Do leaders and employees experience the same workplace?

In this episode of The Work Between People, Maryam Rezaei is joined by Eleni Asvesta, General Manager of KLEEMANN Elevators in China, to explore how the same workplace can be experienced very differently depending on where we sit within an organization.

Drawing on her unique journey from senior HR leadership to general management, Eleni shares insights from leading teams across Europe and Asia and discusses why misunderstandings between leaders and employees often arise, the difference between compliance and genuine support, and what helps transform an "us and them" culture into a sense of "we".

Together, they explore trust, communication, ownership, purpose, and the role leaders play in helping people understand not only what needs to be done, but why it matters.

A thoughtful conversation about leadership, alignment, and the human dynamics that shape organizational life.

And a few words about Eleni Asvesta...

Eleni Asvesta is the General Manager of KLEEMANN ELEVATORS in China.

Eleni has built her career across human resources, organizational culture, and corporate leadership, guiding teams in both Europe and Asia.

Over the years, she has worked on leadership transitions, strengthened employee engagement, and tackled the challenges of aligning global strategies with local realities.

Alongside her professional role, Eleni contributes to social impact as a member of the General Assembly and Board of Directors of ActionAid Hellas, supporting initiatives in equality and community development.

Eleni’s journey blends her Greek roots with her life in China, giving her a unique cross-cultural perspective on the way organizations adapt in different environments.

She’s passionate about travelling, outdoor activities, and always open to explore new ways of bringing balance and happiness into daily life :)

www.linkedin.com/in/eleniasvesta

Enjoy!

In this episode of The Work Between People, Maryam Rezaei speaks with Andreas Stefanidis, President of HFAISTOS and CEO of the Academy of Entrepreneurship, about what helps people dare to grow.

Together they explore the role of personal responsibility, leadership, communities, and organizational environments in human development, and discuss what it takes to create spaces where people feel encouraged to learn, contribute, and reach their potential.

A conversation about growth, opportunity, and the environments that shape who we become.

A few words about Andreas Stefanidis..

Andreas Stefanidis is the President of the Board of Directors ofthe historic non-profit Athens Educational Association “HFAISTOS,” as well as CEO of the Academy of Entrepreneurship, a civil non-profit organization focused on non-formal education.

In 1994 he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the State University of New Yorkat New Paltz, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He is certified as a non-formal adult education trainer by EOPPEP (National Organization for the Certification of Qualifications and Vocational Guidance). He also has notable teaching experience, having taught at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Recognizing the need to develop initiatives with social impact,in 2001 he founded the Hellenic Federation of Young Entrepreneurs Associations (OESYNE), which became the host organization of Global Entrepreneurship Week in Greece in 2008.

https://akep.eu/

https://www.hfaistos.eu/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasstefanidis/

People do not come to work as empty job titles.

They come with experiences, pressures, fears, hopes, assumptions and emotions that influence how they communicate, collaborate and show up every day.

In this first episode, I share why I started The Work Between People and explore the hidden human dynamics that often shape our workplaces more than we realize.

From trust and honesty to silence, conflict, change and psychological safety, this episode is an invitation to look beyond roles and responsibilities and into the space where work is truly experienced: between people.

Welcome to The Work Between People, a podcast exploring trust, connection and the human dynamics that shape work. In this trailer, Maryam Rezaei introduces the conversations, questions and purpose behind the podcast: what really happens between people inside organizations, and why that space matters more than we often realize.