The OWL - March 2018 - Featuring Janet Ioli, Class of '80

I didn’t realize it at the time, but the school’s diversity was fundamental in shaping my mindset to learn and appreciate differences. My leadership experience in the student council contributed to building my self-confidence and commitment to leadership and service. Participating in and winning Oratory and Oral Interpretation in Forensics competitions built my ability to build and articulate a point of view and sharpen my public speaking skills.

The International Baccalaureate program helped me strengthen my analytical and critical thinking skills and the friendships I built at ACS have remained ingrained in my psyche as deep, lasting, and meaningful connections. I also had the privilege of being the Prom Queen in my senior year, and felt honored by my classmates’ votes.

Education has been a continuing journey for me, as I see myself as a lifelong learner. I have earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Maryland, a Masters degree in Business and a Masters degree in Public Administration (I wanted both the corporate and the government leadership bases covered.) I went on to pursue a Doctorate degree in Adult Learning and Human Development at Virginia Tech, but did not complete my dissertation despite completing much of the coursework.

Career/Affiliations I have been fortunate that my career has led me to draw upon those strengths and skills I cultivated and started to develop in my years at ACS. Over the years I have worked at several Fortune 200 companies, including CIGNA, Gannett/USA Today, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. I have had the pleasure of holding leadership positions in the Leadership Development and Talent Management areas and build strategies and programs to continuously build leadership capacity. I am a highly trained and International Coaching Federation certified executive coach, with experience working with thousands of leaders on their development over the years. I just completed my second book, “Power Presence for Women” which is based on my experience coaching women executives over the years.

I still work as an executive coach with Northrop Grumman and have a successful coaching business, Janet Ioli International. (www.janetioli.com) I contribute to Forbes on leadership topics and am a member of the Forbes Coaches Council. In addition, I was invited to write for Huffington’s Thrive Global on well-being topics. I write a popular weekly blog called “Maximize Your Impact” that reminds us all to be at our best. I recently completed a post-graduate certificate program in Positive Psychology and Well-being coaching as I find that personal well-being is the foundation to all other success. I am also on the faculty of the Key Executive Leadership Program for government executives at American University.

I have designed and led many leadership programs over the years, but I must admit that I find deep personal fulfillment working with women. I facilitated the Women’s Leadership program for a large division of Northrop Grumman for years, speak on women’s leadership topics, and recently spoke at the California Women’s Conference, originally founded by Maria Shriver.

I am fortunate in the respect that my job is also my calling. Helping people step more fully into their own personal power, and realize that leadership and power is not about authority or a title, is something that provides a fulfillment I cannot describe. I love to see people let go of disempowering thinking and do things they were afraid to do. What is so strange is that in my senior year at ACS, I wrote an original oratory that won first place in the Forensics tournament.

It was really a motivational speech, whose theme was about letting go of the definitions of success others had created for you, and learning to define it for yourself. It was about letting go

of disempowering stories and worrying about what others think of you, and creating your own destiny.

Ironic isn’t it? That speech at ACS was the foreshadowing of my future career! Moral of the story: what whispers to you early on is probably something to follow.

Family I met my life’s partner and husband, Frank, at Northrop Grumman. We have been married for 15 years, and joke that it was better late than never. I have a step-daughter, Nicole, who is 18 and in her first year of college. Frank and I moved from the DC metro area to Newport Beach, California about 2 years ago. My sister Kathryn Oliver (class of 88) lives in Virginia, and is as kind and wonderful as she always was growing up. Emily Dimitratos’ (class of ’81, now Debeniotis) and I have been friends since I was a sophomore at ACS. She also lives in Virginia and I am the godmother of her daughter Ariel. It was hard moving and leaving friends and family on the East Coast. Although there is much I miss about living on the East Coast of the United States, I love living by the beach and the outdoor lifestyle the weather promotes. We enjoy being outside and California reminds me a lot of Greece in that way.

My father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer on his 6oth birthday, and died two years later in 2000. Emily Dimitratos’ first daughter, Gabriella, died suddenly at age 10 in 2009. Those unexpected deaths made me realize how precious, short, and unpredictable life is. As a result, I have an urgency about every moment and a passion for health, wellness, and fitness. I am an advocate of healthy eating, exercise, and taking care of yourself. Mental health is also so important, and stress is a killer. Learning to set boundaries and make your own well-being a priority is paramount.

I spent so much time worrying about the wrong things, and wasting precious energy filling my own mind with self-doubt. The incredibly successful, high-achieving clients I work with every day waste time and energy doing the same thing. Nothing stands in your way to do and be what you want except for the scripts you have running in your own mind.

Take time to get to know yourself, what you are good at, and what you love. Don’t compare yourself with others or try to be like them, as you will never be a good copy of someone else. Be curious, be compassionate, listen, ask questions, keep learning, and be fearless.

If you are interested in receiving my free blog and videos with topics to maximize your impact, sign up at www.janetioli.com

ACS Athens is happy to announce the appointment of alum Melina Vassiliadis as Alumni Liaison Officer! For any requests from the school, alums can contact Melina at vassiliadism@acs.gr.

Watch the finals of the Panhellenic Forensics Tournament, held at ACS Athens!

ACS ATHENS – 2ND PLACE SWEEPSTAKES CUP!

First Among Equals in Group Discussion: Asteris Dougalis First Among Equals in Impromptu Speaking: George Dougalis Finalists in Impromptu Speaking: Io Grivea, George Trochopoulos & George Dougalis Finalists in Group Discussion: Asteris Dougalis & Marilina Bitsikas Honorable Mentions in Group Discussion: Madina Abbasova, Maria Christodoulou & Spyros Koliopoulos 4th Best Speaker for Debate: George Dougalis Debate Team (George Dougalis, Io Grivea, Tina Grivea, Violetta Alargoff Anagnostou & Ilia Ioannides) did not break to Quarter Finals for 1 Speaker Point!

Over 400 students from 19 schools competed in this year’s Pan Hellenic Forensics Tournament this past weekend, which was hosted by ACS Athens.

Congratulations to the ACS Athens boys and girls varsity teams for first place in the International Youth Basketball tournament! Exciting games to the end!

The ACS Athens IB 2 Art class will display students' final work at the ACS Athens Theater Lobby 20th - 29th of March. Opening reception will be held on Tuesday, Mar 20.

GLOBAL BizNET supporting ACS Athens Community Look for ACS Alum Kal Maleh in his latest Movie!

Congrats ACSer Renee Acker Crouser!

“I am so very honored to have my painting"Jazzy Blues" accepted into the Southeastern Pastel Society's 201818th International Exhibition! This exhibition takes place at the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia in May. Congratulations, also, to Kay Ridge for the acceptance of "Solo" and to Herly Terant for"Ariela"! I'm thrilled!”

ACS Athens Alum Leah Sirkin’s Current Project "Mirabai: The Barefoot Princess, I aim to bring life and relevance to the dramatic

story of the girl who fell in love with a god."

Leah invites you to listen to two songs from her current project here. Thanks to Tano Brock for recording/arranging!

ACS Athens alum Scott Parazynski in Houston on March 16!

Come say hello and get your signed copy of THE SKY BELOW at Brazos Bookstore in Houston on Friday, March 16th at 7pm!

Sand Dunes & Scaffolds

One of the new works of ACS Alum and Faculty Farida El Gazzar at The Armory Show in New York last weekend, 8-11 March 2018 at Booth 609 / Kalfayan Galleries / Pier94. Other contemporary Artists featured: Antonis Donef, Farida El Gazzar, Panos Tsagaris and Kostis Velonis.

Office Furniture Sale!

A very large variety of office furniture for sale: all are in excellent condition, finely made by Dromeassa in Greece, part of their 2008 euro line.

DESKS • BOOKSHELVES • CABINETS • STORAGE CLOSET • CHAIRS • FRONT RECEPTION DESK • LOTS MORE! Price for all 5.000 euros • Please contact: 2108316738

If you are in CO, NM, WY or beyond, there's an opportunity for BRAT BONDING at the legendary Edelweiss Restaurant in Colorado Springs April 28th. Parents/kids/friends welcome. (registration form on the Colorado Brats Club FB site.)

Two great alumni events are slated for 2018. Both are reprisals of reunions earlier this year, successful on account of their volunteer organizers. Keep updated on details of these exciting events: CAPE CHARLES GOES GREEK! ACS GREAT ROUNDUP 2018 October 12, 13, 14, 2018 Cape Charles, Virginia

Details here https://www.acsgreatroundup.com/

ACS VEGAS 2018!

July 12 - 14. 2018 at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada Details here