How the Leadership Forum Started
Even though you weren’t at the first forum meeting, you’ll recognize the context. Remember weeks of being locked at home? Masks. Gloves. Sickness. Death after death was reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. And questions.
Leaders asked:
⮕ How do I pay employees?
⮕ Who do I let go?
⮕ How do I give reassurance to employees?
We invited leaders to the Lincoln Center courtyard (ish-Vila e Enverit) to openly talk about how to lead in crisis. I remember Calvin Tiessen, the co-founder, remarking to me, “Josh, there is a hunger among leaders to have real, honest conversations.”
At one gathering, Adrian Shehu, CEO of TCN, turned to Calvin and me, “Can you gather leaders at a forum?”
Flutura Veipi quickly got behind the idea, and both Union Bank and TCN began their sponsorship. As the forum grew, leaders from business sectors, public administration, and education joined.
Relationships and Growth
At the 2nd Leadership Forum, Psychologist Dr. Elona Prroj inspired us to grow with the story of when she did the unthinkable—she forgave the man who murdered her husband. Dr. Prroj brought both hope and challenge to those at the forum to build stronger relationships as she shared what she had told her daughter: “I want to invite you to forgive the man who murdered our father just as God has forgiven you.”
This inspiring moment gets at the heart of the Leadership Forum values of integrity, growth, and relationships.
A Defining Moment-The Integrity Manifesto
Leading up to the 3rd Leadership Forum on Integrity, Eni Xheko shared a vision. “People who are leading with integrity need to know that they are not alone.” The forum community signed a manifesto that included the statement, “We seek to treat others the way we want to be treated.”
“Some of you live with integrity day in and day out,” I began that day. Bjorn Linza and Lizzy Grezda were two such people among the first to sign it.
“For others, as you sign your name, you may remember that you need to repair or correct something to live out this value.” I included myself in this, sharing a story of when I had lied to a boss and then later went back to inform her that I had not been honest when I told her I was taking notes during the meeting. We invited everyone to sign it that day, and for people in a variety of sectors, this was a turning point.
The 4th and 5th forums focused on “Accountality” and “Building Thriving Human Cultures.” Over the years, the Forum has evolved into a vibrant, values-driven network of executives, entrepreneurs, and organizational leaders from across the Western Balkans. The Forum’s purpose is both simple and ambitious—to create space for authentic conversation that ignites growth, synergy, and action among those shaping the future of business and society.
Taking on an Urgent Challenge – April 2025
This year, the Forum takes on the most critical threat of our generation—AI. AI is also an incredible opportunity.
Rather than simply offering quick-fix tech solutions, the Forum invites participants to wrestle with deeper questions.
Chris Nyhius and Ville Korpela will join us from the US and Dubai as will Diana Xhumari, Bujar Bakiu, and Ermal Sadiku, who design AI solutions in Albania and the region.
A Forum with a Future
What sets the Leadership Forum apart is not just the speakers and what takes place on stage, it’s about the conversations at tables, over coffee, and the actions that people take after the event.
Author
Josh Miekley is a co-founder of the Leadership Forum. He moved to Albania in 2001 and lives in Tirana with his wife and children.
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