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We talk, but do we really communicate? There is a noticeable lack of genuine connection and authenticity in our communication.

Posted on May 26, 2026May 29, 2026 by focusbari_user

New Nationwide Survey by Focus Bari on Applause 2026

Focus Bari captured the attitude of Greeks towards public discourse, communication and personal expression. The findings of the survey on the topic: “The Culture of Discourse in Greece”, were presented in the context of the Applause Summit 2026 conference, which took place on 8 – 9 May at the Pierce College Theater in Agia Paraskevi, in the presence of leading speakers from Greece and abroad. as well as with an impressive participation of young people, students and market executives from different professional sectors.

The presentation of the results was made by the founder of Focus Bari and Resilience Expert,
Xenia Kourtoglou, who emphasized:

Gap between Perception and Action: While almost all Greeks consider communication the cornerstone of success in personal (96%) and professional relationships (94%), toxicity (74%), negativity (69%) & malicious criticism (68%) are observed in everyday life.
Power of Nonverbal Communication: 3 out of 4 Greeks focus on the nonverbal dimension when conversing with someone. Emotion, tone of voice and body language are elements that determine the impact of a message, proving that communication goes far beyond words.
Public Speaking as an Essential, but Complex Skill: Public speaking is universally recognized as a critical professional skill (96%). However, there is a significant lack of self-confidence, as only 2 in 5 Greeks (43%) feel comfortable expressing themselves in front of an audience, with exposure and fear of embarrassment being the main obstacles.
Need for Education: Communication is recognized as a skill that must be systematically cultivated both by school (81%) and by the family with an emphasis on active listening, as poorer linguistic expression & lack of empathy are observed.

See the whole survey presentation here

Applause Summit 2026

Posted on May 9, 2026May 15, 2026 by focusbari_user

Xenia Kourtoglou Keynote Speaker at Applause Summit 2026

This year’s Applause Summit took place on May 8th and 9th at the Pierce College Theater in Agia Paraskevi, attracting an impressive audience of young people, university students, and numerous business executives. The event featured distinguished speakers from Greece and abroad, offering a holistic approach to the important fields of communication and public speaking. As part of the summit, Focus Bari designed and conducted an exclusive nationwide survey exploring the communication culture of Greeks, as well as their attitudes toward public speaking and self-expression.

During her keynote presentation, Xenia Kourtoglou revealed and analyzed the survey’s remarkable findings, highlighting the critical importance of communication skills in today’s world. Her presentation also shed light on the current reality of communication in Greece, including vocabulary use, non-verbal behavior, and the key needs and pathways for improvement. The audience responded enthusiastically, sharing exceptionally positive feedback for both the speaker and Focus Bari.

See the full presentation here.

The Feat of Everyday Life: 3 out of 4 Greeks are the “Unseen Champions” of their own lives.

Posted on May 6, 2026May 14, 2026 by focusbari_user

The Feat of Everyday Life:
3 out of 4 Greeks are the “Unseen Champions” of their own lives.

-New Nationwide Survey by Focus Bari on behalf of TOTAL BUSINESS –

The survey highlights how Greek society perceives the concepts of “Struggle” and “Champion” in modern daily life and was presented on April 2, 2026, at the ATHLOS Business Summit.
In the packed AIGLI Ballroom, leading market executives discussed with Olympic and Paralympic champions and professional athletes, highlighting the importance of effort and perseverance in every aspect of life, both personal and professional.
The results were presented by Xenia Kourtoglou, founder of Focus Bari and Resilience Expert, who emphasized:

• Emotional identification:
7 out of 10 Greeks have experienced periods that required discipline similar to that of an athlete, with their professional careers and parental roles being the primary areas of their personal “Struggle”

• Resilience in the Face of Failure:
Although failure is an almost universal experience (89%), the overwhelming majority of Greeks (80%) state that these difficulties ultimately turned out for the best, strengthening their mental resilience.

• Admiration for Champions (64%):
However, their arduous journey is often overlooked, with greater emphasis placed on victories and triumph.

• The Map of the Greek Mindset:
Three distinct trends emerge regarding the perception of the Struggle:
The Realists (37%): who acknowledge the role of luck and circumstances
The Fighters (36%): who believe in personal transcendence
The Observers (27%): who view success as the experience of others.

See the whole survey presentation here

Destination Wedding Forum 2026

Posted on April 29, 2026May 20, 2026 by focusbari_user

Focus Bari Maps the Destination Wedding Market in Greece

With outstanding success and the participation of destination wedding professionals from around the world who specialize in weddings in Greece, the Destination Wedding Forum 2026 was held at Aigli Zappeiou.

