Profile
Celia is a Business Consultant specializing in strategic planning and business growth. As the Founder and Managing Director of GrantXpert Consulting, she leads a dynamic team dedicated to supporting a wide array of entities, including EU enterprises, municipalities/communities, universities, research institutes, and NGOs. Her firm specializes in providing consulting and training services aimed at facilitating business development, implementing effective strategies, achieving sustainable growth, accessing funding opportunities, and proficiently managing projects.
The company was founded in 2009, following the utilisation of National funds from the National Scheme of Cyprus entitled “Supporting Young Women Entrepreneurs”. Since then, the company has secured over 40 million euros in funding from National and EU funding schemes for its clients. In April 2019, Celia received the “Businesswoman of the Year Award” during the “Madame Figaro Women of the Year” ceremony following national public voting.
Celia graduated with First Class Honours in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics (LSE) in 2003. She pursued her postgraduate studies, earning an MPhil in Management Studies at Cambridge University. In 2013, Celia completed her PhD studies at the Management School of the University of Sheffield.
She is an accredited trainer, having mentored over 100 entrepreneurs across diverse industries and provided training to over 5000 professionals and students. She brings extensive practical and academic expertise, and her areas of focus encompass:
- Leadership Development
- Entrepreneurship Education
- Start-ups and Innovation Management
- National and EU Funding Management
- Change Management
- Contemporary Leadership Styles and Skills
- Teamwork Building
- Soft Skills Strengthening
She is renowned for her expertise in conducting interactive training sessions and delivering keynote speeches on various subjects, including, among others, “Accessing EU and National Funding,” “Boosting Leadership, Employability and Entrepreneurial Skills,” “Developing and Promoting Managers into Effective Leaders,” “How to make Innovation a daily habit in your Life” and “Exploring EU Funding Opportunities for Young Entrepreneurs.”
For the last 16 years, she has served as a visiting lecturer at local universities’ Business Schools (EUC, CIIM, CIM), instructing courses on entrepreneurship development, professional and career development, and strategy and business.
Furthermore, she mentors participants in the IdeaCy Incubation-Acceleration Programme and holds the position of Administrative Director at the Future Skills Hub of the European University Cyprus. Since 2023, she has been recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Leadership Development, bringing valuable insights and expertise to a global audience.