Dr Eleftheria (Ella) Egel

Role 1 — Evaluator

Assessing proposals for EU funding · Rapporteur · Consensus meetings · Observer / quality check

Experienced applying structured, objective evaluation criteria across interdisciplinary proposals in social sciences, education, innovation, and sustainability.

• Impact Solutions Evaluator, MIT SOLVE (2025–2026): assessed feasibility and social/environmental impact of solutions from global innovators; contributed to finalist selection in EdTech and social innovation challenges.
• Peer reviewer for academic journals and edited volumes (Springer, Palgrave, Routledge, De Gruyter, Ethics International Press): evaluates research design, methodological rigour, contribution to knowledge, and societal relevance.
• Co-PI, EMCC-funded research projects (2022–2025): full research governance including proposal design, milestone assessment, team coordination, and output review — equivalent to evaluation panel responsibility.
• Co-Lead, IDG One Question Global Survey — Swiss & Greek national teams (2023–2025): part of a global research initiative coordinated by the IDG global team; conducted qualitative data analysis using MAXQDA; findings contributed to the updated IDG Framework Guide.
• Mentor, Founder Institute (2023–present): evaluates early-stage startup concepts through structured mentoring sessions — providing direct feedback on market potential, team dynamics, business model, and execution strategy.
• Startup Mentor, MIT StartMIT Programme (2024–present): evaluates startup teams during MIT Bootcamp on business idea clarity, MVP testing, go-to-market strategy, and partnership development.
• Athena Board Solutions (2026–present): developed and applies proprietary assessment and evaluation criteria to evaluate both candidate capacity (women seeking board roles) and board capacity (governance gaps, strategic readiness) — a two-sided evaluation methodology grounded in published research on gender, governance, and leadership.

Role 2 — Monitor / Project Reviewer

Work plan delivery · Relevance of objectives · Resource use · Impact and dissemination plans

Experienced in reviewing work plan delivery, assessing resource use, and evaluating impact and dissemination plans across research and educational projects.

• Co-PI, EMCC: 'The Role of Mentorship in Sustainable Startup Founders' Self-Leadership' (2022–2023): monitored project progress against the research plan, ensured milestone delivery, and contributed to the production of the final research report.
• Co-PI, EMCC: 'AI: A Coach's Friend or Enemy?' (2023–2025): monitored project progress against the research plan, ensured milestone delivery, and contributed to the production of the final research report.
• EOS Academy (2023–present): oversees curriculum delivery and platform performance — assessing whether learning objectives are being met, digital outcomes achieved, and resources appropriately allocated; reviews plans for using and disseminating results.
• Impact Solutions Evaluator, MIT SOLVE (2025–2026): assessed the degree to which innovator solutions had been implemented as proposed, whether objectives remained relevant, and expected potential impact and dissemination plans — contributing to finalist selection.

Role 3 — Business Innovation Coach

Status-quo diagnosis · Strategy & organisation · Coaching plan · Commercialisation of innovation · Investor readiness

Experienced in diagnosing organisational status quo, designing tailored coaching plans, and supporting entrepreneurs and organisations through strategy development, commercialisation, and long-term growth.

• Navigating Transformation (2020–present): consulting practice supporting women entrepreneurs in building sustainable, mission-driven businesses — takes stock of each client's market position, strategy, organisation, resources, partnerships, and challenges; establishes a tailored coaching plan (Clear the Decks, Navigate, Transform); implements and adapts it to maximise sustainable business impact. Mirrors the EC Business Innovation Coach methodology precisely.
• Venture Coach & Advisor, Founder Institute Berlin (2023–present): coaches early-stage founders on strategy, market validation, and sustainable business models — supporting strategic decision-making, building performing organisations, and negotiating with investors and business partners.
• Startup Mentor, MIT StartMIT Programme, Boston (2024–present): guides startup founders through MIT Bootcamp — clarifying business ideas, testing MVPs, refining offerings, developing go-to-market strategies, and forging strategic partnerships to ensure long-term growth.
• Leadership Consultant, International Institute for Spiritual Leadership (2013–present): designs and delivers tailored transformation programmes grounded in Spiritual Leadership Theory — a research-based framework integrating intrinsic motivation, vision, and values-based leadership to strengthen organisational capacity and long-term performance.
• Athena Board Solutions (2026–present): provides follow-on strategic advisory to organisations based on board diagnostic findings — advising on governance improvement, leadership capacity building, and structural changes needed to achieve human-centred, future-ready governance.

Books & Edited Volumes

• Egel, E. & Fry, L. (forthcoming mid-2026). Completing the SDG Promise: Leadership to Bridge Competing Worldviews for a Sustainable Future. [Why the SDGs are falling short and what fundamental leadership shifts are required before 2030.]
• Egel, E. & Campos Suarez, M. (Eds.) (2025). Inner Development Goals, Vol. 2: From 'We' to 'Systems Change'. De Gruyter.
• Campos Suarez, M. & Egel, E. (Eds.) (2025). Inner Development Goals, Vol. 1: From 'I' to 'We'. De Gruyter.
• Egel, E. & Patton, C. (Eds.) (2022). The COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethical Challenges and Considerations. Ethics International Press, London.
• Patton, C. & Egel, E. (Eds.) (2022). Ethical Implications of COVID-19 Management: Evaluating the Aftershock. Ethics International Press, London.

Book Chapters

• Egel, E., Fry, L. & Campos Suarez, M. (2025). Global Leadership for Sustainability and IDGs: An Integrated Framework and Roadmap. In: IDG Vol. 2. De Gruyter.
• Egel, E. (2021). What Hinders Me from Moving Ahead? Gender Identity's Impact on Women's Entrepreneurial Intention. In: Marques (Ed), Exploring Gender at Work (pp. 231–252). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Egel, E. (2020). From 'I' to 'We' through 'Female' Leadership: Inclusion and Inclusiveness to the Next Level. In: Marques (Ed), The Routledge Companion to Inclusive Leadership. Routledge.
• Egel, E. & Fry, L. (2017). Cultivating a Global Mindset through 'Being-Centered' Leadership. In: Neal (Ed), The Handbook of Personal and Organizational Transformation. Springer.
• Egel, E. (2014). Islamic Leadership. In: Blomme & van Hoof (Eds), Another State of Mind (pp. 91–111). Palgrave.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Egel, E. (2023). Leaders' Spiritual Identity and Refugee Integration in German Family Firms. International Journal of Business and Globalisation. DOI: 10.1504/ijbg.2023.10055897
• Fry, L. & Egel, E. (2021). Global Leadership for Sustainability. Sustainability, 13(11), 6360. MDPI.
• Egel, E. & Fry, L. (2017). Spiritual Leadership as a Model for Islamic Leadership. Public Integrity, 19, 77–95.
• Fry, L. & Egel, E. (2017). Spiritual Leadership: Embedding Sustainability in the Triple Bottom Line. Graziadio Business Review.
• Chappel, C., Egel, E. & Kay, A. (2019). Introduction to the Andre Delbecq Special Issue. Journal of Management Spirituality & Religion.
• Waddock, S., Pavlovich, K. & Egel, E. (2018). An Interview with Sandra Waddock: Sacredness and Intellectual Shamanism. Journal of Management Spirituality & Religion.
• Korten, D., Egel, E. & Pavlovich, K. (2017). Inquiry into the Sacred — Interview with David Korten. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion.
• Tackney, C., Chappell, S., Harris, D., Pavlovich, K., Egel, E. et al. (2017). Management, Spirituality, and Religion: Ways and Means. Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion.