Testimonials and professional evidence of academic leadership, teaching, research and community engagement.
Perspectives & experiences
I want to take this opportunity to recognise the effort Dr Tilahun Mekonnen consistently put into
connecting SHU's teaching with industry practice. Coordinating guest contributions of this
kind takes real initiative - identifying practitioners with relevant, current expertise,
integrating their input meaningfully into the curriculum rather than as a one-off add-on, and
sustaining that relationship over multiple years.
Industry Expert - Guest Speaker
We are pleased to confirm that we have been working with TMS Global Marketing Agency a British business, since 1999
in the sector of academic references, textbooks
and office equipment.
We found TMS Global Marketing Agency to be an efficient, professional and committed business partner, and we have no hesitation in recommending them as a reliable supplier.
Manager
OAsis Abissinia Plc
Confirmation of Agency Representation and permission to supply / sale Cambridge University Press Publications to East African countries.
Press Intellectual Property Director
Cambridge University Press
Confirmation of Mr Tilahun Mekonnen's permission to supply and sell our publications to East African countries.
Regional Sales Manager
Confirmation of Mr Tilahun Mekonnen of TMS Global Marketing Agency permission to supply Elsevier's Publications to East Africa.
Head of Sales UK, Middle East & Africa
Elsevier
Confirmation of Mr Tilahun Mekonnen of TMS Global Marketing Agency's permission to supply/sell John Willy & Sons, Ltd. publications to East Africa.
Customer Sercie Manager
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Confirmation of Mr Tilahun Mekonnen of TMS Global Marketing Agency's permission to supply/sell Taylor & Francis Group Plc. publications to East Africa.
Assistant UK Sales Manager
Taylor & francis Group plc
We are pleased to confirm that we have been working with Mr Tilahun Mekonnen of
TMS Global Marketing Agency, a British business since 1998 in the sector of Printing machines, materials and accessories.
We found TMS Global Marketing Agency to be an efficient, professional and committed business partner, and we have no any hesitation in recommending them as a
reliable business agent & supplier.
General Manager
Tibeb Prnters Trading Plc
Dear Sirs/Madame,
We are writing to confirm that TMS Global Marketing Agency, of 28 Delph House Road, Sheffield, United Kingdom, is a registered UK company.
Further, the Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce has also confirmed that this company has a proven record of business operations between the UK and Ethiopia.
Please also be informed that TMS Global Marketing Agency has been a member of several Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce trade missions to Ethiopia.
trade and Investment Officer British Embassy - Addis Ababa
British Embassy
Tilahun has inspired our PhD candidates, junior colleagues, and students by sharing his lived experience and academic practice through webinars, conferences, and as a panellist at the Black History Month Event.
Key contributions are:
• PhD thesis: The lived experience of Black and ethnic minority Immigrant Entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire and the UK.
• Research Articles: 'The advantages of being disadvantaged'.
• 'Revisiting Resilience'.
National Teaching Fellow | Principal Fellow of Advance HE Senior Lecturer, Sheffield Business School
I have worked with Tilahun for several years, and he has always been a warm
and supportive colleague.
Tilahun has also been a core member of the Level 7 teaching team, leading the Entrepreneurship and Export Management modules, among others.
He has always cared deeply about providing students with the best possible experience. I have always appreciated his readiness to work collaboratively for the benefit of both students and the wider teaching team. His contribution to the course has been very significant, and I am
very grateful for it.
Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for MSc International Business portfolio
Sheffield Business School · Industry and Innovation Research Institute
Dear Tilahun,
Inspirational Teaching Awards 2022
I am pleased to be able to congratulate you on being nominated by your students for
being an Inspirational Teacher.
Dean, College of Business, Technology & Engineering
Sheffield Business School · Industry and Innovation Research Institute
Dear Dr Tilahun,
My name is Kingsley Okojie, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and express my deepest gratitude. You have been more than a lecturer to me—you were like a father figure, a true mentor. Watching you inspired me beyond words, and you helped shape who I am today.
You introduced me to Entrepreneurship and guided me through the world of export management. Every course you taught me and every piece of wisdom you shared made a profound impact on my life.
Aluni
Sheffield Business School of Sheffield Hallam University
Dear Dr Tilahun,
I hope this email finds you well.
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your invaluable guidance and support
throughout my Master's degree program. Your insightful feedback, encouragement, and
expertise played a significant role in shaping my research and helping me successfully
complete my thesis.
My experience working under your supervision has further solidified my passion for
international business and my desire to pursue further research in this field. Since
completing my Master's, I have been actively exploring PhD programs and believe that
continuing my research journey under your guidance would be an incredible opportunity.
PhD candidate
I’m writing to express my profound gratitude for your outstanding work as my tutor.
Your guidance and expertise in International Entrepreneurship are invaluable to me and have helped bring my
business idea to life.
A year ago, I shared my business idea with the class: creating an app that motivates cyclists to achieve their
fitness goals. I’m glad to share that the app is now running in Nigeria, and we recently added walking and running
challenges.
You were instrumental in making this happen, and my partner and I are really grateful for your academic
support. I’m confident that the lessons I
Founder of Goalr
Goalr
This is to certify that Dr Tilahun Mekonnen has served as the Chair of Public Relations for the Amhara Association in the UK, advocating for democracy and Human rights in Ethiopia.
Chair of Amhara Association in the UK
Amhara Association in the UK
Tilahun Mekonne's certificate of Appreciation for his continued contribution using an assumed (pen name) 'Yegonchaw'.
Editor
Quatero Net
My name is Wondimu Mekonnen, a retired academic from the University of
Buckingham and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I have also been an
active human rights activist for several years, leading the Ethiopian Civic
Consortium UK, which includes the Ethiopian Teachers Association Support
Group, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission Support Group, and Ethiopian Free
Press Journalist Association Support Group.
Dr Tilahun Mekonnen has made great intellectual contributions communicating on the
“Ethiopian Electronics Distribution Network” regarding the human rights
violations in his birthplace in Ethiopia. He was not just a prolific writer, but also
an accomplished poet, whose poems mainly concerned the killing, detention,
disappearances, and vanishing of people into exile.
Public Scholar
University of Buckingham
I am writing on behalf of the Ethiopian and Eritrean community at Sheffield Debre Mehret St Michael
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church to thank you for your continued service since August 2020.
I would like to recognise and thank you for your immense contributions, serving in various capacities. Such as: Chair of Housing and Development Committee, Vice Chair of the Parish Council, and secretariat and administrative duties.
Setting up and upgrading office and accounting systems.
Creating and maintaining records and meeting minutes to professional standards.
Liaising with and building relationships with local authorities, institutions, and professionals.
Preparing and presenting reports.
Reuniting community groups and parish councils
Providing support, leadership, and role-modelling for youth within our community.
Administrator
Ethiopian and Eritrean Community of Orthodox St Michael Church Eritrean in Sheffield
Credentials & contributions
This is to certify that Mr Tilahun Mekonnen, a managing director of TMS Global Marketing, an elected member of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Certificate of Membership
Certification and achievement of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Certification of Doctoral Supervision
Degree Award of Doctor of Philosophy in Recognition of Programme of Researchentitled ''Lived Experience of Black African Immigrant Entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire
Postgraduate Certificate Award in an approved programme in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCLTHE)
Award Degree of Master of Business Administration with Distinction (MBA)
Award a Master's degree in Economics (MSc)
This is to certify that Dr Tilahun Mekonnen has presented his research titled 'PebblePad as a Teaching and Learning Platform in Higher Education' at the European Conference on Education (ECE 2026). He has been assigned to chair a track for the same session during the 14th European Conference on Education in London.
This is to certify that Dr Tilahun Mekonnen, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at Sheffield Hallam University, has presented his research at the 12th European Conference on Education (ECE 2024).
Dr Tilahun's presentation of his Doctoral Thesis on 'The lived experience of BME Immigrant Entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire and the UK'.