ALSA UK

What if leadership wasn’t about being loud, but about building quietly with care, clarity, and contribution? In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Marcela Shehu, recruiter, co-founder of Honest Solutions and Dental Tourism Albania. From London to Tirana, Marcela’s story is one of bridge-building, mentorship, and purpose-led entrepreneurship. We talk about creating apprenticeship...

What if neuroscience wasn’t just about data but about place, memory and healing? In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Dr Egzona Morina, a neuroscientist, educator and founder of the Xheladin and Xhufe Morina Foundation. From Prishtina to Boston, MIT to BrainCamp, Egzona’s story is one of scientific purpose, emotional honesty, and deep-rooted love for community. We talk about re...

What does it mean to build a mental health platform that truly reflects who we are? In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Jona Doda , founder and CEO of Bliss , a wellbeing platform designed for diaspora communities who’ve long been underserved by traditional therapy models. Jona shares the story behind Bliss, from growing up in Durrës and moving to the UK at 16, to confronting...

What does it take to create across cultures, and stay rooted in meaning? In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Sara Payman, a British Indian-Iranian artist, trained dentist, and performer who now calls Albania home. Through music, faith, and storytelling, Sara shows how creativity can honour heritage, inspire healing, and connect people across borders. From her tribute song TEN,...

What does it mean to bet on yourself. Fully, early, and without a backup plan? In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Ronnie Koldashi, a creative entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Seven Media Agency in London. At just 21, Ronnie has built a career that blends creative storytelling, brand-building, and property investment. From reselling trainers in school to buying his first...

What does it take to turn personal memories into powerful theatre? In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Loresa Leka , an actress, writer, and performer whose bold storytelling has captured national stages and now, our hearts. From navigating identity in the diaspora to writing her award-winning play Teapot Troubles , Loresa opens up about her creative process, the legacy of her...

What does it mean to come back, not just to a place, but to yourself? In this episode of the ALSA UK Podcast, we sit down with Ariana Krasniqi, a communicator, strategist, and one of the most thoughtful voices in the Albanian diaspora. Ariana returned to Kosova to take part in the Citizen Diplomacy Fellowship, helping to shape how her country is seen by the world. From her early career in Denmark...

What does it really mean to engage the diaspora? Not just through remittances, but through identity, innovation, and long-term impact. In this episode of Tea with ALSA, we speak with Lirim Krasniqi, Co-Executive Director at GERMIN, one of the leading organisations working to connect the Western Balkans with its global diaspora. We explore how migration has shaped our collective story, how programm...

Alice Taylor: The Journalist Who Made Albania Her Home What happens when a three-day holiday turns into a lifetime commitment? Alice Taylor visited Albania in 2017, and never left. In this powerful episode of Tea with ALSA UK, we sit down with the British-born journalist who has become one of Albania’s most recognisable storytellers. Now a naturalised Albanian citizen, Alice shares the deeply pers...

Would you set your CV on fire in a job interview? Emir Allen did, and it worked. In this episode of Tea with ALSA UK, Emir shares his unbelievable journey from arriving in the UK with no safety net to selling his first tech company to James Caan of Dragon’s Den. We dive into his time on the trading floor at Citi during the 2008 financial crash, the infamous job interview that changed his life, and...

Is leaving a high-paying job worth it? Arta Ramaj thought so, and she did it without a finance degree. From waitressing tables on Oxford Street to founding a thriving financial strategy firm, Arta shares how she broke into finance in the most unconventional way, what financial modelling actually means, and why leaving a comfortable 9–5 was the best decision she ever made. In this episode, Arta rev...

In this episode, Dite Gashi discusses his journey in the Web3 ecosystem, focusing on his startup Web3Wiz, which aims to simplify the development of decentralized applications. He emphasizes the importance of solving real problems in startups, the transition from tech to sales, and the significance of community building. The conversation also explores the future of blockchain technology, the role o...

Join us in Episode 19 as we dive into the inspiring journey of Kanita , the Co-founder and CEO of Browniegod. From humble beginnings in her home kitchen, Kanita transformed her passion for baking into a successful business that has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of dessert lovers across the country. In this episode, you'll hear Kanita's story of entrepreneurship, innovation, and pers...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jasin, the founder of Naked Chips and G&G Potatoes, a thriving potato chip company that has taken the food industry by storm. Despite dropping out of university, Jasin has defied expectations and achieved remarkable success in the business world. In this episode, Jasin shares their incredible journey from uni dropout to potato chip mogul. They'll...

Today we interview the founder of TIMA, Arjeta Puca. We delve into how she got her start, what made her want to go back to Albania and TIMAKS vision for the future of Albanian Vehicle Manufacturing. TIMAK is focused on production, conversion and installation of structures of various vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, water tanks, winter and summer maintenance vehicles, sewage machines, pil...

Today we interview the founder of Learnshqip, Klaudio Spirollari. We delve into how he got his start and the best practices he used to grow his social media presence. Klaudio has been a big supporter of ALSA since the beginning, so seeing him grow and having him share his journey has been a privilege. Learnshqip https://www.instagram.com/learn.shqip/ https://www.youtube.com/@learnshqip https://www...

Welcome to Season 2 of Tea with ALSA, where we sit down with inspiring individuals from different fields to discuss their journey to success, the individual habits they rely on, and the advice they have for an entrepreneurially-minded audience. This season, we have an exciting line-up of guests, including accomplished entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts in their field. We'll be diving...

Welcome to Season 2 of Tea with ALSA, where we sit down with inspiring individuals from different fields to discuss their journey to success, the individual habits they rely on, and the advice they have for an entrepreneurially-minded audience. This season, we have an exciting line-up of guests, including accomplished entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts in their field. We'll be diving...

Welcome to Season 2 of Tea with ALSA, where we sit down with inspiring individuals from different fields to discuss their journey to success, the individual habits they rely on, and the advice they have for an entrepreneurially-minded audience. This season, we have an exciting line-up of guests, including accomplished entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts in their field. We'll be diving...

Welcome to Season 2 of Tea with ALSA, where we sit down with inspiring individuals from different fields to discuss their journey to success, the individual habits they rely on, and the advice they have for an entrepreneurially-minded audience. This season, we have an exciting line-up of guests, including accomplished entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts in their field. We'll be diving...

Welcome to Season 2 of Tea with ALSA, where we sit down with inspiring individuals from different fields to discuss their journey to success, the individual habits they rely on, and the advice they have for an entrepreneurially-minded audience. This season, we have an exciting line-up of guests, including accomplished entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and experts in their field. We'll be diving...

This episode we are joined by fashion stylist and entrepreneur, Albana Janjeva. From working with football stars to creating a swimwear brand focused on body positivity, Albana shares how she started and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Arlinda is the co-founder of Kaia Mar, a sustainable fashion brand based in the UK. Alongside her co-founder Laura, the company sources cactus leather from a supplier in Mexico and aims to be as ethical as possible throughout their entire supply chain.  In this episode, we discuss how Kaia Mar got started, working with international fashion designers, and how the company plans to create signi...

Smeraldo is the founder of Blinkoo. This new platform allows users to find, live and share unique travel experiences, everywhere in the world, with trust. A community of professional travel vloggers, content creators and travel passionate who wander the world inspiring other people's journeys. They are a fast growing, young and innovative start up, that strongly believes in the power of multicultu...

Jonada Shukrasi is the co-founder of the app GjejZa, created to assist in the fight against gender based violence. The app provides victims with avenues of support and various features such as myth busting exercises. This episode we discuss the rewards and challenges of developing an app to address a societal issue. We also explore the overwhelming, but exciting experience of being given a platfor...