INES STASA

Lead Up Podcast - a Major Source of Inspiration and Energy

By Rudina Hoxha

As a Fellow of LEAD Albania Program 20222023, Ines Stasa acts as advisor to the Mayor of Tirana.

She sits with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE to show what it feels like participating in the LEAD Albania Program, its benefits on her career and how it is helping to keep a positive and motivated mindset.

“LEAD Albania provides a constant source of energy and diversity through its various activities, which serves as a daily impetus for individuals to maintain the same level of rhythm and vibe in their work and activities outside of the organization,” she says.

Full interview below: What is your favourite part of being a LEAD Albania Program Fellow? Participation in the Lead

Albania program is an investment that will yield great returns for your professional career. As it seeks to sustainably support young professionals and place them at the forefront of challenge and leadership, the integrity, transparency, and philosophy of this project are of utmost importance to me. By participating in the program, individuals can take a significant step in both their professional and personal development and can reflect upon the principles and values that the program represents. The program is structured that incorporates a variety of components, providing individuals with the opportunity to face their goals, expectations, and limitations. The most intriguing part of this journey, to me, is this particular aspect. The Albanian American Development Foundation has provided me with a valuable opportunity to participate in this prestigious program, for which I am truly thankful.

What do you feel is the value of today’s leaders having LEAD Albania Program knowledge and experience in helping to address today’s country’s challenges?

The design of LEAD Albania is truly unique and sets it apart from other programs, as it offers unparalleled flexibility in adapting opportunities to meet individual expectations. Reflecting the implementation’s authenticity and compactness is integral to the construction or orientation of the leadership style for the program participants. The team has set an example of a leadership model that accepts others, cooperates with others, and serves the public good through their team spirit, support for each other during challenging moments in the public administration, and commitment and persistence to bring initiatives that make the program even more accessible to a wider public. My belief in leadership is twofold - I value innate leadership qualities, but I also recognize the importance of leaders who are willing to learn and who prioritize the greater good through creative problem-solving. For me, a leader should possess the ability to inspire and transform, as well as the authority and legitimacy that can be gained through successful management. Within this program, there is a unique opportunity for each individual to select their own path, nurture their growth, showcase their talents, help others, enhance their capabilities, and take the lead in their own initiatives. By including this program in the system, society, and political infrastructure model in the country, we have added value to it.

Can you describe an instance or example when you used skills or lessons learned from the LEAD Albania Program within your new role/job position?

I hold the position of Advisor for social issues in the Cabinet of the Mayor of Tirana. The Municipality of Tirana bears the responsibility of managing cases in the community and accommodating to the interests and needs of the parties involved, a challenging task that is made even more daunting by its status as the largest municipality in the country, requiring the development and implementation of more social policies and fair and efficient solutions. The Program comprises a range of training and skill modules, each designed to develop a particular skill set. There are many dynamics within the sector where I contribute, and it comprises various interest groups. These interest groups are also the most disadvantaged members of society. As we strive to provide the best management of cases and respond to their needs, we also aim to create spaces for even closer cooperation with local partners operating in the field of social services. However, this dynamic requires the ability to adapt to the pressure of daily work. The context in which these situations occur is sharp and requires careful consideration. During one training offered by the Program through CCL, I was introduced to The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument or TKI Assessment, which I found to be one of the most important methods. The method, which helps in determining the approach and tendency of action towards conflict or difficult situations, has made me contemplate on the delicate situations that arise in my daily routine, with a certain level of social sensitivity. It is worth noting that the “Emerging Leaders” course at Harvard University included various modules, one of which was Adaptive Leadership. It is essential for the new generation of public administration to adopt a model that considers the way we exercise leadership, our ethical conduct, and the frequency with which we address issues, as these factors are the capillary of such a model. These two modules have been crucial in helping me perform even better throughout this entire 12-month process.

How is the Program helping you to sustain such a positive and motivated mindset in the course of work and life?

