Interview
Interview
Winter 2018 / Issue 56
“ We Have to Make Change Happen Ourselves ”
Interview with the newly-appointed AmCham Macedonia Executive Director , Dijana Despodov . She is an experienced external relations professional with strong communication , partnership building , and advocacy skills . Her significant background in sustainability and CSR and international experience at high-level government , non-profit , and corporate levels will be a huge asset to our organization
ACM : First of all , hearty congratulations on your appointment as AmCham Macedonia ’ s Executive Director . Tell us a bit about your background .
Dijana Despodov , Executive Director , AmCham Macedonia
Thank you , I am delighted to join the AmCham Macedonia team and excited to meet and work with our members and stakeholders . I come to AmCham Macedonia from AMCHAM Thailand , where I was Communications Director for three and a half years . AMCHAM Thailand is a big chamber with 600 + company members and 250 + events a year and it gave me a solid understanding of the principles , goals , and inner workings of foreign business chambers . Prior to that I was working on the World Bank ’ s subnational Doing Business report , analyzing and benchmarking the ease of doing business in Southeast Europe , Russia , and Nigeria . I also have an extensive background in the development sector with international development organizations such as IREX and the National Endowment for Democracy based in the United States . I was born and raised in Macedonia but have been an expatriate for many years and have lived and worked in five different countries . I am thrilled to be back home and in a position where I can effect positive change to Macedonia ’ s business and social environment .
ACM : What attracted you to the Executive Director position ? What does being a leader and an advocate for the community mean to you ?
My experience at AMCHAM Thailand taught me about the tremendous impact foreign chambers can have on improving the business environment and encouraging businesses to invest in
6 AmCham Macedonia Magazine