ALBANA KARAPANÇO

LEAD ALBANIA, a Very Healthy Re-integration into the Albanian Reality

By Rudina Hoxha

“Continuous learning is a must for a lawyer. As many other professions, we are also witnessing a changing landscape of the legal profession which requires lawyers to adapt and be prepared.”

“LEAD Albania was indicated as an esteemed program of leadership and the only one of its kind in the country.”

After studying and working abroad for some years, Albana Karapanço returned Albania in 2020. For her, LEAD Albania Progran seemed to be a good fit and she considered the enrollment in the program as the chance to develop leadership skills and her career growth. “Indeed, it turned out to be a very healthy re-integration into the Albanian reality. During my LEAD year at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, I was thoroughly involved with negotiating chapters of the EU integration process. This was a valuable experience for me as a lawyer,” Karapanço said.

Being a lawyer by profession, Karapanço, a LEAD Fellow of 2020-2021 Class, thinks that LEAD Albania is the right program for the aspiring professionals who aim to strengthen their leadership skills and “have a different perspective on how decision- making process functions in certain setting.”

She served at the Ministry of Finance and Economy during the LEAD Year. “I was thoroughly involved with negotiating chapters of the EU integration process. This was a valuable experience for me as a lawyer.”

Full interview below:

Hello Albana, thank you for accepting our request for this interview with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE! Let’s talk more about your career and about your profession. What attracted you to a career in the legal field?

First of all, congratulations for the great job you are doing on this very interesting English-speaking magazine in Albania. It is fascinating how it simply reaches the audience through the online access and catches attention by the personal stories and latest trends it shares. Secondly, I am pleasantly surprised, since it is my first interview in this type of medium of communication. To answer your question, studying law was always the first choice. As most of other young people, the inspiration to study law came as an inherent belief in justice.

Later, I considered it a field that offers the opportunity to explore many aspects of human nature and sharpens one’s mind to complex problem-solving. Most aspects of our life are governed by law and we encounter it in our daily life more often than we think.

Law is a means to understand how the state and society are structured. From an academic and philosophical perspective, I have been drawn to the interplay of law and morality which is crucial to understand society at a certain moment in history.

In practice, it is a profession that requires perseverance and commitment to the fair administration of justice. To me, being a lawyer means helping others and having the chance to contribute to access to justice. This comes with a sense of fulfillment.

How footprints have the LEAD Albania Program left in your career? How has this Program helped you in overcoming the challenges you face in your profession?

LEAD Albania has been a distinctive experience. After studying and working abroad for some years, I decided to return to Albania in 2020. At the time, I was eager to understand and learn more about central government and public administration. LEAD Albania was indicated as an esteemed program of leadership and the only one of its kind in the country. At the same time, I received positive feedback from other fellows referring to LEAD Albania as a growth-oriented program.

Thus, the program seemed to be a good fit and I considered the enrollment in the program as the chance to develop leadership skills with a possibility of career growth. Indeed, it turned out to be a very healthy re-integration into the Albanian reality. During my LEAD year at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, I was thoroughly involved with negotiating chapters of the EU integration process. This was a valuable experience for me as a lawyer.

In my opinion, LEAD Albania is the right program for professionals who aspire to gain leadership skills and have a different perspective on how decision-making process functions in certain setting.

Could you tell us a bit more about your ‘LEAD’ experience? What are the learnings you took out of it?

LEAD experience is certainly a great professional and personal growth experience. First, it gives the opportunity to meet excellent professionals from different backgrounds. LEAD is an opportunity to become part of a network of high – aspiring individuals with whom one can collaborate during and after the program ends. Also, the educational component equips the participants with the ability to strategize, to understand and influence others, manage expectations, and build resilience in the workplace. LEAD Albania provides the chance to meet high profile people and share experience with them. It is worth mentioning that throughout the program, participants acquire transferable skills such as communication, adaptability, teamwork, empathy among others that are essential for professional development.

What advice can you share with peers, colleagues and friends who aspire to follow your ‘LEAD’ path?

The LEAD path is a personal experience and I believe each LEAD fellow has different reasons why they choose to undertake such journey. In this very dynamic labor market, career path is not linear and oftentimes young professionals are looking for a change in their career. For those having lived abroad, LEAD Program seems like the right option to start or continue their professional advancement. For some others, LEAD is a steppingstone to public administration career or politics sometimes. Undoubtedly, this program might be a turning point in the career. LEAD Albania is a program I would suggest to everyone who would like to gain some perspective on leadership and management in the Albanian context.

My professional aim is to continue to deepen my expertise in business law and cross-border transactions. Continuous learning is a must for a lawyer. As many other professions, we are also witnessing a changing landscape of the legal profession which requires lawyers to adapt and be prepared.

If you hadn’t chosen to pursue a career in law, what career would you have chosen?

In case I hadn’t chosen to pursue a career in law, I would have chosen business management. Business management is a versatile degree beneficial at almost every professional field which provides the grounds to pursue global career opportunities. This is a compelling profile that involves all aspects of a business and requires a harmonious combination of interpersonal and technical skills. It is fascinating to successfully navigate the altered business landscape of the recent years.

What’s next? What do you aspire to do in 2023 and beyond?

I consider self-assessment quite important. Hence, a question I ask myself from time to time is how fulfilled I am. I would say fulfillment does necessarily come from a stage of career or a particular work position but mostly by upholding core values on everyday life. When moving forward with the career, is important to consider our impact and elevate others. At the same time, for me it is significant to be mindful and appreciate the moment while thinking about the next steps.

“Quintessentially is a learning experience. Being the brand ambassador for Quintessentially is an opportunity to learn and develop professionally.”