Marija Ristovska

Leading the strategic and operational development of the Gender Equality Alliance, overseeing new partnerships, project applications, budgeting, and implementation of initiatives advancing workplace equality and women’s economic empowerment. Spearheaded the annual EqualXchange conference, a flagship event held on International Equal Pay Day, gathering 100+ participants and 25+ speakers to address workplace inequalities and promote women’s participation in entrepreneurship. Secured support from the private sector and from other key partners such as the ILO, USAID, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and the Cabinet of the President of North Macedonia. Developed high-impact campaigns for International Women’s Day and led capacity-building workshops on financial readiness and access to funding for women entrepreneurs, supported by Swiss EP, contributing to a more inclusive entrepreneurial and policy ecosystem.

Skills: Microsoft Office

Writing the project applications or proposals for collaboration, applying for funding from international donor organizations or private companies, planning, executing, and overseeing e-commerce projects, defining project goals, scope, timelines, budget, and resource requirements, assembling and leading a project team, assigning tasks, and ensuring effective collaboration. Experience with leading various remote project teams and leading many regional e-commerce-related projects. -Led the regional e-commerce web platform project (ecommerce4all.eu) for CEFTA, supported by GIZ. - Led the Agri e-commerce project, funded by the Swiss Increasing Market Employability Programme, mapping local agri-producers, enhancing their digital skills, and connecting them to leading e-commerce platforms in N. Macedonia. -Mystery shopper & project assistant for the Geo-blocking practices in CEFTA market analysis, funded by the CEFTA Secretariat. - Led the E-commerce 4 All project, supported by USAID, focusing on (1) developing an educational e-commerce platform (ecommerce4all.mk), (2) organizing five learn-a-ton trainings on e-commerce and digital marketing, and (3) providing financial & consultative support for 40 MSMEs to launch online stores. -Co-organized key regional events: Masterclass for Women in the Digital Economy (2019, 2021, UNCTAD), Annual E-commerce Conference, and the Hackathon Against the Grey Economy in E-commerce (2021). - Managed PR activities for the Association, coordinating marketing, PR, and email marketing teams. - eTradeforWomen Western Balkans Community Coordinator.

As a freelance marketing and PR consultant, I’ve partnered with local and international clients across diverse industries, including the telecommunication industry, newspapers and media, solar energy, flooring industry, automotive industry, ergonomics, prosthetics and orthotics, travel industry, and mobile apps for reading books. One of my dearest projects is promoting the Oscar-nominated Macedonian documentary Honeyland through local events and social media. I also work as a marketing strategist for an international company in the fertility sector.

I developed marketing strategies for Ars Lamina, Macedonia’s largest publishing house, and Literatura.mk, the leading bookstore chain, focusing on brand building, digital communications, event organization (book launches, fairs in Macedonia and Frankfurt), e-commerce updates, and CSR initiatives like donations and sponsorships. I coordinated marketing efforts across PR, design, video production, and media buying teams while managing digital strategies, email campaigns, ATL/BTL activities, and team-building events. In 2019, I was honored with the Macedonian Publishers Association’s "Social Responsibility" award for impactful projects and donations.

Leading the team of 40+ hospitality professionals from different nationalities from all over the world, while also taking care of communications and organization/hosting of corporate events and large group celebrations (for ex. the third edition of the Harper’s Bazaar Interiors Awards: https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/interiors/awards/harpers-bazaar-interiors-awards-2016) and preparing of daily and monthly financial reports.

Maintaining guest information in booking software ResPak and hotel software Opera, handling group bookings, satisfaction checks, planning reservations in ResPak, administrative work, statistics, maintaining VIP databases, preparing social media plans, preparing marketing plans, event calendars, activation of restaurant and hotel promotions etc. Helping with the duties regarding the management of the Zengo restaurant.

I began my journey at Technomarket as a Marketing Communications Assistant Manager and was promoted to Marketing Communications Manager within six months. In this role, I developed and executed marketing strategies, collaborating with in-house teams and external agencies to drive results for one of Macedonia’s leading electronics retail chains. Beyond Technomarket, I managed marketing communications for two other brands: the Italian home decor brand Coin Casa and the local home decor brand @Home. In 2013, I introduced Macedonia’s first "Black Friday" sale, achieving sales equivalent to two weeks' turnover in a single day. This milestone event became a beloved annual tradition for Technomarket. Under my leadership, Technomarket earned the title of "Biggest Corporate Donor for SOS Village Macedonia in 2013," showcasing the company’s commitment to community impact.

Building strong relationships with clients across diverse industries, managing daily communications, and ensuring their marketing goals are met. I develop and execute tailored marketing plans, including social media campaigns, BTL promotions, PR content, interviews, and event organization, while seamlessly coordinating with graphic design teams to deliver impactful results.

Skills: Microsoft Office