Leyla Valiyeva

Leyla Valiyeva was the first Azerbaijani to ever compete in the skill of Cooking, at WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition.

Born and raised in Moldova, she discovered her passion for food at a young age, inspired by her mother. After moving to Azerbaijan, she pursued formal culinary training at CÀSÀ Culinary Arts Center in Baku, earning Level 2 and Level 3 certificates from City & Guilds.

Upon graduation, she was offered a job as a Student Ambassador Chef, taking up different roles from lecturing to public speaking, to event management. As her school is the official partner in Cooking for WorldSkills Azerbaijan, it made it easy for her to remain closely involved with the WorldSkills movement, assisting in training programs, mentoring new candidates, and helping organize selection processes. She is also a member of the Culinary National Team of Azerbaijan, and has been an active competitor in various international culinary events.

Leyla acknowledges the challenges that many women face when entering the culinary profession, particularly those from conservative backgrounds. Despite these challenges, she remains steadfast in her mission to become a chef, and hopes to be a role model for other women and girls in her country aspiring to make a career in this sector. Additionally she promotes sustainable, plant-forward cuisine, aiming to shift culinary culture in Azerbaijan and beyond.

With her international experience and dedication, Leyla is eager to use her new role as WorldSkills Champions Trust for MENA to support and inspire young skilled professionals across the Middle East and North Africa.