CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

Zhala is an expert in managing economic development programs in Iraq and has served as advisor on several USAID and donor-funded initiatives focused on supporting private sector growth. Her work includes extensive capacity building, strategic guidance, and training. Formerly an Iraqi diplomat in Canada, she subsequently assumed leadership roles, directing Academic and Congressional Affairs at the KRG Office in Washington DC and advising the Head of the Department of Foreign Relations in Erbil. Zhala has more than 19 years of international experience working in communications, diplomacy, capital investments, and development consulting. She holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Public Health from King’s College London.

CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Miran has 17 years of international experience working in consulting, project management and capacity building. He was most recently the Chief of Party for USAID’s Business Incubator, Accelerator Program. Miran has extended experience working with SMEs across Iraq including access to finance, management consulting and mentorship. Miran worked as a consultant at the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources. He has managed oil and gas and infrastructure projects, held several managerial roles and implemented numerous economic and development programs and is an expert in crisis and disaster management. He has delivered projects in Czechia, Germany, Slovakia, Turkey and Iraq and speaks Kurdish, English, Arabic and Czech. Miran is an IVLP Alumnus and holds a BSc and MSc in Systems Engineering and Informatics form Czechia and an MBA in Marketing from the University of New York.

CO-FOUNDER AND IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR

Michael Rothe is a leading expert on designing and leading economic development programs in Iraq. He has over 20 years of experience as a management consultant and senior advisor to USAID and the U.S. Department of State. His specialties include post-conflict stabilization, business strategy, process re-engineering, building government capacity to implement broad based economic reforms, reducing regulatory barriers to competitiveness, and developing investment promotion policies. Michael has consulted for government and private sector entities throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and holds an MBA from Georgetown University.