Madara Apsalone

Senior Investment and Trade Promotion Specialist

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Riga, Latvia

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Timeline
About me
Ph.D, MBA, Global Business and External Affairs
Education
- Riga State Gymnasium No.1
  1998 - 2004
  Secondary school mathematics, IT
  Activities and Societies: European Youth Parliament
- Latvijas Universitate
  2008 - 2011
  Master of Science - MS International Business and Economics
  Certificate of Distinction for the master's thesis: “Socio-cultural Factors and National Competitiveness.”One of 36 students selected worldwide to present a paper on student mobility at the Education Without Borders 2009 Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- Copenhagen Business School
  2006 - 2006
  Erasmus Exchange Management, Cross-cultural Communications
  Activities and Societies: Venture Cup Courses – innovation management in knowledge society, introduction to quantitative business research methods, communication across cultures in Europe and intercultural business communication.
- San Jose State University
  2008 - 2008
  ISEP exchange Business Administration
  Activities and Societies: SJSU Entrepreneurial Society
- Thunderbird School of Global Management
  2010 - 2010
  MBA Global Management (with distinction) - #1"Best in International Business" MBA by Financial Times '10
  Activities and Societies: Fulbright Scholar, Beta Gamma Sigma, Pi Sigma Alpha. Chair for Thunderbird Student Government and Thunderbird Management and Consulting Association. Member of the International Development Association and Project Management Club. Consulting projects:Electric vehicle infrastructure development for “Arizona Public Service” (APS)Viral marketing and social networking strategies for startup “Trolley Cards.” Strategic communications and brand development for predictive modeling company “Adaptive Technologies Inc.”
- EM Strasbourg Business School
  2009 - 2009
  Summer university European Business, European Studies
- Latvijas Universitate
  2004 - 2008
  Bachelor of Science - BS Management, International Economic Relations
  Activities and Societies: Students Council of the Faculty of Economics and Management Certificate of Distinction for Bachelor thesis: “Socio-economic Networks as Innovation Facilitators in Latvia.”Won 1st place in national business plan and case study competitions by the Latvian newspaper “Daily Business” in 2006 and 2007. Developed business plans in a team of four people for rapeseed biofuel production and straw oven implementation. Solved cases of Stella Artois global branding and Harley-Davidson development perspectives.
- Latvijas Universitate
  2015 - 2020
  Ph. D. Business/Managerial Economics
  Activities and Societies: Research Projects: - Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) by the Social Science Humanities Research Council of Canada and Simon Fraser University, Canada. Country Co-Investigator for Latvia. - Innovation to Boost the Competitiveness of Latvian Companies and Industries in a Globalized World. - Public Involvement in Social Innovation Processes for Sustainable Development of Latvia (National Research Program EKOSOC LV). Doctoral Thesis - Impact of Organizational Culture and Knowledge Management Processes on Organizational Innovation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
Experience
- Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
  Aug 2005 - Jan 2008
  Senior Investment and Trade Promotion Specialist
- Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
  Jul 2007 - Jul 2014
  Liaison Officer, Committee Chair, National Representative of Latvia
- Adaptive Technologies, Inc.
  Sept 2010 - Dec 2010
  MBA Project Consultant
- Mayu
  Dec 2010 - May 2011
  Marketing and Business Enhancement Consultant
- Finanšu ministrija/ Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia
  Nov 2011 - Feb 2014
  Desk Officer of International Economic and Financial Affairs
- European Commission
  Oct 2013 - Dec 2013
  National Expert - Economic and Financial Affairs
- Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia
  Feb 2014 - Nov 2016
  Head of International Cooperation and European Union Policy Division
- Philip Morris International
  Nov 2016 - now
  External Affairs Manager of Latvia
  Developed and executed PMI's public policy agenda for regulatory and fiscal affairs in Latvia. Managed government and stakeholder relations, public affairs consultancies, and represented PMI Latvia in business associations.Managed corporate communication and media relations.Designed and coordinated initiatives for illicit trade prevention and brand protection. Led the implementation of the EU Tobacco tracking and tracing project in Latvia, earning a Recognition for Excellence Award.Designed and implemented corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives, including anti-littering projects with leading environmental organizations. Contributed to establishing the first extended producer responsibility system for tobacco products with filters in Latvia. Show less
Licenses & Certifications
- Coaching as a Contemporary Management Style
  "MC Alfa - mācību centrs"
  Nov 2022
- Global Management Communication
  Thunderbird School of Global Management
  Dec 2010
- EU Institutional Framework, Decision-making, Meeting Management, Negotiation, Document Development
  European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA)
  Apr 2014
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
  Project Management Institute
  Aug 2011
- Communications Leadership in the Transformation Era
  Thunderbird School of Global Management
  Oct 2019
- Digital Marketing
  "MC Alfa - mācību centrs"
  Apr 2021
- Successful Cities: Strategies for Management
  Nordregio
  Dec 2006
- Certificate of Excellence in Cross-Cultural Research
  Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University
  Feb 2021
- Crisis Communication Training Program
  Dods Political Intelligence
  Aug 2014
- Digital Campus Core Certificate Program
  Philip Morris International
  Feb 2020
  View certificate
Honors & Awards
- Awarded to Madara Apsalone
  Recognition for Excellence Award - Jun 2019 For implementation of the EU Tobacco tracking and tracing project in Latvia
- Awarded to Madara Apsalone
  Letter of Gratitude Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia Jul 2015 For significant contribution to Latvian presidency of the EU Council
- Awarded to Madara Apsalone
  Erasmus Student Ambassador of Latvia European Comission Jan 2012 In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Erasmus programme the European Commission has chosen one student and one staff member to represent each country, based on the impact Erasmus has had on their professional and private lives, as well as on their contribution to the Erasmus programme.
- Awarded to Madara Apsalone
  Certificate of Distinction The University of Latvia Jun 2011 For master thesis: “Socio-cultural Factors and National Competitiveness”
- Awarded to Madara Apsalone
  Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Dec 2010 The International Honor Society Recognizing Business Excellence
- Awarded to Madara Apsalone
  Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society Dec 2010 The National Political Science Honor Society
- Awarded to Madara Apsalone
  Certificate of Distinction The University of Latvia Jun 2008 For thesis: “Socio-economic networks as innovation facilitators in Latvia”
Volunteer Experience
- Board Member, Coordinator of International Affairs
  Issued by The National Youth Council of Latvia on Apr 2009
  Associated with Madara Apsalone