There are multiple ways in which the program proves to be helpful. One of these is what you have identified, keeping a positive and motivated mindset. LEAD Albania provides a constant source of energy and diversity through its various activities, which serves as a daily impetus for individuals to maintain the same level of rhythm and vibe in their work and activities outside of the organization. I can confidently say that the launch of the Lead Up Podcast for the first time was a major source of inspiration and energy for me. I had a wonderful experience on the podcast, as I could communicate, discuss, create and share my ideas and thoughts. Interacting with successful individuals who not only make significant contributions to their profession but also inspire and encourage others has given me a wealth of wonderful emotions and prospects for future projects.

Following your daily activities, I have noticed that you intend to uplift other women along the way, how does that fit into your leadership style?

My previous role as the Director of the State Social Service in the Region of Vlore provided me with several years of experience handling complex and sensitive cases that greatly impacted society. It was also emotionally challenging to face a victim of trafficking, or a woman in socio-economic difficulty; an orphan child infected with HIV that the community and institutions had a hard time accepting, or any parent with a child with special needs who requires more appropriate educational and social environments to develop their child. At times like these, the importance of empowering individuals and families through engagement of the community becomes even more apparent, as we need to reflect, accept and contribute to make a positive change. When you find yourself in a position of leadership, with the responsibility to both uphold the legal boundaries and empower individuals, it becomes essential to push beyond your basic duties and commit to doing more. It recalls cases with exceptional sensitivity, starting with the construction of a house for a family in a rural area of Vlora; to register a child with HIV for the first time in kindergarten; supporting with textbooks hundreds of economically disadvantaged children and the building awareness campaigns with national impact aiming to increase awareness and build coalition the fight against human trafficking. Going through this experience has allowed me to gain a new perspective on leadership, which has helped me understand that it’s not just a mere management skill. Rather, it’s a combination of high public sensitivity and responsibility, aimed at making the public more acceptable, accessible, and possible for everyone. Leadership involves more than just having official documents and strategies in place. It requires an unwavering commitment to adapting society and communities to the everchanging conditions and challenges that arise. The combination of commitment and humility is what sets great leaders apart from the rest. When faced with seemingly impossible and difficult challenges on a daily basis, one comes to realize that leadership is not merely a concept or skill set, but rather a combination of service and humility, which involves bringing together all available resources and people in order to empower communities. My unwavering belief in the competence of women and girls to advance society has been constant. As a result, I make it a point to encourage and cooperate with every woman and girl who shares the same vision, perspective and approach towards success, regrowth, continuous work and sustainable development.

How is the Lead contributing to your career progress? Is it putting you outside of your comfort zone? What advice would you give to the future fellows?

Leadership requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone. Staying in our comfort zone hinders us from exercising leadership or finding new ways to make society better. Ever since I was a child, I have lived by one of my mottos which is “Not too young to change the world, not too old to change”. This is because I firmly believe in the potential for each and every one of us to make a positive impact and in the transformative power of society. To me, leadership is a state of mind that never allows you to fully rest or be content. It necessitates a constant search for the most fair and efficient solutions. If you want to make the most of your fellowship experience, my best advice would be: “Stay hungry and angry”!

Najada Frashëri is a well-known Albanian chef in Italy. She is young, talented, passionate and brilliantly wise. With a lot of work and a bit of luck, she made all the Italians, whether high class or common people open the doors of their houses to her.

“The kitchen is and will remain a cornerstone of my life because the Italians let me into their lives, opening their doors to me, showing their customs, traditions, memories of grandmothers ..., feelings for Sunday lunch … Everyone has given me so much, I’m very lucky from a human point of view! Now I think it’s time to give,” she says in this exclusive interview with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE She thinks that kitchen goes beyond feeding. Instead, it is “A means to Communicate, and Feed the Soul. A menu in which each sauce is not just a flavor and colour, but a note that belongs to a symphony.”