As a woman in Albania’s sports arena, Denisa Bishqemi has spent years surrounded by men, but she recognizes the need for Albania’s women to get off the sidelines, and the potential they have to change the game forever. “I want to invest in myself and invest in my country on behalf of all women,” she says.

Since she was a young girl, Denisa knew that sport would be an important part of her life. Starting out as a rhythmic dancer, she understood from an early age that participating in sport represented something bigger: engagement, competition, diplomacy, and opportunity. Now, with more than 25 years of sports experience, including ten years as the Communications and Projects Director with the Albanian Basketball Federation (ABF), Denisa is running her own NGO, Rrno Per Me Krijue (Live to Create), where she’s using sport and education to empower women in her community.