Ejona Bala
Ejona Bala is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Historic Preservation at Pratt Institute as part of the MIP fellowship.
With a background in architecture, her aim is to delve in the current issues of cultural heritage through a community based approach, bearing in mind the importance of social equity.
Amarild Hazizaj
Amarild Hazizaj holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master's of Science in Public Law from the University of Tirana. He was admitted to practice law in Albania in 2020 after successfully passing the Bar Exam. After finishing the studies with high results, Amarild became part of the Excellence Student Program of the Albanian Government, and was contracted firstly to work at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and later entered the civil service at the Department of Public Administration. His experien ce in public administration focused on judicial representation of the institutions, but also included participation as a commission member in disciplinary hearings against civil servants in state administration institutions. In addition, Amarild was contra cted by the OSCE Presence in Albania as a National Legal Officer for the "e - Legislation Support to Albania" project, which included project management and legal advice.
After these experiences, Amarild decided to expand into the private sector through the MIP opportunity of AADF. He was admitted to George Washington University in Washington D.C. to follow an LLM program in International and Comparative Law, with a subconcentration in Arbitration, Mediation and Other Forms of Dispute Settlement.
Olta Hoxhaj
Olta Hoxhaj is currently pursuing an MBA (STEM Designation) at Indiana University ’ s Kelley School of Business, specializing in Finance. She is also a Forté Fellow, recognized for her leadership and commitment to advancing women in business.
Prior to her MBA, Olta worked as a Senior Associate in Mergers & Acquisition Transaction Services at Deloitte. She led financial due diligence, guided international clients through complex buy - side and sell - side deals, and mentored junior associates. Before joining Del oitte, she worked as an economist at KIA Motors dealership in Albania, where she supported financial planning, budgeting, and operational analysis. Earlier, she gained experience in the financial sector as an intern at Union Bank Albania, where she was int roduced to banking systems and credit risk models.
Olta is passionate about leadership and community engagement. As Vice President of Business Development at AIESEC Albania, she built partnerships with companies and NGOs, expanded internship opportunities, and organized events that strengthened student involvement. She has also participated in conferences as a speaker, sharing perspectives on leadership and finance.
Mimoza Quku
Ms. Quku is an Albanian - American Development Foundation (AADF) fellow and a legal professional, currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Law at the University of Minnesota. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Tirana, with a specialization in civil law.
Her career in Albania includes experience in both the public and private sectors. In the public sector, she has served as Head of the Human Resources Sector at the Ministry of Interior, overseeing compliance wi th legal frameworks in recruitment, promotions, personnel management, and contracts. Previously, she worked as a Legal Specialist at the same ministry, representing the institution in court proceedings, handling administrative complaints, and providing leg al opinions. She began her public administration career as a Procurement Specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ensuring the legality of public procurement procedures and the execution of contracts.
In the private sector, she has worked as a Legal Counsel at ABISSNET Sh.A., where she drafted and reviewed contracts, provided legal compliance advice, and represented the company in judicial proceedings.
With a strong foundation in administrative and civil law, Ms. Quku is deepening her expertise in business law, with a particular interest in contributing to the development of a reliable legal and business environment that promotes transparency, accountability, and efficiency, while creating opportunities for growth and investment acr oss sectors.
Erjon Tafaj
Erjon Tafaj completed his Bachelor studies in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing; and Political Science at the American University in Bulgaria. In 2020, he co - founded SmartUP Digital, a marketing agency where he focused on operations design, process efficiency, and organizational growth.
He later joined Electromagic in Albania as Product Manager, overseeing premium international brands such as Miele, Teka, and KitchenAid. In 2023, Erjon became Export Manager at Ideal Clima, where he established and expanded the company ’ s export department, building structured processes and securing partnerships across European markets.
Currently, Erjon is pursuing his STEM MBA at Indiana University ’ s Kelley School of Business, concentrating in Marketing and Operations. As a Fellow of the Albanian - American Development Foundation ’ s MIP Program, he continues to advance his expertise in international business and organizational management.
Tea Tafaj
Tea Tafaj earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science & International Relations from the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) , where she developed a strong foundation in analytical thinking, policy evaluation, and global affairs.
Prior to joining MIP she was working at Deloitte Central Europe , where she led regional projects focused on cost - allocation strategy, data modeling, and operational transformation across multiple countries. Her experience in consulting and cross - border col laboration sparked a deep interest in using data to drive more transparent and equitable decision - making.
Tea is currently pursuing her Master of Interdisciplinary Data Science at Duke University in North Carolina , where she focuses on the application of d ata analytics to public policy and development. Through the MIP Program , she aims to advance her expertise in data - informed governance and contribute to digital transformation and sustainable growth in her home country of Albania .
Nikola Zemani
Nikola Zemani completed a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of New York Tirana with an emphasis in Data Structures and Algorithms. During these studies, he participated in the “ Blockchain: Hackathon for Social Innovation ,” finishing as second runner - up. Following graduation, he spent four years with leading European technology consultancies: Lufthansa Industry Solutions and Lutech spa , while also providing technology consulting for the American client Transcend Company L td . Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Science in Engineering Management at the University of Southern California ( USC Viterbi School of Engineering ). In parallel, he joined the Origin Weekend (Startup Workshop) by tiehub and volunteered in support of f ood - insecure Los Angeles residents through the LA Regional Food Bank via Viterbi Impact .