In addition to her formal education, Elma has attended trainings and seminars related to administration and human resources to stay updated on industry’s best practices. She started working in a legal department, where she also completed her professional internship.
“My first tasks were legal documentation and employment-related matters, and eventually I became more involved in employee relations and organisational processes,” she explains.
That experience led her into the field of HR.
“Here I am, ten years later, still growing and evolving within the profession. I enjoy engaging, supporting and communicating with colleagues, understanding their perspectives and contributing to a positive and functional work environment. I consider myself a people person who values interaction and the opportunity to help others navigate challenges and grow professionally,” she says.
Elma came across BIRN during her student years, while working on research related to transitional justice and war crimes.
“I had the opportunity to get closer to BIRN’s work, projects, and to topics that are of great importance and relevance. That first encounter left a strong impression on me and sparked a long-term interest in the organisation and its mission. So, when I later came across an open position at BIRN, I knew I had to apply,” Elma recalls.
As the only person dedicated to HR within BIRN Hub, her role is broad.
“It includes the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding, contract management and daily communication with staff, to ensuring legal compliance, supporting managers and teams, handling off boarding processes and collaborating closely with all departments across the organization,” she notes.
“I am also involved in maintaining HR records and data, supporting payroll and administrative processes, helping in coordinating professional development activities and contributing to internal policies and procedures. A significant part of the role includes being a point of contact for employees, advising and helping to resolve matters in a constructive and confidential way,” she explains.
Her position often involves balancing operational HR tasks with strategic thinking and continuous improvement of internal processes.
But, what did she expect when she first started working with BIRN, and has it met her expectations?
“What I expected was a working environment where I could grow professionally, meet inspiring people and have the opportunity to grow and gain more knowledge and experience in human resources,” she says.
“I have the opportunity to work on a daily basis with incredible people across the region and beyond, in a flexible environment that truly nurtures the principles I was looking for, not just in a job position, but in a profession I want to build myself. So, yes, it definitely met my expectations,” she adds.
What fulfills her the most is knowing that BIRN’s work does truly make a difference, and that one can positively impact other people’s lives.
“Not just only through formal processes, but also through organisational culture and everyday interactions and at the end of the day. At the end of the day, soft skills matter, and HR has a unique opportunity to bring positivity into a workplace simply by being present, by listening and engaging with staff,” she says.
Being part of people’s growth and development is also especially rewarding and it motivates her to improve herself and to learn and adapt.
“Every morning brings something new, different questions, conversations with employees or organisational needs to address. HR is about adapting and solving problems and every challenge is a chance to learn and improve. In today’s workplace, I would say HR plays a crucial and complex role. I am happy to be part of that journey,” she says.
BIRN is constantly growing. Back in 2005, five women from the region decided to establish it. Now, around 300 people work with it in various capacities. BIRN Hub has also grown and is constantly changing and improving its work.
“I am grateful to be part of an organisation that has existed for more than 20 years and has managed to preserve its mission and core values throughout different periods of change. Growth brings challenges, work dynamics evolve, teams expand and everything moves very fast in today’s world,” Elma observes.
She explains also how technological changes are a significant challenge in her work.
“HR needs to adapt quickly learning new platforms, supporting others through transitions and ensuring that processes remain efficient and accessible. This can sometimes be demanding, but it also pushes us to stay curious and look forward,” she says.
While it can be demanding to keep up with these changes, strong teamwork makes it achievable, she believes.
“The key is to continuously learn from new situations and use them as motivation to improve and move forward together. For me, this also means staying open to adapting, learning something new every day and applying those lessons in practice. When approached like this, change becomes an opportunity for growth,” she explains.
Elma says people are BIRN Hub’s greatest strength – dedicated professionals who work hard and actively contribute to BIRN’s mission.
“The level of commitment, knowledge and motivation you see across the team really creates a positive and supportive working environment. We collaborate with a large, diverse team, both regionally and internationally and the opportunity to work, create and learn together is amazing. Being exposed to different perspectives and experiences helps us grow professionally and keeps the work interesting and dynamic,” she says.
At the same time, it is important to remain aware of ongoing changes and to continuously invest in all aspects of work.
“As the organisation evolves, there is always space to strengthen and improve our internal processes. This also includes investing in human resources, strong HR systems, people-focused policies and continuous learning that is essential for sustainable growth,” Elma says.
After her working day, she likes to spend her spare time in specific ways. “I’m someone who truly enjoys the simple, beautiful things in life – a good book, lots of coffee, good food and spending time with people I care about,” Elma explains.
She especially loves cooking. “It allows me to slow down and be creative and share moments with others. I also enjoy creative activities, so outside of work you will often find me taking part in creative workshops.
“I really enjoy travelling and discovering new places, and I am using every opportunity to step outside my routine and explore something different,” she concludes.
