Indri Dyrmishi

“Entrepreneurship enthusiast, wannapreneur, driven to innovate and create meaningful impact through startups and education”

Hometown: Tirana, Albania

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve been to more than 35 countries and love exploring new cultures.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Tirana, Bachelor, and Master of Science in Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: American University of the Middle East, Lecturer and Entrepreneurship Hub Coordinator

What has been your favorite part of the Twin Cities so far? What has made it such a great place to earn an MBA?

One of my favorite parts of the Twin Cities has been the balance between urban life and nature. I love how easy it is to access beautiful parks and outdoor spaces, which offer a peaceful escape just a short distance from the bustling downtown area. The city’s walkability makes it easy to explore, meet new people, and enjoy the vibrant local culture. Whether it’s visiting local coffee shops, attending live music events, or walking around the lakes, the Twin Cities has a welcoming energy that makes it feel like home.

As a place to earn an MBA, the Twin Cities and Carlson provide opportunities to engage with faculty and peers from diverse backgrounds, which has been invaluable for broadening my perspectives. The city’s strong sense of community and its blend of innovation, education, and industry make the Twin Cities the perfect place to transform ideas into actionable, scalable businesses.

Carlson MBA spend a year in hands-on Enterprise programs for Consulting, Branding, Ventures, and Funds. Which program do you intend to enroll in? What excites most about your Enterprise program?

I’m excited to join the Venture program. My background in entrepreneurship, combined with my passion for scaling startups, makes this program an ideal fit to gain practical experience in launching and growing ventures. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded peers, work on real-world challenges, and gain exposure to venture capital and early-stage investments, which will be invaluable as I pursue my career in venture development.

Aside from your classmates, experiential learning, and location, what was the key part of the Carlson MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? 

Carlson’s entrepreneurial ecosystem stood out to me because of its strong focus on venture creation and unparalleled access to resources. The program’s emphasis on practical, hands-on learning aligns perfectly with my long-term goal of not only supporting startups but also driving innovation and helping emerging ideas transition into viable, market-ready solutions. Carlson’s commitment to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and creating opportunities for students to collaborate on real-world ventures is exactly what I need to achieve my career aspirations and contribute to the growth of the startup ecosystem.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

Leading the creation of the Entrepreneurship Hub at the American University of the Middle East, which empowered over 200 student startups, greatly enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem at the university, and helping students turn their ideas into real ventures.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

Maintaining strong academic performance while representing Carlson in the EMI Cornell Case Competition, where we secured 3rd place among 150 global schools. This experience helped sharpen my strategic thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

Competing in the EMI Cornell Case Competition has been my best memory so far. What made it even more special was the support we received from our peers, who cheered us on every step of the way. Their encouragement was incredibly motivating and made the experience even more rewarding. It was such a great feeling to know that we were not only competing for ourselves but also for our school, and the pride we felt is something I’ll always remember.