We are proud to announce a significant milestone at IEDC – Bled School of Management: Merita Gjyshinca Peja has successfully defended her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) dissertation, becoming the first graduate of IEDC’s DBA program.
Her dissertation, titled “The Presence and Impact of Different Board Characteristics on the Performance of Private Companies in Kosovo,” makes a meaningful contribution to the field of corporate governance, particularly in the context of emerging economies. Her work sheds new light on how board composition can influence company performance in privately held firms.
The defence took place on June 6, 2025, and was conducted under the mentorship of Prof. Arnold Walravens. The dissertation committee included distinguished faculty members: Prof. Dr. Philip Stiles, Prof. Dr. Andrew Pennock, Prof. Dr. Jennifer Pope, Prof. Dr. Danica Purg, and Prof. Dr. Hendrik (Drikus) Kriek.
This is a proud moment for Merita, her mentors, and the entire IEDC community. We extend our warmest congratulations on her exceptional achievement!