[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1586197115242{margin-top: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our expert speakers, generously share their knowledge in specialized fields such as science-innovation-medicine-technique-art, and many more trendin topic.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Hakan
Çelik
Journalist, Columnist, Radio and Television Presenter
Biography
Who is Hakan Çelik?
He was educated in Communications at Istanbul University. He completed Master’s degree programs on “Science fiction cinema” in the Faculty of Communications and on “Political structure of the European Union” in the Faculty of Political Science at his alma mater. He had an apprentieship at the BBC, Glasgow – 1990. Çelik was granted scholarship from the British Foreign Office.
Hakan Çelik
He entered media; Günaydın-1988, became one of the first private radio broadcasters in Turkey, Later, he joined Hür FM, a Hürriyet Radio, and produced shows for Show Radio. He produced and presented the TV show “Weekend” Haberturk TV, weekend moderator of the morning shows Kanal 24. He was the commentator TRT Radio 1 program “Gündem”, and representative of CNN Türk, Kanal D in and also Posta Ankara. He is a co performer at Parametre, and is producing CNN Türk Hafta Sonu Keyfi.
Doğan
Taşkent
Electrical – Electrophysics Engineer, Innovation Consultant
Biography
“Incentive is like drug for the survival of a startup, issuing invoices is what entrepreneurs need. That is to say, large companies should use the products or services of that startup.”
Doğan Taşkent, member of the İndeks Speaker Agency, is one of the most eminent speakers on the topics of entrepreneurship, innovation, competition and startup ecosystem etc. He worked as R&D engineer, expert consultant and training expert during 1998-2005 at the fiber optic network systems division of Lucent Technologies Bell Laboratories (New Jersey). During this period, he undertook the installation of electro-optic network infrastructure of Verizon, BT, Telia, Deutsche Telekom, Global Crossing, Qwest and UPC in different continents. He offered consultancy services to Lucent Worldwide Services in New York on the areas of “Knowledge Management”, “Competency Management” and “Telecommunication Technologies”. Taşkent, who has been working as the company-restructuring consultant for Arkan & Ergin Kurumsal Finansman on the telecommunication, renewable energy and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey since 2006, has played a major role in the birth of several business plan competitions and startup companies.
Doğan Taşkent, who gives us insight into the latest developments in entrepreneurship as a speaker at conferences, states that entrepreneurship also existed in the past but it was “incomplete”. Taşkent suggests that the six pillars of Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Culture, Law and Support used by all companies worldwide, as described in the Babson College model, are required for the creation of a sustainable ecosystem. Taşkent states that Turkey has demonstrated rapid progress in this area with the increased amount of investments in the Internet, gaming and mobile technologies during the last five years, but he also emphasizes that more effort should go into developing biotechnology, nanotechnology and green technology products.
Who is he?
Having completed his bachelor’s degree at the Electrical Engineering School of Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich in 1993, he joined the master program of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and then won a scholarship at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, and he began to conduct researches in the area of electrophysics, focusing in particular on the lasers. He received graduate degrees in electrophysics and technology MBA. Taşkent, the founding chairman of MIT Enterprise Forum Turkey, is also a member of the advisory board of Endeavor Turkey. Taşkent has been the Chairman of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Turkey since 2012 and he is the Vice President of the Turkish-Swiss Business Council of DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board). In addition to Turkish, he also gives presentations in English and German.
Speech Topics
- Artificial Intelligence
- The secret for developing technology
- Industry 4.0; Any Good for Turkey?
- Dissociating techonology
- Operational efficiency; The Swiss model
- Entrepreneur; need to be a gladiator
- Formula for Turkish “Elon Musk”
- You are in the heart of Mahmutpaşa, not in the Silicon Valley!
- Technology-Life Cycle
- Strategic Thinking Over Chess
- Darwin, Feminism, Bazaar; catching the innovation link?
Başak
Özer
Technology Manager, Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Strategy Consultant
Biography
Entrepreneurial executive with a track record of commercializing new technologies and leading VC-backed B2C & B2B businesses to successful exits and post-exit integration. Comfortable operating in startup, scale-up and turnaround situations and diverse geographies including Europe and Asia.
