Dr. Shkelzen Marku

Co-founder and CEO of YSB/Enterimpact Balkans and Growpreneur Accelerator

Empowering agents of change and harnessing the power of business to transform societies and improve people’s lives in the Western Balkans

Short Bio

Option1: Shkelzen is Co-founder and CEO of YSB/Enterimpact Balkans and Growpreneur Accelerator. With over 20 years of experience, he has supported MSMEs, and social impact entrepreneurs in the Western Balkans through hands-on training, coaching, mentoring, and tailored financial instruments. He has also served as a consultant and advisor on economic development for government and international organizations in over 15 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Option 2: Shkelzen has more than 20 years of experience in the design and delivery of business development services, practical/hands-on training, coaching and mentoring to MSMEs, startups and social impact entrepreneurs, as well as in the design and implementation of financial and non-financial instruments in support to entrepreneurs in Albania and other Western Balkan countries. He has served, for several years, as consultant and advisor on economic development policies and project design, implementation and management for several governmental and international development institutions (including World Bank, IFAD, FAO, UNDP, GIZ, etc.) in more than 15 countries around the world (including in Western Balkans, Caucasus, Africa and Asia). As an entrepreneur himself, he is involved in various companies as co-founder, investor, board member or advisor. He is also President of the Partnership for Development Foundation (Albania), member of the Board of Directors of KGMA-Microcredit Fund (Kosovo) and member of the Advisory Board of Albanian Center for Economic Research (Albania). He graduated from CNEARC (France) in Agro-Engineering and holds a Master of Science degree in Agribusiness Economy from CIHEAM-IAMM (France) and a Doctorate degree in Economic Development Policies from AUT (Albania). For more than 15 years he has also served as visiting lecturer at various universities in Albania.

Membership in professional bodies

  • Member of Board of Directors, 11/2017-present: KGMA Microcredit Fund (KGMAMF), Kosovo
  • Member of Advisory Board, 06/2016-present: Albanian Center of Economic Studies (ACER), Albania
  • Member of Academic Senate, 01/2017-01/2020: Qiriazi University College, Tirana, Albania
  • Member of Editorial Board, 11/2006-05/2016: Economicus Scientific Review, European University of Tirana
  • Member of Board of Directors, 02/2007-05/2012: First Albanian Development Finance Corporation, Albania
  • Visiting Professor, 2017-2019: Project Management. Economic Faculty. Qiriazi University College, Albania
  • Visiting Professor, 2002-2018: Development Policies. Agribusiness and Economic Faculty. AUT, Albania
  • Visiting Professor, 2011-2012: Territorial Management. Economic Faculty. European University of Tirana

Public and Media Presences

Selected Publications

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