Erifili Gounari

Erifili Gounari is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, bestselling writer, and internationally recognised thought leader on personal branding, career development, and the future of work. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Z Link, she has advised leading global organisations including Pepsi, IKEA, Deloitte, the UN, and Hearst on engaging younger audiences through innovative marketing and communications strategies. In 2024, she published the book ‘Design Your Life: Your Career, Your Way’ and became a bestselling writer on Substack with her newsletter ‘Crystal Clear’, which has attracted more than 55,000 subscribers across 190 countries. Her expertise makes her an ideal keynote speaker for leadership conferences, marketing and branding summits, entrepreneurship events, future of work forums, women’s leadership programmes, graduate careers events, and innovation and technology conferences, where audiences benefit from her practical insights and global perspective.

Erifili’s academic background has played a significant role in shaping her career and the topics she speaks about today. She graduated with first-class honours from the University of Glasgow, earning an MA in Digital Media and Information and History of Art in 2017. During her studies, she developed a strong interest in the intersection of technology, media, and society, which led to the publication of ‘The Complex Relationship Between Politics and the Internet’ and ‘Why is Voting Important for Young People’ in 2018. She also completed Harvard Business School Online’s Entrepreneurship Essentials course before earning an MSc in Strategic Marketing from Imperial Business School in 2021. As President of the Imperial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Club, she further developed her leadership skills, providing the foundation for the engaging and research-driven presentations she now delivers on entrepreneurship, marketing, digital transformation, and career success.

Her professional achievements have continued to grow at an impressive pace. After founding The Z Link in 2020, she worked as Social Media Strategist for ‘Repositioning Greece’ at Ithaca Lab before becoming Head of Social Media at SafetyWing in 2021. Her achievements have been recognised through numerous accolades, including being named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece list in 2020 and the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2023 in the Media and Marketing category. She has also been a finalist in the Greek International Women Awards, become a Fellow of Sigma Squared Society, served as a UN Women UK Delegate, and joined the Advisory Board for Pion’s Youth Marketing Summit. These accomplishments reinforce her credibility as a speaker who combines strategic expertise with real-world experience.

As a keynote speaker, Erifili Gounari inspires audiences with actionable advice on building meaningful careers, creating authentic personal brands, embracing entrepreneurship, and navigating an evolving digital landscape. Drawing on her experience as a founder, executive, author, and global marketing expert, she offers practical strategies that resonate with professionals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and students alike. Her engaging style, combined with a proven record of innovation and international recognition, makes her a compelling choice for organisations seeking an informed, forward thinking speaker who empowers audiences to achieve lasting personal and professional success.

Here are some of the key milestones that define Erifili Gounari’s remarkable career:

  • 2024 – Bestselling Writer on Substack, authoring ‘Crystal Clear’ and gaining over 50,000 subscribers
  • 2024 – Published ‘Design Your Life: Your Career, Your Way’
  • 2024 – Fellow of Sigma Squared Society
  • 2024 – UN Women UK Delegate
  • 2024 – Advisory Board Member for Pion’s Youth Marketing Summit
  • 2023 – Named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe List in the Media/Marketing and Youngest categories
  • 2021 – Greek International Women Awards Finalist in the Young Star Category
  • 2021 – Head of Social Media at SafetyWing
  • 2021 – President of Imperial Innovation & Entrepreneurship Club
  • 2021 – MSc in Strategic Marketing from Imperial Business School
  • 2020 – Named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Greece list
  • 2020 – Social Media Strategist at ‘Respositioning Greece’ for Ithaca Lab
  • 2020 – Founder and CEO of The Z Link