Akil Sokoli
Akil Sokoli is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing Preservation Studies at Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in Boston University, MA.
He was born in Shkodër, Albania, in 1981. He received a diploma degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania, in 2004, a Joint Master double degree in International cooperation and Urban Development with Specialization in Economic development from the Technic University of Darmstadt, Germany and Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy, in 2012.
In 2004, he joined the Department of the Regulatory Plan, in the Municipality of Tirana, as a Specialist in Urban Planning. In 2008 he was part of the team winner for the design of the Master Plan of Tirana which was approved from the City Council in 2010. From 2009 to 2010 he has been a lecturer in the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture and taught topics in Urban planning History and Theory. In 2010 he left Albania to pursue his master studies funded from Erasmus Mundus Scholarships in Germany and Italy.
After his return in his home country he continued working for the Municipality of Tirana, in the Department of Transport and Mobility. He worked for the very new project founded from EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) to ease the traffic congestion in the city of Tirana through the integrated and remotely controlled system of traffic lights, message boards and CCTVs.
His current research interests include architecture conservation, urban planning design, photography and cinematography.
Enri Dervishi
Enri Dervishi is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing an MBA at Bentley University, Waltham, MA. He has finished his Bachelor and Master studies in Business Informatics. He has 5 years of experience in entrepreneurship and management in e-commerce, including the launching of a venture for the German giant Rocket Internet. In addition, he co-founded Movida.al an e-commerce platform operating in Albania and Kosovo. Enri has an entrepreneur mindset and is very eager to undertake new challenges at both educational level and professional life.
Henrik Lezi
Henrik Lezi currently is a MIP Fellow, currently pursuing an MPS in Branding at School of Visual Arts in New York, NY.
He discovered his desire for graphic design by creating album covers for music CD's since his college days for his friends. Having studied Social Sciences in Albania and working in a high paced environment such as journalism, Henrik is driven by the desire to create solutions to social issues through design and research. In the last decade, he has chosen to specialize his work in the non-profit sector with clients such as United Nations, UNICEF and Council of Europe. Working on campaigns for non-profits brought all of his experience, including those in journalism and social sciences, all together. By applying editorial design principles to these organizations' print mediums, Henrik has helped in expanding their audience and elevating their communication channels.
Henrik believes that the MPS in Branding will give him the opportunity to structure all his previous skills and at the same time bring new and exciting uses back in his country. His interest in progressing brands in a new and underdeveloped business environment such as Albania is the reason, he has enrolled in SVA’s Master in Branding. After finishing the program at SVA Henrik is planning to go back to Albania and serve local brands to better connect with consumers and compete internationally.
Ina Yzeiraj
Ina Yzeiraj is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a concentration on Education Policy at Cornell University, part of the Cornell Institute of Public Affairs, NY.
Ina has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from LCC International University. She then continued her career as a Guidance Counselor at Lezha Academic Center; working with K-12 students, but with a major focus on High School seniors and their career counseling. She got further experience in counseling and mentoring at “Çelesi Im” Counseling Center, where she broadened her connections with K-12 schools and students. Finally, before becoming an MIP fellow and starting her graduate school, Ina served as the key person and built the Admissions Office of LCC International University in Albania; overseeing the Albanian and Kosovo Admissions.
Klodeta Janaqi
Klodeta Janaqi is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing an MBA Data Analytics at Brandeis University, Boston.
She is a financial and commercial planning analyst with approximately 4 years of experience in telecommunication sector. She received her BSc. in Finance Accounting and MSc. in Finance from University of Tirana where she graduated with honors. Five years of university studies formed the basis of her perseverance towards achieving in-depth knowledge in business and finance. Due to excellent results during her studies and great willingness to share experience and knowledge, she started to teach Introduction in Financial Modeling and Modern Investment Theories classes. On the other hand, she lunched her professional career in banking sector working for National Commercial Bank as an assistant analyst in Corporate and Commercial Credit Department. After one year she joined Vodafone Albania where she constantly exceeded goals over the years. She was awarded as top performer for her contribution in loyalty scheme valuation, financial impact model for IFRS changes and a substantial increase of automatization in business model. When she is not glutted to a financial model, she spends time playing tennis, chess and piano or probably finishing to read the book she started before starting the financial model. Recently, she found out that a specialization in financial modeling and big data analysis will improve her productivity and creativity. Therefore, she currently is pursuing an MBA – STEM designed at Brandeis University located in Massachusetts.
Lorela Lazaj
Lorela Lazaj is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. She was born and raised in the southern part of Albania, in a small coastal city called Vlora, where the nature landscapes, it’s wilderness and diversity are hard not to be appreciated. Always attracted by the nature, she followed her studies on "Environmental Biology" for five years at the Faculty of Natural Sciences in the capital city and right after she worked at a local organization committed on environmental education and sustainable economic development called “Auleda, Local Economic Development Agency”.