For the occasion, Focus Bari designed and conducted an exclusive research study that, for the first time, captured the size and structure of Greece’s destination wedding market. Xenia Kourtoglou, Founder of the company, presented the findings of this important research project, revealing both the scale and significance of the market for Greece, as well as the key conditions and opportunities for its further growth and development.

The insights presented strongly resonated with attendees and institutional leaders, offering valuable inspiration for strategic thinking and action, with the shared goal of establishing Greece as an even stronger global destination for couples seeking to transform their wedding into a truly unforgettable experience.

See the full presentation here

Pet Congress 2026

Posted on April 26, 2026May 15, 2026 by focusbari_user

Xenia Kourtoglou Keynote Speaker at Pet Congress 2026

Pet Congress 2026 was successfully hosted at OTE Academy, bringing together professionals from across the entire companion animal and pet care industry. Xenia Kourtoglou, founder of Focus Bari delivered a compelling keynote presentation on “Resilience in Entrepreneurship,” sharing valuable insights into the evolving pet market while exploring the unique relationship between Greeks and their companion animals.

Her speech also emphasized the strategic importance of customer experience as one of the most powerful and enduring USPs for organizations operating in times of uncertainty and intense competition. The audience highly appreciated the presentation, which concluded with practical and actionable tips on how businesses can build, nurture, and further develop a customer-centric culture that truly places the customer at the heart of the organization.

See the full presentation here.

“Global Public Confidence” International Survey in 20 Countries by the IRIS Network and Focus Bari for Greece

Posted on April 21, 2026April 21, 2026 by focusbari_user

The economy is not convincing, and the pressure persists. Greece remains at the center of uncertainty

– International “Global Public Confidence” survey in 20 countries
by the IRIS Network and Focus Bari for Greece –

Focus Bari, as the exclusive member of the international IriS network in Greece, presents the findings of the IriS Global Public Confidence Study 2025, which captures citizens’ attitudes toward the economy in 20 countries worldwide.
This year’s picture shows an environment of stagnation and pressure, where improved perceptions of a country’s trajectory do not translate into corresponding economic optimism. Consumers are moving from a phase of reaction to a phase of adaptation, with uncertainty consistently influencing their behavior. In Greece, pressure remains high and consumption is becoming more selective, with an emphasis on essentials.
More specifically:
• The economy remains weak
Despite the reduced percentage of those who believe the country is heading in the wrong direction (50% in 2025 compared to 60% in 2024), more than one in two people worldwide (51%) believe the economy is weakening—a ratio that has remained stable over the past three years.
• Greece ranks among the most pessimistic markets
It records low levels of optimism regarding the country’s trajectory (69% believe it is heading in the wrong direction) and one of the highest rates of perception of a weak economy (67%), reflecting accumulated uncertainty.
• Pressure on households is easing, but remains high
Globally, 63% report greater difficulty making ends meet (compared to 69% in 2024). In Greece, stress levels are among the highest (87% in 2025 vs. 90% in 2024).
• Spending cuts are now widespread
Globally, 88% of people have cut back on at least one category. Lifestyle cuts are nearly universal, while healthcare spending remains the most protected. In Greece, cuts are extending even to essentials, indicating that financial reserves are running out.
• Geopolitical concern is the new normal
Although the survey was conducted in the fourth quarter of 2025, 91% express concern about global peace and security, with particular intensity in Europe.

See the whole survey presentation here

ATHLOS Business Summit

Posted on April 2, 2026May 6, 2026 by focusbari_user

Keynote Speaker: Xenia Kourtoglou | Exclusive Research by Focus Bari

What does “achievement” and “victory” mean in today’s Greek society? How is the concept of a “champion” interpreted? And how do people relate these ideas to everyday life—whether observing an athlete, an employee, or a business leader striving to contribute to their own personal “myth”? These were among the key questions explored at the ATHLOS Business Summit, organized by THETOTALBUSINESS, held at Aigli Zappeiou in Athens on Thursday, April 2, in a fully attended ballroom. Leading executives from the Greek business arena engaged in meaningful dialogue with professional athletes, Olympians, and Paralympians, aiming to decode the concept of “Athlos” (achievement) in both its visible and invisible dimensions.