Functional expertise in product development, strategy, go-to-market, sales/business development and new market entry, marketing and incubating new businesses. Investor/Advisor to various start-ups.
Experience includes: Autonomous Vehicle Technologies, IoT, Sensors, Cloud, Location Based Services, Automotive, Product Innovation ‘from idea to full execution’. 2 major start-up exits, 2 GM roles at Fortune 50 companies with $100M+ P&L’s. Extensive global experience.
Saffet Emre
Tonguç
Historian, Travel Writer, Professional Guide
Biography
“Passion for travelling comes from seeing the world as a jigsaw puzzle. Every trip will be a piece in this puzzle.”
Passion for travelling is genetic
Saffet Emre Tonguç travels, takes photographs and writes. Tonguç made it his profession to leave his home behind and travel. He explains his feelings thus: “passion for travelling is genetically coded into people. For me, this desire has broadened my horizons and perspectives. For most people life consists of working and acquiring property. For me, the important thing is to acquire mental affluence.”
Tonguç has been on numerous expeditions and journeys to more than one hundred countries. He says that Turkey should in theory be one of the world’s premier travel destinations, but there are major deficiencies in the way the country is promoted abroad. “Turkey is the shortest distance between points A and B. For this reason, an amazing number of civilisations left their mark on the country. One of the most reliable guide books, Lonely Planet, says ‘If you want to see Greek ruins, go to Turkey, not to Greece; if you want to see Roman ruins, go to Turkey, not to Italy’. This is so true! But we are not aware of this and we don’t appreciate it. I have been to more than one hundred countries; of all these places, Anatolia made one of the greatest impressions on me.”
Who is Saffet Emre Tonguç?
Saffet Emre Tonguç started working as a tour guide in 1987 whilst studying tourism. Since 1990 his amateur photographs have appeared in various international publications, primarily in the USA and Australia. He was a narrator on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” In 2005, he received the Rotary Club’s Professional Excellence Award. He has travelled to around one hundred countries both for professional reasons and personal interest. He was named Turkey’s most well-travelled tour guide by the Turkish Association of Tourist Guides in 2005. He holds the award for “Best Travel Writer 2006.”
Speech Topics
- 101 places to see: In the World, in Europe, in the USA and in Turkey…
- Istanbul and night
- Wealths of Turkey
- Exclusive routes
Aslı
Zuluğ, Dr.
Food Engineer, Academician, Entrepreneur
Biography
Dr. Aslı Zulug obtained her B.Sc. degree from Ege University Department of Food Engineering in 2003 and M.Sc. degree from Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH) Greece in 2006 about Business Management and Economics and, her Ph.D. degree from Ege University, Department of Agricultural Economics in 2010 and studied about consumer preferences on country of origin food products. Since 2008 she had worked as a food safety team leader in Swissotel the Bosphorus. During her sectoral activities she was giving part time lectures about food safety, nutrition, food politics and food and beverage management subjects in state and foundation universities. Since 2015 she is writing the column magazine about food hygiene and food economics subjects in “Gıda Türk”.
Wilco Van
Herpen
Traveler, Photographer, Cook, Journalist, TV Producer
Biography
Wilco van Herpen, represented by Indeks Speaker Agency, is a modern-day traveler and cook as well as an accomplished photographer. He is on occasion referred to as the Northern traveler”, “avid adventurer, “enthusiastic foodaholic”, or “extraordinary photographer”.
Wilco van Herpen is a Dutchman who has settled in Turkey for long time. He has taken a fancy on this country, to which he came by coincidence, and never left. Wilco van Herpen lives and works in Turkey since 1999 and has a quite adventurous life. Wilco van Herpen is a speaker in demand by people in search of extraordinary stories from a different perspective. Wilco van Herpen gives speeches on exciting life stories, travel adventures, breaking habits, cliche-free photography, extraordinary culinary tastes and many other issues on life. He also continues to produce TV shows and participate in photograph exhibitions.
