Turkcell Technology Summit

1st, 2nd and 3rd term Mentees of WOB Turkey attended the special session titled “New Horizons in Innovation Management and Technology” organized within the scope of Turkcell Technology Summit. Mentees also participated in a special seminar prepared by Massachusets Institute of Technology (MIT).

96 WOB Turkey Mentees met with Turkcell General Manager Kaan Terzioğlu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Auto-ID Lab Director Prof. Brian Subriana and MIT Digital Learning Office Director Erdin Beshimov in a closed session specially designed for them at the Turkcell Technology Summit. Mentees listened to the World of technology and innovation from Subirana and Beshimov at the special seminar titled “New Horizons in Innovation Management and Technology”. The role of strategy and Boards in evaluating technology was discussed at the meeting.

2nd and 3rd term Mentor of WOB Turkey Certificate and Mentoring Program, Turkcell General Manager Kaan Terzioğlu explained that their happiness to bring together Turkey’s leader women and MIT that is one of Turkcell’s most valued partners in technology and innovation-driven journey. Referring to the contribution of new generation technologies supported by innovation to our lives, Terzioğlu said: “We should benefit from the capabilities of these technologies now, not tomorrow. You can’t wait for these technologies to save you if you don’t start using them today, tomorrow will be missed opportunity. In the future, new generation Technologies will become more prominent. However, the human will always be the most important factor.”

MIT Auto-ID Lab Director Prof. Brian Subirana delivered an interactive presentation and emphasized that command of technology is critical for management teams and investment in wrong technologies by management teams poses a risk. Subirana said, “There is a need to shift to digital thinking in management. Because all processes related to daily life and work are located in the digital world. Technology and changes in the market, the evolution of values and innovation appear to be the three forces that trigger transformation.”

Prof. Subirana encouraged the participants to develop commercial products based on conversation and discuss how to decide whether the voice to be used in these products should be male or female.

MIT Digital Learning Office Director Erdin Beshimov said, “Technology holds great opportunities with proper use. However, innovation and technological development arise from needs. From this point of view, many things around us can be the subject of innovation in the future and cause the emergence of new technology.”

About Women on Board Turkey Association:

The main objective of the Women on Board Turkey Association established in January 2017 is to promote social development by increasing female representation on Boards. The origin of the Association is the Women on Board of Directors Program, created in 2012 by Managing Partner of Mentor Consulting Hande Yaşargil and Forbes Turkey Executive Editor Burçak Güven.

The Women on Board of Directors Program is Turkey's first and only certificate program in the field of Board Membership, accredited by respected academic institutions. One of the main elements of the program is the cross-company Mentoring system, which allows being mentored by the country's most effective business people and opinion leaders. During every 18 months, our mentors play an important part by working with new female mentees and helping them prepare for their role on Boards.

While Women on Board Turkey Association continues to implement this unique program by carrying out their activities of communication, cooperation, awareness and information sharing to increase the representation rate of women on Boards.