Available to hire
I am Besim Ismaili, a technology leader specializing in Solution Architecture, Data Engineering, and AI-powered analytics. Over the past two decades I have designed and delivered scalable BI, Big Data, and data science platforms that align with strategic business goals, using Azure-based data platforms (Data Factory, Synapse), Power BI, and a range of ETL and data-visualization tools. I have built SaaS solutions, advised startups and listed companies, and led cross-functional teams across Europe and Asia to turn complex data into actionable insights.
I am passionate about applying AI to grow B2B sales and optimize operations, with a focus on governance and responsible data practices. As a board-certified CTO and author on data strategy, I combine deep technical expertise with product and go-to-market experience to help organizations scale and compete globally.
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
Norwegian
Fluent
English
Fluent
Albanian
Fluent
Macedonian
Advanced
Croatian
Intermediate
Swedish
Intermediate
Work Experience
Co-founder and CTO/Data Scientist at ELA AS / ELA Analytics AS
October 1, 2016 - PresentLeading innovative data solutions for ELA AS and its spin-off ELA Analytics AS, focusing on data products from global and open data sources to serve specific business needs. Responsible for building the internal project Numus, a personal finance and wealth management platform recognized with innovation awards and operating on a tech stack of React, Python, MySQL, Azure ML, Microsoft Fabric, and Power BI. Also leading EcoSphere, a sustainability decision-making tool funded by the Research Council of Norway. Delivered multiple scaled client engagements involving architecture, data modelling, ETL, and BI solutions across sectors including transportation, healthcare, public health, retail, and finance using technologies like Snowflake, SAP BODS, Azure Data Factory, Power Platform, and SQL Server with CI/CD pipelines.
Senior Business Intelligence Consultant/Data Scientist – MS BI / Azure ML at GroupM AS
October 31, 2016 - August 22, 2025Architected and built the Nordic Enterprise Datawarehouse for cross-media data integration incorporating third-party sources. Developed solutions using Microsoft BI stack including SSIS, SSAS, MDM, Tableau, Qlik, and Power BI. Supported the expansion of the solution to the Netherlands, implemented CI/CD processes, and rebuilt SSAS models from Multidimensional to Tabular on Azure cloud.
Senior Business Intelligence (MS BI) Consultant/Data Scientist at Steria AS
May 31, 2015 - August 22, 2025Developed enterprise-wide BI solutions with Microsoft BI tools including SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, and T-SQL. Migrated ETL processes from Informatica to SSIS to reduce licensing costs. Engaged in data mining and predictive analytics projects using R and Python. Collaborated closely with business units to translate requirements into dimensional data models, OLAP cubes, and reports.
Senior MS BI Developer/Data Analyst at Nordic Choice Hotels ASA
April 30, 2014 - August 22, 2025Designed and implemented BI architecture and MDM strategies to support hospitality KPIs. Developed scalable OLAP cubes handling fact tables with hundreds of millions of rows. Used SSIS, T-SQL, Excel, Alteryx, and SAS for data aggregation, reporting, and visualization with Power BI and Tableau. Responsible for deployment, debugging, security configuration, and maintaining OLAP database servers.
Consultant Internship in ECM/MSBI at Capgemini Norway AS
August 31, 2009 - August 22, 2025Implemented Microsoft BI solutions as the company specialist in SSAS data modeling and MDX queries. Developed ETL processes, reports, and OLAP cubes with SSIS, DMX, and SSRS for various client projects, including compliance and data analysis initiatives.
Co-founder and CTO/Data Scientist at ELA AS/ELA Analytics AS
October 1, 2016 - PresentCo-founded a company that creates data products from global and open data sources to help businesses with external market data. Leading consulting services, platform development, and product innovation including projects like Numus (personal finance and wealth management platform) and EcoSphere (ESG decision support tool). Delivered data platform projects involving Azure technologies, Power BI, SQL, Python, and cloud-based CI/CD pipelines for clients including Ruter, Baneservice, NRVA, GK, and others.
Senior Business Intelligence Consultant/Data Scientist – MS BI /Azure ML at GroupM AS
October 1, 2016 - August 22, 2025Led the build of an Enterprise Data Warehouse for Nordic media agencies, integrating Marathon data and other third-party data sources. Developed and transitioned BI solutions to Azure cloud, re-building SSAS cubes and automating CI/CD pipelines. Built Power BI and Tableau reports, supporting media benchmarking and business analytics.
Senior Business Intelligence Consultant/Data Scientist at Steria AS
May 1, 2015 - August 22, 2025Implemented and managed business intelligence solutions using Microsoft BI tools including SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS. Designed ETL and reporting processes, developed OLAP cubes, and assisted in migration from Informatica to SSIS to reduce costs. Applied data mining and machine learning techniques with tools such as R and Python to predict business outcomes.
Senior MS BI Developer/Data Analyst at Nordic Choice AS
April 1, 2014 - August 22, 2025Responsible for the design and development of BI data warehouse solutions, supporting decision making with KPIs for hospitality business. Developed OLAP cubes, reports, and dashboards on large multidimensional datasets. Managed data integration and quality for a variety of enterprise systems using the MS BI suite.
Consultant Internship in ECM/MSBI at Capgemini Norway AS
August 1, 2009 - August 22, 2025Specialized in Microsoft Business Intelligence implementations focusing on SSAS data modeling and MDX query development. Participated in compliance projects and BI applications involving OLAP technology, ETL pipelines and reporting.
Co-founder & CTO / Data Scientist at ELA Analytics AS
October 1, 2016 - PresentCo-founded ELA Analytics; led development of data platforms and AI-enabled solutions, delivering end-to-end data architecture, ESG intelligence, financial analytics, and agentic AI systems for clients; built SaaS and consulting offerings; spearheaded Azure-based data solutions.
Data Architect / Lead Automation (IOSS) at Ruter
May 1, 2004 - February 28, 2005Designed, architected and built automated processes for the IOSS department, including automated delay processing, operator communications, and real-time data flows. Implemented event-driven architecture, data integration and standardization.
Data Warehouse Architect / Lead at FHI (Norwegian Institute of Public Health) – LMR Datavarehus
April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022Designed and built LMR data warehouse; delivered BeredtC19 data related to Covid-19 to analysts and government; built data pipelines from LIMS, PIMS, ERP, GL, NPR, KPR; implemented MDM, data modeling and CI/CD workflows.
Data Integration & Platform Architect at Helseplattformen
April 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022Integrated legacy municipal systems into Epic; managed data extraction and error correction for NPR and KPR ensuring data quality and regulatory compliance.
Oil & Gas Data Processing Lead at Cognite AS (Data Fusion projects)
November 1, 2020 - March 31, 2021Led data processing and ETL for Oil & Gas; planning, data management, and migration using Cognite Data Fusion; built data pipelines and dashboards.
PoT Project Lead – People Data at IKEA International
October 1, 2020 - June 1, 2021PoT project to engineer data from HR sources, profile data, ensure integrity and quality; loaded data into GCP BigQuery and built BI visualizations.
Atlas Data Platform Architect at Confidential – Atlas Data Platform
December 1, 2019 - September 30, 2020Led private Azure-based data platform development; central to data warehouse, data lake, and self-service BI initiatives; integrated multiple sources (LIMS, PIMS, ERP, CRM, SAP, AVEVA, Synergi, Kahuna).
Ruter – Ticket Inspection Analytics at Ruter
November 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019Short engagement to build reporting foundation for ticket inspection analytics; incorporated costs by vendor pricing models and enhanced analytics capabilities.
The ViT – Enterprise Data Warehouse Tech Lead at The ViT
April 1, 2019 - March 1, 2021Led architecture and development of an enterprise data warehouse using Data Vault concepts; integrated ~20 data sources; planned on-prem SQL Server and Azure-based warehouse; enabled dashboards and self-service BI.
