Lela has more than twenty years of work experience in the field of international development. She has worked in programs, grants management, administration, and finance sections of development projects at various international organizations such as: the Europe Foundation, Institute for Sustainable Communities and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). 

Her main fields of expertise are finance, grants, and contracts. She also has extensive teaching experience at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

Lela holds a master’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance.