Mimoza Kusari-Lila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mimoza Kusari-Lila
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Kusari-Lila in 2021
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| Leader of Alternativa | |
| Assumed office 8 February 2017 |
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| Preceded by | New office |
| Mayor of Gjakova | |
| In office January 2014 – July 2017 |
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| Deputy | Ramadan Hoti |
| Preceded by | Pal Lekaj |
| Succeeded by | Ardian Gjini |
| Minister of trade and industry | |
| In office 23 February 2011 – 2 October 2013 |
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| President | Atifete Jahjaga |
| Preceded by | Lutfi Zharku |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Nikaj |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mimoza Kusari
16 October 1975 Gjakova, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) |
| Nationality | Albanian |
| Political party | New Kosovo Alliance (2009–2016) Alternativa (2017–present) |
| Spouse | Arben Lila |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Prishtina University of Colorado Duquesne University (MBA) |
| Known for | Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo First women mayor in Gjakova |
| Signature | .svg) |
Mimoza Kusari-Lila, born on October 16, 1975, is an important politician from Kosovo. She is part of a political party called The Alternative.
She has held several big jobs in her country. From 2011 to 2013, she was the deputy prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo. She also served as the minister of trade and industry during that time. Later, from 2013 to 2017, she was the mayor of Gjakova, a city in Kosovo.
About Mimoza's Family
Mimoza Kusari was born in Gjakova. Her father is a doctor who specializes in lungs, called a pulmonologist. Her mother is a teacher who teaches the Albanian language and literature to young students.
For a short time, her family lived in another city called Peja. But in the mid-1980s, they moved back to Gjakova. Mimoza grew up there with her three brothers and sisters.
Mimoza's Education Journey
Mimoza finished high school at Hajdar Dushi Gymnasium. After that, she went to the University of Prishtina. She studied economics, focusing on management and information systems. She worked full-time to pay for her studies, which was very challenging during a difficult economic and political time.
During the Kosovo war in 1998-1999, Mimoza helped people. She worked with groups like Doctors Without Borders and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). These groups help people in need around the world.
While working in a refugee camp in Republic of Macedonia, she received a special scholarship called the Ron Brown Scholarship. This scholarship, from the United States Department of State, allowed her to study in the United States. She wanted to get a master's degree in business.
In the US, she studied at the Institute of Economics at the University of Colorado. She also went to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she earned her master's degree in e-business. While studying, she was very active in student groups. She even started and led the Association of Business Women of Duquesne University.
After her studies, she worked as an intern at Bayer Corporation in North America. She worked in their e-sales department.
When she returned to Kosovo in 2001, she continued to work on important projects. She worked with the World Bank and USAID to help businesses in Kosovo grow. She also managed a project to set up the American University in Kosovo. Her hard work helped this university become a leading school in Kosovo.
Mimoza's Political Career
Mimoza Kusari-Lila first got involved in politics in 2003. She became a spokesperson and political adviser for the prime minister of Kosovo at the time, Bajram Rexhepi. She was the first woman to have this kind of job. She was the voice of the Kosovo government for over a year. This was a challenging time, especially during the March 2004 riots.
In late 2004, she took a break from politics when she married Arben Lila. Her son was born the next year. After her marriage, she started using Kusari-Lila as her official name.
She returned to public service as the director of the energy department. Later, she became the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo from 2006 to 2009. In 2009, she also completed a research project at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She studied how financial markets grow in developing countries.
In 2009, Mimoza Kusari-Lila decided to run for mayor of Gjakova. She was part of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) party. On February 23, 2011, she was named the deputy prime minister of Kosovo and the minister of commerce and industry. She held these roles until October 2, 2013.
She then resigned from her government positions to focus on her campaign for mayor of Gjakova again. This time, she won in the second round of voting. She made history by becoming the first woman mayor in Kosovo.
See also
- 2013 Kosovan local elections
- List of political parties in Kosovo