One year later, in April 2014, she starts working at the “State Inspectorate of Environment, Forestry and Water”, a public institution created then for the first time aiming to address the problematic of law enforcement.
In 2015 she was nominated to be part of the new team of the Agency of Protected Areas in Albania as the director of the Regional Administration of Protected Areas Vlore. This institution was established for the first time in Albania in February 2015 and it will represent a new era on the management of the protected areas in Albania. In addition, together with her team, they evaluate new areas in Vlora region that should be protected, they maintain Fauna and Flora inventory, work towards the conservation of natural habitats, organize and promote sustainable activities within Protected Areas and develop an education program regarding nature protection.
She has participated in intensive capacity building programs on Sustainable management of Protected Areas in USA organized by Center for Protected Area Management (CPAM) at Colorado State University (CSU), together with the U.S. Forest Service. In 2015 she has been awarded a full scholarship for a Master of Science in Geoinformation in Environmental Management, at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania where she successfully completed the first year of the master of about 60 credits. Together with her colleagues are promoting Protected Areas as fundamental systems for nature and biodiversity conservation, but at the same time, having in mind their touristic potential and the possibilities for sustainable and eco-tourism development, they are trying to promote specific and very well-defined activities that can be implemented in these areas.
Romina Damini
Romina Damini is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing a Master in International Development Policy at Duke University, NC.
She has attained a MSc Degree in Civil Law and has been awarded a Scholarship of Excellence and Merits from Konrad Adenauer Foundation. She started her career as part of University “Aleksandër Moisiu” in lecturing Environmental Law and Transport Law for two years. Later on, she joined Faculty of Law, University of Tirana, contributing to Civil Law Department as a lecturer of Obligation and Contract Law. She has most recently worked as a legal specialist for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and has been involved in a Project of Deloitte and U.S. Department of State in Technical Assistance on Albania Hydrocarbons Sector Oversight and Tenders. Also, she was key expert in CEFTA project “Report on Legislation and policy Measures in the sector of E-commerce in CEFTA Region”, the overall objective of which is to facilitate the process of launching a regulatory dialogue for further developing e-commerce in the CEFTA region in compliance with the EU legislation.
In addition, she is very motivated in consumer protection in Albania and has served as consultant in several projects, mostly organized by GIZ. Ms. Damini has attended many conferences, workshops and trainings, mostly abroad, and she is author of several scientific papers in international journals. She is a motivated and driven young professional committed to advance her expertise in the field of energy and PSC Contract and contribute to Albania’s development.
Selim Blliku
Selim Blliku is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing an MBA in Strategy & Innovation and Data Analytics (STEM-designated) at Brandeis University, Boston.
He currently holds a MSc. in Business Administration at the University of Tirana, Albania, and has 3 years of experience in Consulting, University Teaching, and Management. Prior to his Masters graduation he started working at Deloitte Albania offices as a Consultant concentrated in agricultural business clients for almost 2 years. After his graduation, in 2016, he started a teaching position as a Guest Lecturer in the Management Department, Faculty of Economics. From 2018 he worked at ERA 2000, a large hospitality Albanian company, as an Operations Manager focused on the improvement of overall systems and processes within the organization.
His goals are focused in helping drive strategic changes in organizations and public administration systems in Albania. Upon his return, he also aims to encourage, guide and support schools, universities and youth to adapt a strong entrepreneurial culture.
Sonila Hasaj
Sonila Hasaj is a MIP fellow, currently pursuing a Master of Economic Development (STEM Designation) at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
She holds a Master of Science Degree in Finance, from University ‘Luigj Gurakuqi’ Shkoder, and in the past 3 years is working as a finance manager and data analyst-field based researcher at GO2 Sustainable Urban Planning Organization (grassroots NGO). During her engagement with GO2 she held key roles in managing several local and national projects related to sustainable tourism and sustainable urban planning issues (public services, urban mobility, public spaces) helping her to understand the territory in the economic, social and environmental approach.
She is a winner of the 2nd prize of the VIth international competition held annually by Leibniz Information Center for Economics (Kiel, Germany) demonstrating a real proficiency in research skills. Sonila was awarded the 3rd prize of the annual workshop “Challenges of Regional Development 6”, organized by University of Shkodra, Albania, while in 2015 she was attributed merits of excellence from the same university for the highest results in Bachelor studies at the Faculty of Economics.
Upon her return in Albania, Sonila aims to create her own entrepreneurship in her hometown, Shkoder, to incorporate data-driven decision-making culture as the main tool of credibility and transparency to measure progress in different fields.