MODERN SKILLS Human Capital & Talent Utilization by Businesses

Soft skills are emerging as the new, powerful currency of Human Resources, according to the joint survey conducted by SESMA (Hellenic Association of Management Consulting Firms) and ACEO (Association of Chief Executive Officers)

The survey also reveals a clear trend: soft skills have become a decisive factor in hiring and promotion decisions.

Specifically, 17.1% of survey participants believe that critical thinking and problem-solving are the most lacking soft skills among current candidates and employees. These are followed by resilience & adaptability (12.1%), commitment (10.9%), emotional intelligence (9.9%), communication (9.5%), and leadership (8.3%).

Despite the growing importance of soft skills, technical skills still play a role—though a less significant one—particularly in the technology sector. The survey highlights that knowledge of cutting-edge technologies is the most in-demand technical skill (6.7%), followed by strategic orientation (5.6%) and learning & knowledge utilization (4.3%).

Another key finding is the current shortage of personnel with the necessary skills to meet modern labor market demands. Participants expressed strong concerns about the gap between the skills available in candidates and those required for business success. To address this issue, senior executives emphasize the need for closer collaboration between academia and the business world. Such collaboration could help reshape curricula to better align with labor market needs.

At a time when the lack of skilled personnel poses a significant challenge for businesses, the goal of attracting talent—commonly referred to as “brain gain”—is at the heart of both SESMA’s and EASE’s agendas, as highlighted by George Katiniotis, CEO of Acromove, and Fotis Benekos, Vice President of the SESMA Board of Directors, while summarizing the key findings.

The survey presentation was followed by a speech from Dimitris Bourantas, former Management professor at AUEB and Rector of New York College, titled “HR in Turbulent Times.” According to the professor, today’s environment is shaped by numerous factors that make it difficult to select and retain the right people: change, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, diversity, contradictions, demands, and constraints. “Expectations have grown—from society, from competition, and from consumers. The times are turbulent, but we must see this challenge as an opportunity, and focus on what and how we can manage in terms of HR,” he remarked.

He went on to describe the characteristics that the right candidates should have: “The right people are self-motivated—those who are driven by passion to do their job excellently. At the same time, if we look at the most successful organizations globally, we see that hiring must also focus on cultural fit with the organization’s values and policies. A third key characteristic is their credentials, which include soft skills.”

The event concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Professor Dimitris Bourantas and featuring the following participants: Vassilis Adamidis, Human Resources Director, Nestlé Greece/Cyprus/Albania; Maria Ioannidou, CEO & Country Manager, Hellenic Duty-Free Shops; Manos Panorios, Managing Director, Stanton Chase International; and George Raounas, former SESMA Board President.

“We are currently in a ‘war for talent,’ which is a positive development after a decade of limited employment opportunities,” said Manos Panorios. “The greatest challenge today is understanding the different mindset of the younger generation.” George Raounas added, “There is also a third category of skills related to values, which companies themselves must help instill in their people.”

“We have graduates with excellent technical skills, but what’s missing is a connection with the job market—something that should be part of the educational process,” said Maria Ioannidou. Similarly, Vassilis Adamidis emphasized that beyond technical knowledge, companies “are looking for people who are eager to learn, so we can invest in them.”

It is worth noting that ACEO and SESMA announced that this event marks the beginning of a formal collaboration between the two organizations on shared values, initiatives, and areas of action.

On behalf of ACEO, Vassilis Rabbat, Management Consultant of the association, stated: “We are particularly pleased that our alignment with SESMA is evolving into a more meaningful partnership. EASE has always supported the belief that the human factor makes the difference in business. In today’s environment, it is essential to support the younger generation of workers through initiatives that bridge the gap between education and the labor market, and reverse the brain drain.”

Kathy Christidou, President of the SESMA Board, noted: “Our first joint event marks the beginning of a deeper collaboration. With EASE, we share common values, concerns, and goals, and we’ve decided to take joint action—starting with matters of human resources, entrepreneurship, and ESG. Our goal is to add value and contribute to the growth of entrepreneurship, human capital, and the Greek economy.”