Elvira Skepi, the founder of Sun Language Center in Sukth, has dedicated her career to enhancing the linguistic and cultural knowledge of her students, guiding them to become well-rounded individuals equipped for the challenges of the modern world.
Since its inception in 2008, Sun Language Center has grown from a modest idea conceived during Elvira’s university years into a fully licensed and respected educational institution. Her commitment to education, coupled with a strong desire to serve her community, has driven her to overcome numerous obstacles, including the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this exclusive interview, Elvira shares her journey from a determined university student to an award-winning entrepreneur, providing insights into the mission and vision that guide her, the hurdles she has faced, and her exciting plans for the future of Sun Language Center.
When did you decide to found your startup, and what motivates you in this venture?
I started this venture back in September 2008 when I was still a second-year university student. Sun Language Center in Sukth was officially licensed in August 2019. In May 2024, I participated in the Women Startup Competition Albania, where I was selected among the top 10 finalists and was awarded second place. This year, we aim to expand our enterprise and increase the range of services we offer. What motivates me the most is my passion for working with different age groups and my desire to improve the skills of our students—not just linguistically, but also socially and personally.
What is the mission and vision of your company?
Our mission is to maintain the same level of accuracy and professionalism in our teaching as we have always done. As for our vision, we aim to have a broader local presence as a startup and to offer the community various courses that are essential for their preparation in the job market.
What have been the main challenges you faced at the beginning, and how are you overcoming them?
The challenges we faced at the beginning were significant, as is the case with any startup or business. Considering that I was a student, I lacked the necessary experience to manage the business. Social media was not widespread for gathering information or promoting what I was offering. Thanks to hard work, dedication, perseverance, and a desire to serve the community where I lived, I managed to overcome these challenges, including the challenge posed by COVID-19. During that time, we were forced to shut down, just a few months after we had been licensed.
What stage is your business currently in, what are you working on, and what have been the key steps in this journey?
We are currently in a phase where we believe we have successfully overcome several challenges. At present, we generate sufficient income, thanks to our long and consistent work journey.
What values and beliefs guide you in your entrepreneurship?
Humanism and the belief in improving the educational and cultural level of all the students who attend our center’s courses are the values that guide us in this venture.
What solutions do you offer to your clients?
For several years, we have offered only English language courses, but in recent years we have received requests for courses in other subjects and languages. We have faced challenges in finding staff in Sukth, as there is a lack of foreign language teachers, such as German, Italian, or Spanish. We are doing everything we can to find staff and offer these services so that our clients are fully satisfied with the language courses we provide.
How is technological change and market shifts impacting your business?
Technology has certainly impacted our business. On the one hand, it has its advantages, as students are familiar with various phenomena, foods, places, and buildings that exist abroad, thanks to their knowledge of using technology. This makes teaching a text simpler because the listeners are already aware of what is being discussed. On the other hand, the use of technology has caused many students to lose interest in what is being offered, as they have already been exposed to it on another platform and are no longer curious to learn more.
What are your future growth plans and the strategies to achieve them?
Since we are celebrating five years as a licensed company this year, the time has come for us to expand, both in terms of courses and staff, but above all in terms of space. Since we aim to be the best in the market, we need to offer such spaces equipped with foreign language laboratories. We are working hard in this direction and soon (I won’t say exactly when) we will offer an expansion of the classrooms, from the current three to five classrooms available to students.
What makes you happiest in the business you have started?
What makes me happiest? I’m not sure, it’s hard to define. Sometimes I think it’s everything I’ve achieved and the way I’ve achieved it, which has come very naturally but with a lot of work and dedication above all. Even though I am now a mother of three, I continue to start each day with enthusiasm, with positive energy, and that alone is enough to reap endless benefits.
What do you aim to achieve specifically in the next three years?
We aim to include professional courses such as secretarial courses, communication courses, IT courses, social media management courses, and soft skills. Additionally, we want to start another business with services that the job market here lacks. So, we began our venture with a unique approach, and we will continue to operate and remain UNIQUE in what we offer.
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