On March 26, 2026, CFCA had the pleasure of welcoming historian Kate Pangonis for a
captivating talk exploring the influential women who ruled across the Mediterranean centuries
ago.
Through compelling historical accounts, the session shed light on pioneering female leaders
whose ambition, strategic vision, and political intelligence allowed them to exercise influence in
complex and often male-dominated environments. Their stories illustrated how authority and
power were navigated and asserted in different historical contexts.
The discussion also offered an opportunity to reflect on the present. By contrasting these
historical examples with contemporary realities, Kate Pangonis highlighted the enduring gap
between authority, the formal right to lead, and power, understood as the capacity to influence
decisions and shape outcomes.