Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 43 years of experience, the expert has dedicated 35 years to consultancy and entrepreneurship. Specializing in business development, competitiveness, tech commercialization, and innovation management, the expert has successfully led international projects, providing technical assistance and mentoring to SMEs and start-ups. Career highlights include developing AI-assisted products and securing international patents. Previously held roles such as Founder & CEO and Regional Director, showcasing expertise in managing expert teams and EU project cycle management. The expert's work spans multiple countries, focusing on sustainability, technology transfer, and access to finance.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the European Commission. The expert's involvement includes project implementation, technical assistance, and evaluations in areas such as private sector development, SME innovation financing, and regional development. These projects have been regional and national in scope, occurring in locations like Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey. Responsibilities have included focusing on governance, innovation, and economic competitiveness.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in various sectors, the expert has worked in rural development, industry, commerce and services, migration, ICT, science and innovation, SME and private sector, and corporate social responsibility. Background includes positions at Founder & CEO, Lead Facilitator, and Regional Director, with a focus on business development, tech commercialization, and innovation management. The expert's cross-cutting expertise encompasses digitalization in business and infrastructure in regional development. The geographic scope of work spans multiple countries, with significant projects in Europe, North America, and Asia. The expert has extensive international experience, having worked in countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Ethiopia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Turkey, the UK, Ukraine, and the USA. The expert has a deep familiarity with the Turkish SME and start-up ecosystems and has been involved in EU projects across various Turkish cities, focusing on local governance, cultural dynamics, and regional development issues, with recurring involvement in countries like Ukraine and Russia.

Languages and education

With a background in language proficiency, the expert is fluent in English, with excellent skills in reading, speaking, and writing. The expert has a working knowledge of German, with intermediate proficiency in reading and speaking, and basic writing skills, along with basic proficiency in Russian. These language skills have been utilized in various international contexts, including in-country work across multiple regions and collaboration with multilingual teams. The expert holds an Executive Master of Business Administration in International Business Administration from Marquette University, USA, and a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations (Middle East Studies) and International Business from the American University, USA. Additionally, the expert completed German Language Studies and Economics at Schiller University and earned a Certificate in Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies from Cambridge University, UK, and a Certificate in Pan-European Marketing from UFSIA University of Antwerp, Belgium.