Albania Economia
Albania Economia met Matilda Gjini, Business Setup Advisor at Creative Zone, a wealth management company based in Dubai with a portfolio of 45,000 businesses.
Albanian, a graduate of Bocconi University, she is very young but already has significant professional experience in Singapore and Dubai. She was also a candidate for the Albanian government in 2021.
Let’s get to know Matilda and her strong desire to bring her expertise back to Albania, supporting the country’s economic growth
You studied at Bocconi, one of the best universities in the world. How much did it influence your professional path?
Bocconi certainly opens many doors. During my studies I had the opportunity to meet many successful entrepreneurs and high-profile professionals, and to build a global network. Studying in a highly competitive environment like Bocconi makes you very ambitious and pushes you to constantly achieve more.
Of course, having the name of such a prestigious and globally recognized university on your CV also makes the selection process for international job positions easier. For example, for my first job in Singapore, my application was submitted through Bocconi’s job portal, and this clearly made my profile more attractive compared to other candidates who applied via LinkedIn or other job portals.
First Singapore, then Dubai. How did you get there?
It was love at first sight with Singapore. I went on a trip across Asia while I was still working at PwC in Milan. I stopped in Singapore for just three days, but after the first 10 minutes walking around the city, I had already decided I would move there. It’s an incredible city, and that experience made me grow a lot, both personally and professionally. I returned to Italy after the trip, resigned, and one month later I moved to Singapore.
After this first experience with foreign investment in Southeast Asia, I returned to Albania for the election campaign. Once that ended, I received a job offer via LinkedIn from a wealth management company in Dubai, and I decided to accept it and start this new experience in the Middle East. I am very happy with that decision. I love Dubai, and I am now also working a lot with Saudi Arabia, which will experience a huge boom in the coming years. Riyadh will very soon become the new Dubai.
I love Dubai, and I am now also working a lot with Saudi Arabia, which is expected to experience an incredible boom in the coming years. Riyadh will very soon become the new Dubai
How long have you been at Creative Zone? What exactly do you do?
I have been at Creative Zone since November last year. It has already been almost a year that I have been helping foreign entrepreneurs set up their businesses in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. In recent days, I have been focusing on partnerships between Creative Zone and major law firms around the world.
For a company that wants to invest in Dubai, what are the main challenges and opportunities?
In recent years, Dubai seems to have become the center of the world, and everyone wants to invest and relocate here. Clearly, there is strong competition, and this is the main challenge, in my opinion.
The opportunities, on the other hand, are many. The United Arab Emirates is a “model country” where people can live, work, and invest without too many complications. It has a high-income economy, no taxes, an excellent healthcare system, a global luxury hub with some of the largest shopping malls in the world and top international schools. Dubai is a true “money machine.”
Let’s assume you have a very extensive network of contacts. How important are relationships in this job?
Network is everything in this job. My role in the company is to bring in new clients and new business. Without an extensive network it is impossible to succeed, especially in highly competitive cities like Singapore and Dubai. Network is your net worth.
Network is everything in this job. Network is your net worth!
Have you ever thought about creating a commercial bridge between Dubai and your Albania?
Yes, I have. In fact, a year ago I established a company with the goal of doing commercial brokerage, meaning connecting foreign investors (mainly from Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar) with Albanian landlords, entrepreneurs, and politicians.
It is a company that will grow significantly in the coming years, and I am confident it will bring many benefits to my country.
I have established an Albanian commercial brokerage company that connects Singaporean, Saudi, Emirati, and Qatari investors with Albanian entrepreneurs
What are Matilda Gjini’s ambitions for the future?
I have many. I want to create and grow my new startup—I have been working on it for a year now, and I will soon share more details about it. One day, I would also like to return to Albania and run again for a seat in Parliament. I strongly believe that Albania needs young people like me and many others who have received international education and work experience, and who can bring fresh perspectives and make a meaningful contribution to the country.
Politics remains a deep passion of mine, and I will likely return to studies soon. I am considering pursuing a Master’s degree in Politics and Global Affairs, definitely not in Dubai. China is very attractive to me, but I have not made a final decision yet.