A central highlight of the event was the contribution of Xenia Kourtoglou, Founder of Focus Bari, who designed and presented exclusive research conducted for the Summit, based on a nationwide sample of 1,003 respondents, exploring the concept of “Everyday Achievement.” Her findings revealed a powerful insight: the Greek public overwhelmingly attributes success, victory, and distinction to hard work, persistence, and belief—assigning only 10% of success to innate talent. Drawing also from her expertise as a psychotherapist, Kourtoglou emphasized that the way individuals interpret and respond to failure plays a decisive role in shaping their future. Persistence, she noted, is not merely innate—it is cultivated. What ultimately matters is how we act in the present and how effectively we manage challenges.

The research further identified three distinct mindsets that characterize how Greeks perceive “everyday achievement”:

• Realists (37%): View success as a combination of effort and circumstances

• Fighters (36%): Believe success is driven primarily by persistence and personal effort

• Observers (27%): Perceive success as something that mainly αφορά others

Ultimately, the key lies in self-awareness: recognizing which mindset one belongs to, evaluating whether it is truly serving them, and asking the right questions—especially if growth and evolution are the goal.

See the whole survey presentation here

ESG in Greece: High Expectations, Limited Understanding. The Challenge of Building Trust and Transforming Business

Posted on March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 by focusbari_user

New Nationwide Survey by Focus Bari on behalf of Applia Hellas

For the third consecutive year, Focus Bari, a research sponsor at Applia, conducted
a nationwide public survey on the topic “ESG: Change or Transformation? “ with the aim of
capturing the attitudes, perceptions, and expectations of Greeks regarding the sustainability
of businesses.
The results were presented at the annual Applia Hellas conference on February 16,
February 2026 at the Athens Conservatory, attended by over 300 delegates, highlighting that
consumers need information and trust in companies, while the transition to
ESG practices requires a substantial transformation of corporate culture.
More specifically:

Only 1 in 5 Greeks (21%) say they are familiar with the term ESG, while the
majority perceive it as corporate social responsibility—an indication that the concept
is understood more intuitively than consciously.
More than three in four (77%) consider business sustainability
to be important, confirming that it is a strong social demand, even in
times of heightened economic pressure.
However, when theory turns into action, only 44% say they are
willing to pay more for green and socially responsible
companies, highlighting both the trust deficit and the gap between
perception and actual consumer behavior.
Considering that the concept of sustainability, as well as the strategies and
practices that comprise it, are in their “infancy” in Greece,
three distinct consumer typologies emerge that shape the landscape,
revealing different expectations and levels of engagement with the sustainability
of businesses in the country.

See the whole survey presentation here

3rd Real Estate Round Table

Posted on March 19, 2026April 9, 2026 by focusbari_user

Keynote Speaker & Panelist: Xenia Kourtoglou

The 3rd annual Real Estate Round Table was successfully held at the Eugenides Foundation, bringing together leading professionals from across the real estate and brokerage sector. Focus Bari designed and conducted a nationwide quantitative study, capturing the Greek public’s perceptions of the real estate market, the image of industry professionals, key challenges, areas of concern, and the conditions required for future growth and improvement. In parallel, an in-depth qualitative study among real estate agents provided valuable insights into the everyday realities of the profession, highlighting current challenges as well as the need for professional upgrading and evolution within the sector. Xenia Kourtoglou presented the findings of this extensive research in a dedicated keynote speech, offering a comprehensive and authentic view of the market landscape. Her presentation also outlined the profile of the “Ideal Real Estate Agent,” identifying the key attributes and capabilities required for success in today’s—and tomorrow’s—market.

See Xenia Kourtoglou’s full presentation here.

Cyberattacks and modern threats reinforce the importance of defense. Greeks call for a holistic approach to their security.

Posted on March 5, 2026 by focusbari_user

– New nationwide survey by Focus Bari –

The new nationwide survey by Focus Bari reflects citizens’ perceptions and demands regarding defense and security in the country: The main findings show that Greeks recognize the need for defense investments, but set clear conditions for their implementation.
More specifically:
– Necessary, but not unconditional: 46% of Greeks consider defense investments necessary, but only one in three (36%) supports further increases in spending.

– Information increases acceptance: 57% of citizens who are informed about defense issues believe that the multi-year equipment program benefits the country
(compared to 37% overall).

– Strong support for the Greek defense industry: Almost four in five (79%) informed citizens consider its participation in equipment programs to be important
(compared to 65% overall).

– Demand for domestic benefit and transparency: 64% of citizens want defense funds to be directed mainly to Greek companies, while two in three (68%) believe that there is a lack of transparency in their management.

See the whole survey presentation here