Moving on: Interview with Maria Arakelyan, Departing Senior Economist at the JVI

Maria Arakelyan has been with the JVI since 2016. She spoke with JVI Newsletter staff about her experience and views on the JVI, her achievements and new challenges. 

Maria, can you give an overview of your role and key activities during your eight years with the JVI? 

It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown. This has truly been an amazing journey, and over the past eight years, my role at the JVI has evolved considerably, and I’ve had the chance to work on many different and exciting projects. When I joined, I was in the final stages of completing my PhD degree. In those early days, I focused on teaching a few courses each year while also contributing to corporate work—running participant and training director surveys, analyzing internal data, and building the infrastructure for more systematic data use by the JVI’s management. 

Over time, I’ve had the opportunity to teach a broad portfolio of courses covering key macroeconomic and policy areas. These included general macroeconomic analysis and forecasting, assessments of fiscal and external sustainability, financial vulnerabilities, and structural policy challenges. I’ve also contributed to curriculum development, including overseeing the design of the JVI’s first-ever course on climate change economics.

Delivering in-country courses across the JVI region has been another highlight, and the same applies to working with the IMF on technical assistance projects to support the development of macroeconomic forecasting capacity in partner countries.

How would you describe your work experience at the JVI? 

There are so many layers to this, but if I were to summarize—my experience at the JVI has been incredibly rewarding and has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally.

Despite being a relatively small institution, the JVI opens the door to a truly multicultural environment, offering many opportunities for learning and growth. 

I feel fortunate to have worked with so many talented and dedicated colleagues at the JVI over the years, and to have collaborated with staff from the IMF, and other partner institutions on courses, research, and technical assistance. These collaborations have been a valuable part of my professional development.

Another absolute highlight has been the interaction with public sector officials from across the JVI region. I did a rough calculation—of course, I’m an economist—and over these eight years, I’ve had the chance to meet around 1,000 participants and learn from their diverse experiences and perspectives. 

Was there a specific highlight for you during this period? Any anecdote you would like to share? 

It’s difficult to choose just one highlight - there have been many memorable moments and experiences. From casual coffee chats with colleagues in the 5th floor kitchen to engaging discussions with participants during workshops, lectures, and farewell dinners that sometimes ended with singing and dancing. I also very much valued working closely with colleagues, both in Vienna and during various missions to JVI countries. Navigating the shift to online teaching - and finding new, creative ways to keep participants engaged - was certainly challenging, but also a highlight in its own way.

But if I were to pick one theme that feels very “JVI” to me, it would be the sense of making a meaningful, even if small, contribution to building capacity and institutions in the region. This mission is no longer abstract for me—I can now attach names and faces to it. Over the years, I’ve seen participants return to the JVI, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to witness their professional growth—sometimes starting in junior roles and eventually taking on leadership positions in their institutions. Moments like these are wonderful reminders of the long-term impact this work can have on individuals, but also on the institutions they represent. That’s been one of the best highlights of my time at the JVI.

What are you looking forward to after the JVI? 

It’s a bit bittersweet, to be honest. I’ll definitely miss the people, the atmosphere, and the meaningful work we do here. But I’m also looking forward to taking on new challenges and continuing to learn and grow professionally. 

Rilind Kabashi, Senior Economist, Joint Vienna Institute