One of Greece’s most influential women: Elena Kallona on leadership, change and the future of Jungheinrich
Fortune Greece has named Elena Kallona one of the country’s “Most Powerful Women”. In this interview, she shares her views on leadership, transformation and her vision for the future of Jungheinrich and material handling.
Fortune Greece has recognised Elena Kallona as one of the country’s “Most Powerful Women”. As Managing Director of Jungheinrich Greece and VP Automation and Warehouse Equipment EMEA, she is helping to shape the future of material handling on multiple levels. But what does influence mean in an industry that is constantly evolving through automation and innovation? A conversation about career paths, responsibility and the challenges of an industry in transition.
Elena, Fortune Greece has named you one of Greece’s “Most Powerful Women”. What does this recognition mean to you?
I feel honoured and grateful for the recognition. At the same time, I see it as a reflection of a much broader journey that involves many people. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with exceptional teams, colleagues, customers and partners who have all contributed to the success of Jungheinrich Greece. Any recognition of leadership is ultimately a recognition of what can be achieved when talented people work towards a shared goal.
What makes this distinction particularly meaningful is the opportunity it creates to highlight the role of leadership in driving positive change, whether that is through innovation, developing people, supporting customers or helping shape the future of our industry.
What does good leadership mean to you – and has your understanding of leadership changed over the course of your career?
Earlier in my career, I associated leadership more closely with expertise and decision-making. Today, I believe leadership is primarily about creating an environment where you empower and develop your people, so they can thrive and grow.
For me, good leadership is built on trust, authenticity, accountability, curiosity and empathy. It means listening as much as speaking, creating clarity during uncertainty and helping people see opportunities where others may only see challenges.
Material handling is undergoing significant transformation. In your view, which developments are likely to have the greatest impact on the industry in the years ahead?
Automation will certainly continue to accelerate, but I believe the most significant change will come from the convergence of automation, data and artificial intelligence. Warehouses are becoming increasingly connected, intelligent and responsive. The ability to use real-time data to optimize operations, improve efficiency and support better decision-making will be a major differentiator. Sustainability will also remain a key driver. Customers are looking for solutions that help them improve productivity while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
What excites me most is that these developments are not isolated trends. Together, they are reshaping how supply chains operate and creating entirely new opportunities for our customers.
Amid all the technological advances, what role do people play in this transformation?
Technology is an enabler, but people remain the driving force behind innovation, progress and meaningful change. Successful transformation depends on having curious, adaptable and engaged teams that are willing to learn and embrace new ways of working. This is why investing in people is just as important as investing in technology.
Across Jungheinrich, I have seen how much can be achieved when expertise, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose come together. Whether we are developing new technologies, implementing automation projects or supporting customers through change, it is ultimately our people who make the difference.
When you think about the years ahead, what would you still like to achieve?
After more than two decades with Jungheinrich, I still feel a strong sense of energy and commitment to what we are building, perhaps even more now, as I have the opportunity to contribute beyond Greece and across EMEA.
What motivates me most for the years ahead is helping shape an Automation & Warehouse Equipment organization that can truly scale across the diversity of our region. We operate in markets with very different levels of maturity, expectations and challenges, and I see a real opportunity to build something that is both high-performing and adaptable.
What matters most to you in this?
People are a key factor for me. Among the most rewarding moments of my career I have been seeing individuals and teams grow beyond themselves, take ownership and achieve more than they initially thought possible. Creating the conditions for that to happen in a sustainable way is something I care deeply about.
At the same time, I want to deliver projects that are not only technologically impressive, but above all create real value for our customers. My aim is to help build an organisation that earns its customers’ trust, is valued for its performance and offers its people an inspiring environment – an organisation that grows sustainably and is guided by a clear vision.