Born in Bussum, the Netherlands, Wilco started cooking in his early days following the footsteps of his father and worked as a cook for 17 years after the culinary academy. He then studied photography and started to work in this area. He came to Turkey in 1999. He started here as a photographer but changed course to TV shows he produced for TRT, TV8, TRT Avaz, IZ TV, NTV and CNN Türk. After working as a production and camera assistant for Coşkun Aral’s “Haberci” team for long time, he produced “Kaçış Planı” for TRT2. Kaçış Planı was a start for Wilco. He made a strong connection with the Turkish audience with “Wilco’nun Gözü” on TV8, “Wilco’nun Karavanı” on IZ TV, “Wilco’nun Seçimi” on NTV and “Yabancı Değil” on TRT Avaz and he was granted with the “Modern Evliya Çelebi” award in 2011 for his documentaries and travel shows.
“Wilco ile Pazar Pazar AB” on Skytürk360, “Yemek Takımı” on Kanal D, “Wilco Yollarda” on CNN Türk as well as “Wilco ile Yaşasın Yemek”, “İki Göz Bir Şehir” and “Wilco’nun Karavanı” Iz TV are ongoing. In his shows, he always maintained his sincerity and explained Turkey from the perspective of a ‘foreigner’, a gourmet and an artist in a funny, humanistic, environmentally-conscious manner.
Who is Wilco van Herpen?
He was born in 1963 in the Netherlands. He followed his father’s footsteps and started as a cook. While working as a cook for a hotel in the Netherlands, he came to Turkey for the first time in 1988 with his girlfriend of Turkish origin. He started photography after he went back to his native country. He travelled in South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho and returned to the Netherlands as a freelance photographer. Wilco worked as a freelance photographer for the Dutch media and took photographs during the Gazi District incidents in 1995. This was his first connection to Turkey. In 1999, he decided to come to Turkey and live in Istanbul. He served as the representative of the Dutch state television in Turkey. He also worked as a chef for a number of restaurants. From 2011 to 2014, he had a column at Hürriyet Daily News. Wilco Van Herpen is a documentary producer, cook, photographer and journalist, continues to take part in exhibitions and slide shows and gives seminars.
Speech Topics
– The unbearable lightness of breaking a habit
(Surprising consequences of travelling, leaving your comfort zone, discovering different cultures, experiencing the daily habits of other people in the context of their socio-cultural circles. Unpredicted striking effects of travelling on personal development and relations. Discovering the limitlessness of your spiritual limits as you back away from your physical boundaries.)
– Exceptional culinary experiences: Different tastes, experiences to break down your culinary prejudices
(Contrary to the trendy gourmet tours, breaking the limits and monotony of the well-known tastes and points of interest, changing the concept of being a tourist into a local of the region, following the ordinary people and discovering local tastes on the streets, small shops and local markets.)
– Cliche-free photography: Striking and obscure shots from life
(Journeys specific to those who wish, rather than seeking for the best light, weather condition, depth, frame, material or model, listening to the voice of the soul in search of extraordinary shots right in the middle of the ordinary and simple.)
– A poetic journey to stop the time: Photography
(The art of photography from 80s to contemporary times from Wilco Van Herpen, professional photographer. Remarkable artists he met, countless photography travels… The journey of photography, arguably the form of art most effected and inspired by the technologic improvements and the digital boom which made its way to the daily lives of everyone. Reasons and consequences of the keen interest in photography by almost every person.
– My home: Turkey-the country I was not born in
(Turkey from the perspective of a Northern traveler. A person who lives, falls in love, becomes a father here, lover, father, artist, traveler, photographer, journalist, cook… What he likes and hates most, what he is tolerated for, what he is loved, blamed, alienated for… Out-of-the-box perspectives from a 20-year experience in Turkey…)
Yılmaz
Argüden
Chairman, ARGE Consulting
Biography
“In order to make corporate change happen, there should be role models at every level of the organisation united around the same goal.”
