Erila serves as the Chief Operations Officer and Director of Partnerships for the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI), the world’s largest certifying body and professional network of innovators, headquartered in Cambridge, US. The organization’s mission is to democratize innovation worldwide. Erila oversees a network of 33 Certified Training Partners, supporting them in expanding markets for innovation management training and consultancy across six continents. She manages a community of 18,000 members, including ambassadors, ISO Committees, and a Think Tank that hosts speakers from around the world to discuss innovation. Additionally, she oversees a network of futuristic centers of excellence and universities that have integrated innovation courses into their curricula. She is a board member of several organizations, providing her expertise in innovation.

Erila is also the founder of Voice of Women in Innovation, a network of more than 60 women members dedicated to increasing women’s involvement in innovation teams and decision-making processes.

During her tenure, she has tripled the network of partners and countries and established strategic partnerships with governmental bodies. Erila has mentored hundreds of professionals in utilizing world-class innovation tools and methodologies to drive tangible innovation outcomes. She initiated and facilitated a merger with the International Association of Innovation Professionals (IAOIP), strengthening GIMI with approximately 18,000 members, an International Journal on Innovation & Science, a Career Site dedicated to innovation jobs, and a community management platform. Under her leadership, revenues tripled. She led the development of new innovation programs, including individual and organizational assessments, innovative training courses for various stakeholders, and tools enhancing services and financial growth for companies and governments.

Erila is affiliated with IXL Center, serving as an innovation management consultant for diverse sectors such as universities, public institutions, and Fortune 500 companies including Airbus, Royal Caribbean Group, and Sunlife. Her expertise spans industries including banking and insurance, aviation, hospitality, telecommunications, food and beverage, healthcare, and education.

Previously, Erila worked in the nonprofit sector, collaborating with donors such as the EU, USAID, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and mastering skills such as project proposal writing and fundraising. She led programs on social entrepreneurship, startups, philanthropy, youth empowerment, and strengthening partnerships between the private sector and NGOs. She has mentored and trained hundreds of social enterprises, startups, and NGOs on diversifying funding sources. She managed large sub-granting schemes targeting green startups and social enterprises and authored academic articles and reports at the European level on topics including social enterprises, youth startups, philanthropy, crowdfunding, and fundraising.

During her tenure in the nonprofit sector, she designed notable initiatives in the Western Balkans, including the Giving Circle—a live crowdfunding platform to fund social causes; Dua Partners Invest—a matchmaking platform connecting investors, consultants, and startups; support for the creation of municipal career centers; and programs empowering high school students to develop community projects.

Erila has also taught nearly 1,000 students on strategic management and decision-making at the University of Tirana. She holds a Master of Business Administration and various specializations and executive education programs from institutions such as MIT Sloan School of Management and Stanford University.