Leadership 100 22nd Conference – Interview: L100 Executive Director Paulette Poulos

Paulette Poulos and Jim Gianopulos
Photo: Demetrios Rhompotis

Interview by Demetrios Rhompotis

Another conference is history. Are you happy with the way it turned out?

This was the conference of conferences! I never thought everything would go as easy and as well coordinated. Every speaker that I got accepted right away, every one came with the spirit of Hellenism and Orthodoxy. They are professionals, they are stars but they are Hellenes and that spirit permeated through the entire conference. All speakers were great. We had 320 people who came to California – it was not easy, it takes a day to come, a day to go – and from the day we came, every event was filled.

Some people complained that Jim Gianopulos left very early, in fact while Fr. John Bakas, his parish priest, was speaking.

He was planning to come with his wife and stay and participate in the Greek “glendi”. But he had an emergency back home and he had to leave. They needed him back at the company, that’s why everything changed.

Your favorite segment of the conference?

All were great, but I think Alexander Payne touched me more because of his humility. I knew of him, but I never sat face to face with him. He showed that he cared about people. When we were stepping outside the hall, I told him that the young people would like a little time with him and he said, “I’m more than honored to share whatever I can with them.” And as you saw, the room was full!

Some ideas for next year?

When we had Mario Frangoulis (last year), I thought we would not be able to top that one. But now my fear is what I’m going to do next year (laughs). Through Nia (Vardalos) I will try to get Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson!