Софія

SOFIIA SHAKHOVA
[open contact info](look above in the "contact info" section) | [open contact info](look above in the "contact info" section)| LinkedIn

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Early-career researcher and analyst working in the field of economic development, emerging technologies, international affairs and strategic research. Experienced in investigating complex and rapidly evolving topics, evaluating evidence from academic, institutional and open-source sources, and translating research into clear, rigorous and accessible written outputs for professional and diverse audiences. Background spanning policy research, technology analysis, strategic research and international initiatives, with practical experience examining the economic, societal and policy implications of emerging technologies.

EDUCATION
• BBS (Hons) International Business 2024 – Present
Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland | First Class Honours (GPA: 3,7/4,00)
• BA in Philology and linguistics. Translating: English and Chinese 2022 – 2026
V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine | First Class Honours
• Educational Research Program: Global Invisible University 2025 – Present
Central European University, Budapest, Hungary / remotely
Projects: Multiple Citizenship in the European Union: Comparative Analysis of Ireland and Austria and Implications for Ukraine; course: Constitutional Stories of the EU (Grade A). The Invisible Border as an Economic Phenomenon: Ireland as a Case Study for Understanding the Economic Functions of Borders in Ukraine and Beyond; course: Borders and Spatial Imaginaries in Ukraine and Beyond (in progress).
EXPERIENCE
Research Fellow at Corporate Affairs & Business Strategy | EPIS | June 2026 – Present
• Research EU policy, regulatory and market developments across sustainability, corporate governance, ESG and digital industries.
• Assess emerging market and technology trends, developing insights into their potential impact on businesses and industries.
• Projects: How US Platform Dominance Shapes the Competitiveness of Europe’s Creative Industries?: analysed the impact of digital platformisation on market competitiveness, innovation, dependency and value capture in Europe’s creative industries. Building a Resilient Europe: examined European resilience, defence innovation, preparedness and the integration of security and civil protection systems.
Research Assistant at Analytical Department | Office Supporting Youth Delegates to the United Nations | August 2026 – Present
• Research international policy, youth policy and UN-related developments using institutional sources and open-source intelligence.
• Prepare analytical briefings and research materials to support stakeholder discussions, engagement and decision-making.
Volunteer Research Assistant | Youth Council under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine| July 2026 – Present
• Conduct research on foreign policy, international cooperation and European policy developments to support the Council’s analytical and programme activities.
• Research, analyse and synthesise information from diverse sources, including policy documents, institutional publications and open-source material.
Research Intern | Vox Ukraine | June – September 2026
• Conducted market and sector research on Ukraine’s defence-industrial sector and the transformation of the defence market during the full-scale war.
• Examined production localisation and domestic manufacturing capacity, assessing industry developments and their implications for businesses and policymakers.
Data Analyst | DAAD Student Market Research Project, DHBW Stuttgart, Germany | March – April 2025
• Conducted cross-border market research examining the impact of inflation and economic uncertainty on consumer behaviour.
• Designed and administered a survey with 150+ respondents and analysed quantitative results using QuestionPro and Jamovi.
• Identified consumer response patterns and translated quantitative findings into clear insights presented to a faculty board.
SKILLS
Research Methods: Primary and Secondary Research; Desk Research; Evidence-Based Research; Literature and Database Research; Market Research; Qualitative and Quantitative Research; Source Evaluation; Trend Analysis
Data Tools: Microsoft Excel; Word; PowerPoint; Power BI; Tableau; QuestionPro; Jamovi; SimilarWeb; Survey Design; Data Visualisation; Quantitative Data Analysis; Data Reporting
Business Research: Corporate Research; Corporate Strategy; Economic and Regulatory Research; Competitive Intelligence; Corporate Governance; Business Environment Analysis; Emerging Trends; Strategic Issue Analysis
Professional: Research Writing; Report and Briefing Preparation; Presentation Development; Stakeholder Engagement; Professional Communication; Public Speaking; Analytical Problem-Solving; Data-Driven Decision-Making; Attention to Detail; International Teamwork; Time Management; Prioritisation

LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEERING
Young European Ambassador
• Published analytical blogs and articles covering European integration, democracy, youth engagement, and cultural diplomacy.
• Contributed to 10+ educational events, university workshops, and public discussions promoting EU values and civic participation.
The Big Audit Theory | Deloitte |Participant | June–July 2026
• Completed intensive training in financial accounting, management and cost analysis, financial statement evaluation and business case analysis.
Youth Policy Dialogue 2026
Participant | Chișinău | May–Jun 2026
• Participated in discussions on democratic resilience, countering disinformation, and EU information security.
• Explored policy responses to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
European Student Assembly
Panel Contributor | European Parliament | Apr 2026
• Collaborated with an international panel (Panel 3: Aligning budget with impact) to develop 3 policy recommendations on defence spending, civil protection, and democratic accountability.
Deloitte Sustainability and AI Competition | Technological University Dublin| Participant | March 2026
• Researched and presented ABN AMRO’s sustainability strategy, focusing on ESG reporting and its impact on investment attractiveness.
• Analysed ESG factors and their implications for business value, developing research, analytical and presentation skills.
Social Entrepreneur School | IBS, Fil. Dr. Jan-U. Sandal Institute | May 2025
• Completed an international programme in social entrepreneurship, innovation management, and service vision management.
Jean Monnet Module – Financial System Institutional Transformations in the Era of Digital Economics (FSITDE)| Oct 2023 – Jun 2024
• Researched EU financial regulation, fintech, digital banking, CBDCs, and cryptocurrency governance.
Legislative School 4.0 | NGO “Generation U”| Participant | July – Aug 2026
• Completed a practical programme covering legislative processes, social and policy problem analysis, preparation of analytical briefs, legislative research and OSINT.
• Conducted research on a proposed system for individual military service credit tracking, analysing the relevant policy issue and legislative context.

HOBBIES
Writing & cultural research, youth policy competitions, public speaking, volunteering, coaching and peer mentoring.

LANGUAGES
English (Fluent, C1) | Ukrainian (Native) | Chinese (Intermediate, B1)

REFERENCES
Available upon request

RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC CONTRIBUTIONS
Published Papers
• Seleznova H., Shakhova S., Melnichenko O. I. “Marketing Analytics as a Tool of Strategic Adaptation of the Enterprise.” Ukrainian Journal of Applied Economics and Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 83–86, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36887/2415-8453-2026-2-14 [in English]
• Shakhova, S. A. “Accounting in Crisis Conditions: The Role of Consulting Companies in Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.” X All-Ukrainian Scientific-Practical Conference of Higher Education Students and Young Researchers “Accounting, Analysis, Audit, Taxation and Financial Monitoring: Contemporary Development Concepts”, Section 2: Business Consulting and Outsourcing in Accounting. URI: https://ir.kneu.edu.ua/handle/2010/50687 . [in Ukrainian]
Conference Presentations and Other Academic Activities
• Presenter, X International Student Scientific Conference “Interdisciplinary Scientific Research and Prospects for Their Development”, Section: Philological Sciences and Social Communications, May 2026. Presentation: “Specific Features of Translating Economic Texts in the Context of Intercultural Communication (Chinese–English Aspect).” DOI: https://doi.org/10.62732/liga-inter-05.06.2026 [in Ukrainian]
• Speaker, All-Ukrainian Remote Scientific and Methodological Conference “The Issues of Oriental Studies in Ukraine”, 2023–2025, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. Delivered three annual presentations: “The Rise of Unemployment in China as a Consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic” (2023); “Green Production in China: Challenge and Economic Capacity” (2024; URI: https://ekhnuir.karazin.ua/handle/123456789/18552); and “Modernization of China’s Manufacturing Capacities: The Impact of Industry 4.0 on Competitiveness and Economic Leadership”(2025; URI:https://ekhnuir.karazin.ua/handle/123456789/20981).