Tringa Ibrahimi’s story begins in the historic city of Prizren, Kosovo, far from the labs and lecture halls of Georgia Tech where she studies today. “When I was younger, I was much more focused on sports like basketball and karate, and also music” she told ATLANTIKU. “At that time, I knew very little about technology… the only thing I could really do was turn on the computer.”

Everything changed when she moved to Pristina and began studying at the British School of Kosova. Surrounded by classmates who were already experimenting with coding and robotics, Tringa became curious. “The school often organized technology activities, and that environment encouraged me to join programming courses” she said. “From that moment, everything started to change.”

She quickly discovered how limitless the digital world could be. “I was amazed by how technology allows people to create something entirely new just by typing on a keyboard or connecting a few components” she recalled. “I’ve always wanted to make a positive contribution to the world, and I realized that engineering is the best way for me to do that.”

Today, Tringa studies biomedical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. But reaching that point took determination, research, and persistence. “I always wanted to study in the United States, mainly because of the vast resources that universities here offer and the opportunity to live independently in a completely new environment” she explained. “I believed that such an experience would help me grow as a person, become more independent, and better prepared for future challenges.”

While still in high school, she began researching the best universities for engineering, focusing on biomedical programs. Georgia Tech stood out as one of the strongest in the world. “Although I faced ups and downs, I stayed active in extracurricular activities, founded clubs, launched startups, and worked with programming companies” she said. “Universities in the U.S. evaluate applications holistically, and from what I’ve seen, they value genuine impact. I believe that my work with Miket and Fotoel played a key role in my acceptance.”

Her Albanian roots remain central to who she is. “Being Albanian from Kosovo is one of the main things that defines who I am” she said proudly to ATLANTIKU. “I often talk about Kosovo and Albania here at Georgia Tech and whenever I travel abroad. What I love most about our culture is the spirit of generosity and willingness to help others. Growing up and seeing that, especially from my father, deeply influenced how I think and act. That’s why I see my role in technology as someone who uses it to improve the lives of others.”

When asked about her proudest work so far, she immediately mentioned Miket, a project that grew into a true movement. “With Miket, I feel that I have made a significant and lasting impact, creating a community that is truly meaningful” she said. “What began as a simple idea has grown into a vibrant and active community today.”

Tringa’s journey reached a new height when she became a finalist and later a winner of the Women in Tech Europe Awards, representing both Kosovo and the entire continent. “Being a finalist was an incredible experience, but learning that I had won was an indescribable moment” she said. “Now having the opportunity not only to represent Kosovo on a global stage, but also all of Europe, is a tremendous honor.”

“This recognition is very meaningful to me” she continued. “I believe that women in Kosovo work extremely hard, and their voices and contributions deserve to be seen and acknowledged worldwide. I hope that this recognition will have a positive impact for women in Kosovo and Albania and help open more opportunities for them.”

As part of the competition, Tringa submitted her personal website: tringaibrahimi.info – showcasing her achievements. “I believe the key factors that gave me an advantage were Miket, Fotoel, and the research I contributed to at Harvard Medical School” she explained.

One of her most exciting projects, Fotoel, was born at a hackathon in Kosovo. “My two friends, Ylli and Suela, and I wanted to create something entirely new” she recalled. “We weren’t very familiar with environmental topics at the time, but we started researching ways to make food waste useful. We realized that electricity generation is a huge environmental challenge, and that’s where the idea came from: to turn food waste into electricity.”

After weeks of testing, their prototype worked. “Our initial hypothesis proved correct, and we were able to generate electricity from food waste” she said. “This project requires a lot of research and attention to detail, but if we achieve everything we’re aiming for, I believe it could be revolutionary.”

Still, success has come with challenges. “Throughout my career in engineering, I have learned countless lessons, largely because I’ve made many mistakes,” she admitted. “One lesson I keep returning to is: never underestimate anything or anyone and never overestimate yourself.”

She has also learned to resist the urge to rush. “A challenge I’ve faced is losing focus and starting projects too early,” she said. “There are so many opportunities and exciting directions in technology that it can be tempting to try to do everything at once. Over time, I realized that true innovation requires patience, deep understanding, and careful execution.”

For young Albanian girls dreaming of entering science and technology, Tringa’s message is simple but powerful: persistence. “Science and technology can be challenging at times, but the effort is always worth it” she told ATLANTIKU. “STEM is an incredible field with endless possibilities, but succeeding in it requires both boldness and consistency. Another important piece of advice is to join technology communities. The support of people around me has been essential to everything I’ve achieved so far.”

As for her future, Tringa dreams big but stays grounded. “My goal is to make meaningful innovations and build a global technology community” she said. “And I have to say: the Albanian-American community is one of the most welcoming and supportive I’ve ever encountered. I’m truly grateful to have met such incredible people, especially here in Atlanta, who have offered me so much guidance and support.”

She ended her interview with a heartfelt message to ATLANTIKU readers: “Continue working hard, as you are doing, and know that your support and dedication make a real difference. Thank you for everything.”/ATLANTIKU