The anatomy of change
Yılmaz Argüden is a successful name, well-known to the Turkish and foreign business world. The man behind a number of projects that are now used as models world-wide, Dr. Argüden continues to carry out effective projects in international organisations and establishments. He is an executive who has attracted a lot of attention for his volunteer activities and social responsibility initiatives, in addition to his professional work. He believes that progress is impossible without focusing on change and without desiring to renew that which exists. “To make corporate change happen, first the corporation should be persuaded of the necessity and urgency of the change. An effective way to do that is to ensure that performance is compared against external best examples rather than internally. In other words, it is to make benchmarking part of the corporate culture.” According to him, for change to happen, first an impressive vision needs to be manifested, which he describes as “a fantasy that portrays an attractive dream about the future which is target-oriented so as to provide guidance for decisions, but flexible enough to encourage initiative-taking. It must also be easily to explain and realistic enough to create excitement in those subject to the change.”
Who is Yılmaz Argüden?
Serving as the chairman of ARGE Consulting and Rothschild in Turkey, one of the leading investment banks in the world, Dr. Argüden was named a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum for his commitment to improving the state of the world. His has a wealth of experience in a broad range of areas, from the private to the public sector, as well as in international organisations, NGOs and academia. Holding seats on the boards of directors of various organisations, Dr. Argüden also shares his experience by teaching a strategy class on Bosphorus University’s and Koç University’s MBA programs, as well as through his books and newspaper columns.
Speech Topics
• Strategy
• Institution Building
• Change Management
• Board of Directors
• Governance
• Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Management
• Shaping the Future
Itır
Erhart
Istanbul Bilgi University Academic, Social Entrepreneur
Biography
Istanbul Bilgi University Academic, Social Entrepreneur, Marathon Runner
Itır Erhart started charity-runs when she saw a slogan on a Chicago bus stop in 2004: “Difficult to run? Try chemotherapy!” She ran eight marathons and 20 half-marathons to raise funds and create awareness on behalf of NGOs. She is among the founders of Step by Step, Turkey’s first charity-run initiative. Erhart gives stimulating speeches on the effects of creating corporate teams and running for NGOs on corporate communications, sense of belonging and motivation and shares the ways to organize such events and their media echoes with her audience. Erhart focuses on the significance of acting as a team and speaks on ways to raise funds and create awareness through sports.
Step by Step reaches 12 thousand members!
Step by Step, with its 12 thousand members as of 2016, continues to mobilize individuals for social issues through endurance sports and encourages NGOs to be more transparent and accountable. Individual and corporate runners of Step by Step raise funds for their selected NGOs through sports. This model, globally known as “charity run”, is implemented in Turkey for the first time by Step by Step. Step by Step runners raised TL 11 million 700 thousand from 90,000 donators and touched the lives of 60 thousand people since 2007. Using the system, each runner sends messages to 200 people to explain his or her cause. This helps raising funds and create awareness.
Itır Erhart was listed for the “Making a Difference” program in 2009 for her works in civil society issues and granted with the Ten Outstanding Young Persons jury’s special award in 2010. In 2014, she was named as an Ashoka Fellow.
Erhart gives lectures on social gender, human rights, sports and media at Istanbul Bilgi University’s Faculty of Communication and runs workshops “How To Create Social Benefits” and “How To Improve Self-confidence” at The School of Life Istanbul.
Who is Itır Erhart?
Itır Erhart was born in 1975. She was graduated from Işık School. She majored in English Language & Literature and Philosophy at Boğaziçi University. She graduated from the same school with an M.A. degree in Philosophy and continued at Cambridge University’s Philosophy program. She was graduated with an M.Phil. degree and started teaching at Istanbul Bilgi University. In 2006, she was graduated from Boğaziçi University’s Philosophy Department with a Ph. D. degree. In 2015, she became an associate professor.
Speech Topics
– Raising funds through sports
– Creating awareness through sports
– Making a difference Step by Step
– Sports as a connective initiative
– Making a team
– Social Gender 101
– Do women know about offside? (Sports & Social Gender)
– Civil Society & Accountability
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