programs
- Why fundraising is crucial to keep the mission alive
- The role of industry sponsors in shaping future talent
- How kids compete to bring their dream into reality

An interesting conversation on how we can help and play a role in building a special future for our kids.

25/06/2025

What if your next phone isn’t a phone?

In this episode, Mike Charalambous, Co-Founder & CEO of Threedium, joins Dinos Michaelides to explore the future of product discovery, 3D browsing, and smart glasses that could replace the smartphone entirely.

Together they unpack:
✅ Why brands need to prepare for immersive 3D content
✅ What Meta, Apple & Google are racing to build right now
✅ How consumer behavior is changing faster than ever
✅ Why data and AI are the new battleground for acquisitions
✅ How Mike went from Nokia PM to 3D tech pioneer

23/06/2025

Is changing jobs every 2 years hurting your career?

In this episode, Katerina Andreou, Founder of HR Innovate, sits down with Dinos Michaelides to unpack the job market like never before. From understanding when it’s actually the right time to jump roles, to why some CVs raise red flags for recruiters — this conversation is a must for professionals and business owners alike.

✅ When is job hopping strategic — and when is it reckless?
✅ How salaries differ across Cyprus cities
✅ What remote & hybrid work really mean for team culture
✅ Cyprus vs UK: the cultural gap in work mindset
✅ The top in-demand roles right now

20/06/2025

Why does giving feedback in the workplace feel so awkward?

Raf Baron, feedback coach and former pro athlete, explains why most managers get it wrong and what needs to change. From comparing feedback in sports vs. business, to Microsoft’s shocking stat on how few employees actually improve from feedback… this clip will make you rethink your company culture.

✅ Why the word “feedback” is part of the problem
✅ How to make feedback less stressful and more effective
✅ What businesses can learn from the airline industry’s “black box”
✅ The real reason meetings aren’t the best place for feedback

Watch the full episode 👉

👉Open Here👈Raf Baron is a Feedback & Confidence Coach with over a decade of leadership experience and a background as a professional athlete. In this episo...

18/06/2025

How can Cyprus go from brain drain to brain gain?
Why is internationalization critical for a university’s success?
And what role does AI play in reshaping education and academic integrity?

In this episode, Tasos Anastasiou, Chairman of the Council at the Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου | University Of Cyprus, joins Dinos Michaelides to discuss how the university is adapting to a rapidly changing world. They cover everything from introducing undergraduate programs in English, to attracting global talent, and how AI is both a tool and a challenge in academic life.

Together they cover:
✅ Reversing brain drain by attracting international talent
✅ The need of University of Cyprus to introduce undergraduate programs in English
✅ AI and how students should handle it
✅ The vision for Cyprus as a regional education hub
✅ How the university handles taxpayers money

16/06/2025

- What makes Africa one of the most exciting regions for online trading today?
- Why are global brokers shifting their focus to countries like Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa?
- And how are telecom wallets revolutionizing access to Forex across the continent?

In this episode, we sit down with Christoforos Panayiotou, African Regional Manager at FP Markets, to explore the real story behind Africa’s growing influence in the trading world. From the early days of market entry to the role of AI and human touch in financial services, this episode uncovers what many brokers still don’t understand.

🎙Dinos Michaelides

11/06/2025

How easy is it for someone to access your private data? Are your passwords protecting you or betraying you?

In this eye-opening episode of Financial Frontiers, Christos Makedonas, cybersecurity expert and partner at Grant Thornton Cyprus, uncovers the hidden risks we face every day in the digital world.

He dives into:
✔️ How ransomware works and what hackers do with your data
✔️ The biggest security mistake people still make in 2025
✔️ Why using the same password across sites is a ticking time bomb
✔️ What companies should do before an attack happens
✔️ How regulation is catching up with AI and cybersecurity threats
✔️ The invisible ways we expose ourselves through social media

Whether you’re a business owner or just someone who uses the internet, you need to hear this.

Listen on Spotify🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/05RzneJQbGWa0klDxY8fjn?si=4c88576eebf24293

06/06/2025

Too much paperwork? Too much confusion? Celia Hadjichristodoulou from GrantXpert Consulting, breaks down how funding actually works and why most startups are doing it wrong.

Do you really qualify for a grant?
Is the paperwork really that bad?
Are you missing out on free money?

Watch the full episode 👉 https://youtu.be/PLwgSqW6-3Y
Listen on Spotify 🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/33bvPXq9nc63ZsGDkATnxr?si=e56c7b197542410d

03/06/2025

Are students just chasing degrees to please their parents? Is AI encouraging shortcuts over skills? And why are schools still focused on memorization instead of critical thinking?

Yangos Hadjiyannis (CEO of CIM - Cyprus Business School) shares honest truths about the current state of education and why boutique schools might be the only ones doing it right.

🎙️Dinos Michaelides

Watch the full episode 👉 https://youtu.be/Z_SXgh3pEqY
Listen on Spotify 🎧 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6TeZUcNFXhKxSqoXmM5Pg2?si=23122104c7dd4a2b

02/06/2025

Is Cyprus still seen as a money laundering hub?💶
Should we allow cash transactions over €10,000?
And who controls financial regulation in Europe?

Yiannos Ashiotis breaks down how regulation flows from Brussels, the legacy of Cyprus’s reputation, and why cash limits matter more than you think.

🎙️ Constantinos Michaelides

Watch the full episode 👉 https://youtu.be/TxordAuzSvI
Listen on Spotify 🎧https://open.spotify.com/episode/10xZT192Cv9ysKZqbBNA4P?si=91646ac0abee4bbf

01/06/2025

Is Cyprus still seen as a money laundering hub?💶
Should we allow cash transactions over €10,000?
And who controls financial regulation in Europe?

Yiannos Ashiotis breaks down how regulation flows from Brussels, the legacy of Cyprus’s reputation, and why cash limits matter more than you think.

🎙 Dinos Michaelides

Watch the full episode 👉 https://lnkd.in/ecs8KG9B
Listen on Spotify 🎧 https://lnkd.in/eNAWzACs