Senior BI Consultant / Senior Data Architect at GroupM Nordic
October 1, 2015 - October 1, 2016Led cross-medial enterprise data warehouse (Mediacom, MEC, Maxus); migrated to Azure; built Power BI and Tableau dashboards; implemented CI/CD and MDM across Nordic region.
Senior MS BI Developer / Data Analyst at Nordic Choice Hotels ASA
May 1, 2010 - April 1, 2014Developed enterprise BI solutions, data architecture, MDM, ETL, and OLAP cubes; designed KPI frameworks and dashboards for hospitality operations.
Consultant – ECM/MSBI at Capgemini Norge AS
January 1, 2009 - August 1, 2009Internship focusing on MS BI and DWH implementations; SSAS data modeling; MDX; SSIS design; OLAP/MDM and reporting using SSRS.
Education
Bachelor Degree in Computer Science at University of Pristina
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2005Professional Education in Big Data and Data Science (Industrial Degree) at MIT
January 1, 2014 - December 31, 20145-year degree program, Department of Computer Science at University of Pristina
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2005Professional Education program in Big Data and Data Science (Industrial Degree) at MIT (USA)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014Bachelor of Computer Science at University of Pristina, Kosovo
January 1, 2000 - January 1, 2005Big Data and Data Science - Professional Education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014OOP in C++ and TCP/IP at Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Academic Training Association) – Pristina
January 1, 2002 - January 1, 2002Electromagnetic Compatibility at Concordia University (Held in Pristina)
January 1, 2002 - January 1, 2002Artificial Intelligence at Vienna University of Technology
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2003TOEFL Intensive Preparation Course at Arizona State University (Held in Pristina)
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2003CS50X/CS50 Courses in Computer Science at MIT/Harvard/Stanford/UC Berkeley/EdX Coursera
January 1, 2010 - January 1, 2013Qualifications
Board Certificate from Board Company
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) SQL 2008 Business Intelligence
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Microsoft Certified Professional
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Certified in Advanced Google Analytics
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) SQL 2008 Business Intelligence
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Microsoft Certified Professional
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Microsoft .Net Framework Foundation course
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Certified in Advanced Google Analytics
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Board Certificate from Board Company
January 11, 2030 - August 22, 2025Microsoft MCTS SQL 2008
January 11, 2030 - May 21, 2026Board Certificate (Board Company)
January 11, 2030 - May 21, 2026Author – Data Science for Digital Mavericks
January 11, 2030 - May 21, 2026Industry Experience
Financial Services, Healthcare, Transportation & Logistics, Retail, Professional Services, Government, Software & Internet, Energy & Utilities, Media & Entertainment
Building Ventures.
Driving Innovation.
ELA AS is a holding company owned by Besim Ismaili, focused on creating ecosystems that solve real problems using data, design, and emerging technology.
Web: [link](https://www.twine.net/signin
Portfolio: [link](https://www.twine.net/signin
ELA Analytics is a premier IT consulting and outsourcing company specializing in comprehensive data solutions. Based in Oslo, Norway, we combine Nordic innovation with global best practices to deliver transformative results.
From traditional business intelligence to cutting-edge AI implementations, we partner with organizations to unlock the full potential of their data assets and drive sustainable competitive advantage.
Agela is an AI-driven platform and project focused on building autonomous, agentic artificial intelligence solutions that can take on real work on behalf of users and organisations. It deploys agentic AI systems — intelligent software entities that don’t just respond to queries but can autonomously execute multi-step workflows, make decisions, and adapt in real time to changing conditions and goals.
In practice, Agela’s technology aims to act as a next-generation digital workforce: instead of static tools or simple assistants, its AI agents operate with goal-oriented autonomy, handling complex sequences of tasks across systems, reducing manual effort and enabling organisations to streamline processes and scale operations with less human oversight.
More about Agela, visit: https://www.twine.net/signin
This means Agela isn’t just about generating outputs on request — it’s about intelligent automation and autonomous action, moving beyond classic AI assistants toward systems that can perceive, plan, act, and adapt to deliver real outcomes.
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