Maria Vassilakou: Leading the Livable City Revolution

Maria Vassilakou, internationally recognized urban transformation expert and former Vice Mayor of Vienna, joins The Century of Cities. Drawing on her decade of leadership in Vienna, Maria explores how cities can balance livability, affordability, and sustainability while safeguarding democracy itself. From reimagining housing as a human right to redefining livability through a child's eyes, Maria shares an inspiring vision of cities designed for every generation. She reflects on the crossroads we now face, between inclusive, decarbonized, and democratic urban futures or divided "bubble cities" defined by inequality and disconnection. Through stories of community innovation, social housing, and small-scale empowerment, Maria reminds us that transformation begins with leadership, and sometimes, with just 40 people moving together in the same direction.