The fourth edition of “Talent Pool,” a professional development program initiated by BALFIN Group, has successfully concluded, continuing its established tradition of nurturing future leaders within the Group's companies, both regionally and beyond.

This year, the program, which was restructured and spanned from January to November, engaged 16 employees identified by HR teams in collaboration with executive managers from BALFIN Group companies. The participants worked to excel and elevate their potential in their respective fields.

Employees from ACREM, Balfin Real Estate, Balfin Construction, Balfin Development, Balfin Asset Management, KidZone Albania, Neptun Kosovo, Spar Albania, Retail Park, and Tirana Bank completed the nearly year-long journey. They presented three innovative and practical projects to a jury comprising three members of BALFIN Group: Ardiana Sokoli, Vice President of Real Estate; Csaba Toth, Vice President of Asset Management; and Ervin Kajno, Chief Projects Officer.

Following the presentations, Samir Mane, President of BALFIN Group, addressed the participants, emphasizing the importance of professional development programs like “Talent Pool” as a driving force behind BALFIN’s ambition to invest in human capital.

“Whenever I evaluate business proposals, the first question I ask is, ‘Who will execute this? Do we have the people to see it through to completion?’ While we have the financial means, I’ve always believed that it’s essential to continuously invite new professionals into our fold. ‘Talent Pool’ has helped us get closer to such professionals, and I hope this continues in the future,” said President Mane. He also highlighted the Group’s dedication to training young talents, noting, “Our employees benefit from over 100,000 hours of training annually. This figure underscores our commitment to offering our people a successful career path.”

Through intensive training and mentorship sessions led by renowned professionals, with Larisa Winter as the program's lead trainer, participants developed and presented projects focusing on:

·        Logistics and facility development to enhance business efficiency.

·        Transforming the hospitality industry through innovative approaches.

·        Integrating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices across business operations to contribute to sustainable development.

The presentations included interactive Q&A sessions, fostering in-depth analysis and evaluation of the feasibility of the proposed ideas.

Chief Executive Officer of BALFIN Group, Edlira Muka, also addressed the participants, praising the quality of the ideas presented and highlighting the importance of the “Talent Pool” program. She expressed pride in being part of a corporation that fosters professional growth.

“Talent Pool’ is one of the most qualified professional development programs in the Western Balkans, improving year after year. This isn’t a simple statement; it’s evidenced by the growing participation and its increasing quality. I am genuinely proud to be part of a corporation that helps people grow, not just theoretically but also practically,” said Muka.

Since its inception in 2016, the “Talent Pool” program has trained 61 employees for leadership roles within BALFIN Group’s companies, which operate in 11 countries across two continents.

The outcomes of the 4th edition affirm BALFIN Group's unwavering commitment to cultivating a robust leadership culture. Participants gained consolidated teamwork, critical thinking, decision-making skills, and the ability to respond swiftly and effectively to market challenges. They also had the opportunity to travel to Vienna, visiting companies in similar industries to gain insights into international business dynamics.