The Boardroom Talk Speakers
Dr. Damian Zech
- Board Member • CEO/COO • Investor
Dr. Damian Zech is an experienced board member and executive with over 20 years of leadership in CEO and COO roles across Switzerland and internationally in the financial services industry. He has a strong track record in driving strategic transformation, strengthening governance, and creating long-term value.
As a board member and advisor, Damian combines deep expertise in strategy, risk, and organizational development with a pragmatic focus on execution and results. He is recognized for effectively aligning shareholders, boards, and management to ensure strategic success in complex and competitive markets.
Beyond his board mandates, Damian is an active private investor in early-stage ventures and a member of the Start Angle Network (SAN) – a boutique Swiss investor club that often acts as lead investor for promising Swiss startups. Through his investment activities, he supports and coaches innovative entrepreneurs in building up businesses and organizations for growth.
Having lived and worked in Switzerland, the USA, and the UK, Damian brings a global mindset and the agility to navigate diverse, cross-cultural environments. He holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Zurich, is an McKinsey&Co and INSEAD alumnus, and is certified in Corporate Governance.
Shkendije H.
- Founder and CEO of Finance in Action
Shkendije is the Founder and CEO of Finance in Action, a boutique advisory firm specialising in diversified finance, institutional development, and sustainable growth across Southeast Europe. She is also the Co-Founder of Women on Boards, an initiative advancing gender diversity in corporate leadership and aligning national practices with the EU Women on Boards Directive.
A seasoned board member, trainer, and international mentor, Shkendije advises governments, development partners, and financial institutions on governance reform, capital-market development, and strategic leadership. Her collaborations include work with Global Affairs Canada, USAID, the EBRD, IMF, KfW, LuxDev, the World Bank, and the European Fund for Southeast Europe, contributing to initiatives that strengthen governance, investment ecosystems, and inclusive finance.
Before founding Finance in Action and Women on Boards, she served as Diversified Finance Lead at the U.S.-based firm DT Global, leading systemic financial-sector reforms to enhance investment readiness and access to capital markets. With over 18 years of executive experience at the Central Bank, Kosovo, she held senior roles in supervision, stability, risk management, and international relations, and was the highest-ranking candidate for Governor in 2023.
Her board experience includes chairing the Deposit Insurance Fund, serving on the Governing Council of the University of Prishtina and currently on the Board of the Kosovo-United States Alumni Association and as Vice Chair of Girls Football Club.