Monica Ioannidou Polemitis is a Partner at TKI and Managing Director of TKI EMEA where she brings intellect, warmth and resilience into every venture she undertakes. As a mentor, investor and founder, she has long championed the growth of others – from young women in business to international partnerships that shift entire markets. In this interview, she speaks candidly about the choices behind her success, the quiet power of empathy, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind – one built not on titles, but on trust, integrity and impact.

You’ve dedicated much of your career to helping others grow – entrepreneurs, women, boards, communities. What personal experience first sparked that desire – and what keeps it alive through the inevitable challenges?

I’d love to say I do this purely because I’m a nice person – but the truth is, mentorship gives a great deal back to me too. I gain a lot through these interactions. It’s not pure altruism. When I mentor young people, I learn how another generation thinks, how they interact professionally and personally. That exchange helps me grow as well.

But more than that, I had mentors at the start of my own career – people who supported me, believed in me. Most of them were men, because there weren’t many women in executive roles at the time. And while I appreciated those relationships, I couldn’t quite see myself in them. That lack of representation left an impression. So, for me, mentoring was a natural progression. I know the value of support, and I want to be part of that cycle – giving but also receiving.

You’ve worn many hats – advisor, investor, mentor, leader. Which role has shaped you most as a person, and how has it influenced the way you see success today?

I believe every experience adds something to your professional identity – even the ones that seem unrelated. I don’t think I could pick a single role that shaped me most. I enjoy everything I do. I often say I’ve never worked a day in my life, because I only pursue what I love. And when I stop loving it – I stop doing it.

That’s the freedom I’ve given myself. I’m not afraid to walk away from something that no longer fits. I’m not risk averse. And I think that mindset has helped shape my view of success: to me, it’s about choosing your own direction, learning from every interaction, and building something that feels both meaningful and alive.

I’m incredibly proud, for example, of launching a company from zero in 2024 and growing it to the point of merging with a US partner within a year. That gave me a sense of achievement unlike anything before – because it wasn’t just a project, it was something I built from the ground up.

Working closely with people at critical turning points in their business journey requires more than just expertise. What do you draw on – emotionally or instinctively – to guide others when the path ahead is unclear?

Empathy didn’t come naturally to me. I have a stomach of steal, and I used to assume everyone else does as well. In the past, that led me to approach people with what I’d call ‘tough love’, which doesn’t work for everyone.

Over time, I had to consciously work on empathy. I had to learn to put myself in someone else’s shoes and really understand where they’re coming from – their values, their fears, their lens on the world. That’s especially important in a place like Cyprus, where people come from diverse nationalities, religions and life experiences. You can’t be an effective advisor unless you can meet people where they are.

Driving inclusion and innovation can often be lonely work. Have there been moments where you doubted your voice – and what gave you the strength to keep speaking up?

Yes – there have absolutely been moments where I doubted myself. Even as a confident person, I’ve had my share of what people call imposter syndrome. And I know I’m not alone in that – particularly as a woman in leadership. There were times when I felt things weren’t working out, and that sense of loneliness crept in.

In those moments, I’ve learned to sit with it, acknowledge the feeling, but not let it take root. I tell myself – this feeling isn’t valid, and tomorrow I’ll keep going. It’s that inner discipline, that decision to move forward despite the doubt, that keeps me on track.

Cyprus is a place of rich potential but also deep-rooted structures. What do you find most rewarding – and most frustrating – about trying to shift mindsets in this context?

Cyprus has changed so much in recent years – it’s become a true melting pot. I appreciate that deeply. We now have people bringing in experiences and perspectives from all over the world, and that enriches our professional and social environments.

But integration is still a challenge. I see parallel ecosystems – bubbles of people who moved here, and bubbles of people who’ve always lived here. These communities often operate at different speeds. If we can find a way to merge them, to create genuine interaction, I believe the true potential of this island will be unlocked.

But that takes effort – especially from those of us who were born and raised here. We’re a traditional society. We tend to stay in the circles we grew up with. So now, we’re being pushed to become more outward-looking. And I think that’s a good thing – but it needs to be intentional.

When you imagine the legacy of your leadership, what matters most to you – not in terms of titles or positions, but in the lives and futures you may have helped shape?

I could have stayed in very comfortable roles – earning a good salary, doing work I knew well. But I wanted more. I wanted a legacy. Even at school, my classmates said I’d be the first female president of Cyprus – because I always had that drive to do something meaningful.

I don’t want my legacy to be a list of job titles. I want to be remembered as someone honest, easy to work with, and relentless in bringing value. When I had the answers, I shared them. When I didn’t, I made it my mission to find them. I always aimed to do right with both clients and colleagues.

My father always said, be honest, be fair, and don’t take advantage of anyone. That stuck with me. At the end of the day, your name is what you leave behind. I want mine to reflect on how I worked and how I treated people.

Interview by Kateryna Bila

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