ENDRI BAHJA

As a Fintech enabler, FinnoLux brings its innovative International Market Readiness and Innovation Assessment Platform (a.k.a IMARIA), available for any company that operates in the FinTech sector and wants to develop, grow and expand its business beyond its borders. My job is to audit the companies from a global market readiness (export) perspective, assess the innovation dimensions within the companies and provide for them fair, solid and unbiased reports including recommendations & solutions.

-Under the H-2020 INNOSUP program supported by the EU Executive Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises (EU-EASME) I am acting as a short-term project based Licensed Innovation Management Assessor & Trainer on Strategic Innovation Management Audit activities and developing best practices in innovation management for several Small and Medium German Enterprises by using the IMP³rove/INNOSCAN Project Methodology

A project management & consulting boutique firm designed to bring Dutch Innovative technologies to the developing Western Balkans markets in the areas of agribusiness innovation, solar energy and water management. My contributions incude: Business Lead Manager responsible for ensuring a successful and sustainable deployment. Driving local delivery of end to end activities within agreed upon timeframes, working with the Business Transformation Lead and Leadership Sponsor.

Key Contributions: As part of the Young Entrepreneur in Residence program supported by the European Union I was assigned to work closely with the founders of the company overseeing every area of the business. My contributions included: • Strategy development and Implementation. New Projects Appraisal. Product Innovation & New Business Development.

ACE International Consultancy S.L part of AECOM, implemented the European Funded project (2013/313-155) “Technical Assistance to Consolidate the Regional Economic Development Process”. I was contracted as a senior expert and trainer to deliver the Training of Trainers modules on for 26 trainees (future trainers) in: 1) Innovation Management and 2) Strategic Innovation and Technology Audit (SITA) process.

I was selected by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dutch Ministry of Economic Development to receive the prestigious Netherlands Fellowship Programme Award and research grant. I attended the Maastricht School of Management to complete my Master of Business Administration (MBA) program in Corporate Strategy, Innovation & Economic Policy.

Applied statistical techniques to analyse the mobile application usage of the bank’s online clients. - Applied qualitative and quantitative research to provide customer feedback for product usage, new trends developments, tailor-made services. - Engaged in product improvements in the areas of marketing, content, product usage and operational support in collaboration with the mobile development technical team.

Innovation and Technology Fund Manager for the leading Albanian Inter-Governmental Agency. Responsible for the development of MSMEs, entrepreneurship and innovation

Export Development Fund Manager for the leading Albanian Governmental Agency responsible for Enterprise Development, Export Promotion.

• Prepared 4 desk research studies for the energy demand in Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece. • Monitoring pricing, relative values and other market trends in the area of assignment. • Developed and prepared 5 statistical analyses studies for energy demand forecasts in Western Balkans. • Contributed for two quarterly Oil Market Reports by analysing the oil output levels and price deviations.

The biggest fast moving consumer goods manufacturing company in Albania. Tasks included: -Meeting and liaising with managers from different divisions to negotiate and agree research projects; -Formulating marketing plan/proposal and presenting it to the senior management; -Conducting qualitative or quantitative surveys, which involved field, interview or focus group assessments; -Using statistical software (SPSS) to manage and organise information;

Working in the Headquarters of a business conglomerate group of companies I was assigned within the department of Strategy Development. My activities included: -Market analyses. -Strategy design and formulation. -Project Identification, Development and Management. -Project financial appraisals, KPI monitoring & Evaluation -ISO Standardisations (9001:2008, 14000) & Six Sigma preparation.

An intern position within the Capper & Co Ltd, Spar UK Company. Capper & Co Ltd, an 100 years old company with a turnover which exceeds £d200 million, is the owner of Spar supermarket chain in Wales & South England region. During this internship I went through a rotation process working in different departments such as Trading & Marketing, Property Development & Merchandising, Information Technology, Human Resource Management, Operations & Distribution and Retail Advisory Department.