Honoring the women whose entrepreneurship, innovations and determination help build a better future for business in the region.
Entrepreneurship is not just about launching a new venture. It is about having the conviction to pursue an idea, taking risks, and doing something meaningful.
All over the Western Balkans, women entrepreneurs are doing exactly that. From marketing and fashion to technology, sustainability, workplace safety and tourism, these entrepreneurs are building innovative firms, creating employment opportunities, introducing novel concepts, showing that conviction, resilience and purpose, rather than circumstance, are what make great leaders. At the core of their firms’ operations is always the intention of making an impact in the lives of their customers and communities.
In 2026, six outstanding women entrepreneurs of the Western Balkans will be honored for their outstanding contributions to their respective areas of expertise through the Western Balkans Six Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2026. While the awards signify a milestone, it is really their entrepreneurship journey and contributions that must be highlighted.
As a leading consulting firm, KOLEKR Insights would like to honor these outstanding business leaders and their firms for the incredible accomplishments they have achieved.
Jori Vila, Albania
Social Star Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Founder: Oz Marketing
Industry: Branding, Marketing & Digital Communications
For the last 18 years, Jori Vila has been guiding entrepreneurs and companies towards brand building through marketing, effective communication, and digital presence. Through her work with the company Oz Marketing, she has guided businesses looking to improve their identity, establish customer relations, and succeed in the competitive world of today.
It is not just about developing marketing campaigns for Jori. She understands that each company has its own unique story, and by telling it truthfully, one can earn trust, develop its reputation and create long-lasting connections.
This award as the Social Star Woman Entrepreneur of the Year is proof not only of her professional success but of her dedication to guiding businesses to confident communication and nurturing entrepreneurship further.
Tamara Djuric
Artistic Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Founder: Magbago d.o.o.
Industry: Sustainable Fashion & Textile Innovation
Fashion is capable of being a creative industry, but at the same time, it has the potential to motivate people into taking responsibility. With her company called Magbago d.o.o. Tamara Djuric proves that creativity and sustainability are not incompatible when it comes to contemporary fashion design.
By blending modern fashion design, innovations in the field of textiles and responsible craftsmanship, her company produces original products in a way which respects both their quality and environmentally-friendly approach to the manufacturing process. As opposed to many fashion companies, Tamara decided to develop her own brand, which represents the blend of creativity, quality and longevity.
The recognition as the Artistic Woman Entrepreneur of the Year proves the importance of her contribution not only to the creative industry but also to sustainable entrepreneurship in general.
Flandra Marmullaku , Kosovo
Making Decisions Better with the Help of Business Data
ICT Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Founder: Data4X
Industry: Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics & Business Intelligence
Data is generated by any business, but true power lies in the understanding of its value.
That conviction was reflected in the career of Flandra Marmullaku, founder of Data4X, who assists businesses in extracting their value through artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and business intelligence at a period when organisations are going through digital transformation.
Instead of looking at AI as one more tech trend, Flandra Marmullaku uses her experience and knowledge to provide solutions to the problems faced by businesses which help them make smarter decisions, boost their performance and discover new possibilities for development. With the help of her services, businesses become capable of responding to changes confidently and making decisions based not on guesswork but on facts.
Being the ICT Woman Entrepreneur of the Year reflects the appreciation of a businesswoman, whose innovations, knowledge and technology are shaping the future of enterprises. In the company of Data4X, Flandra Marmullaku keeps proving that the most valuable technology is the technology of decision-making.
Aleksandra Simoni, Montenegro
Towards a more sustainable future through design
Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Founder: Green Lining
Industry: Sustainable Design, Circular Economy & 3D Printing
Sometimes innovation doesn’t mean doing anything new but just seeing something old in a completely new light.
This is the philosophy of Aleksandra Simoni, who founded the business called Green Lining where innovative design based on 3D printing allows transforming recycled materials into useful and creative products.
Her business model questions conventional beliefs about manufacturing and waste, showing that being sustainable does not have to limit creativity, and that each project embodies design responsibility, circularity, and innovation in material use.
Recognition as the Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year emphasizes the contribution of Aleksandra to the emergence of a new generation of purpose-driven businesses.
Zeljana Vulovic, Serbia
Innovation Driver Behind Smart Tourism
Tourism Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Founder: System of Quantum Bits
Industry: Tourism Technology & Hospitality Solutions
Tourism is based on experiences, but to create such experiences, you need flexible, innovative and efficient companies.
Zeljana Vulovic, through her company System of Quantum Bits, helps hospitality businesses implement their digital transformation using technological solutions for reservation, automation and operational management. In this way, she enables tourism companies to optimize their business and deliver a better experience for their customers.
The development of the tourism industry is characterized by innovation that will help these companies grow while preserving personal services.
The fact that she received recognition for being the Tourism Woman Entrepreneur of the Year means that she made an important contribution to one of the most vital industries in the Western Balkans region.
Marija Kukunoska, North Macedonia
Creating a Safe Workplace through Responsible Leadership
Green Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Founder: Premium Safety Solution
Industry: Workplace Safety, Risk Management & Business Compliance
The success of any organization relies greatly on its people, and providing a safe working environment is undoubtedly one of the main priorities of any company. Although development and profit generation are always in the focus of organizations, creating the culture of responsibility and reducing risks is crucial for building a sustainable and successful company.
Marija Kukunoska’s entrepreneurial career is based on this principle. As a founder of Premium Safety Solution, she provides her clients with solutions for improving workplace safety, achieving compliance and implementing efficient systems for securing their employees and their business from different risks. By focusing on making workplaces safer, she helps organizations to develop trusting relationships within the staff and foster their productivity.
Awarded the title of Green Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Marija proves that her mission to promote responsible leadership through helping organizations to achieve workplace safety is crucial. Investing into people is one of the best decisions that any organization can make.
Celebrating Six Women Shaping the Future of the Western Balkans
There are six entrepreneurs profiled in this piece who come from various industries, each with their own unique experience and style of leadership. All of the women highlighted here share an entrepreneurial spirit that values innovation and perseverance in building lasting value.
- Jori Vila – Social Star Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, who enables companies to build their brands with effective marketing and communication strategies.
- Tamara Djuric – Artistic Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, whose creativity and skills help transform fashion with sustainability in the contemporary era.
- Flandra Marmullaku – ICT Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, who equips organizations with artificial intelligence, analytics, and business intelligence.
- Aleksandra Simoni – Young Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, who designs innovative products out of recycled materials.
- Marija Kukunoska – Green Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, who champions responsible leadership by promoting workplace safety and compliance.
- Zeljana Vulovic – Tourism Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, who champions digital innovation in the hospitality industry and makes way for the future of tourism.
We at KOLEKR Insights take great pleasure in congratulating all six recipients of this much-deserved honour. We hope that they continue to be successful as they make their way through their entrepreneurial journey and inspire others while contributing to building a better Western Balkans.
