TAİDER 12th National Family Businesses Summit

Fatma OLTEN

Fatma Olten was born in 1968, is married, and has two children.
She graduated from Middle East Technical University with a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1988.
After holding various positions in the private sector between 1987 and 2000, she began working at their family business, Elsis Energy, and Promeda Industry, which she co-founded, in 2000.

Her current active roles include:

• Member of the Board of Directors and General Manager of Promeda Industry Inc.,

• Member of the Board of Directors of Elsis Energy Ltd.,

• Member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Board of Directors of Olten Art Foundation,

• Chair of the Executive Committee of the Olten Philharmonic Orchestra,

• Chair of the Board of Directors of TAIDER Family Business Association (2023–2025),

• Chair of the Culture and Arts Committee of Rotary International District 2440 (2023–2024),

• Member of EGIAD Advisory Board.

In 2013, together with her husband Ceyhan Olten, they founded the Olten Art Foundation and Olten Philharmonic Orchestra, with the belief that one of the significant contributions they could make to their community was supporting the arts.

The foundation’s primary goal is to provide employment opportunities and a platform for young artists who, after many years of conservatory training, struggle to find work opportunities, as well as to offer support for their international education. Through this platform, the foundation aims to help artists introduce society to the universal language of music, its bright and loving face.

Ömer ARAS

Ömer Aras was born in Istanbul in 1954. He completed his primary and secondary education at Şişli Terakki High School. In 1975, he graduated from the Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences, where he studied Economics and Finance. He obtained his MBA (1978) and Ph.D. (1981) in Business Administration from Syracuse University.  He served as a faculty member in the Business School at the  Ohio State University for three years. Between 1984-1987, he worked as a Credit Marketing Manager at Citibank Istanbul.  At the beginning of 1987, he moved to  Yapı Kredi Bank as the Head of the Capital Markets division. In October 1987 he worked as one of the founding members of Finansbank. He served as  Deputy General Manager for two years and as General Manager for six years. From 1995 to 2005, he carried out the role of Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of Fiba Holding. He also served on the boards of Fiba Holding's international banks (Switzerland, Netherlands, Russia, Romania, and France) and retail companies (Marks&Spencer, Gima). Following the acquisition of Finansbank by NBG (National Bank of Greece) in 2006, he left Fiba Holding and became Vice Chairman of the Board and Group CEO of Finansbank. In 2008, he was appointed as a member of NBG’s Executive Board responsible for international operations covering Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia. Aras was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Finansbank in 2010 and continued in this position after QNB (Qatar National Bank) acquired the bank in 2016. Aras has also been serving as the Chairman of the Board of QNB Insurance since 2012.

Ömer Aras served on the Board of Directors of TÜSİAD (Turkish Industry & Business Association) between 2003-2007, as the Vice Chairman of the High Advisory Council from 2015 to 2024, and was elected as the Chairman of the TÜSİAD High Advisory Council in February 2024. In addition, Aras is a member of the Board of Trustees of Bogazici University Foundation,  Econfin Advisory Board of Bogazici University, Advisory Board of the Faculty of Law at Galatasaray University,  Advisory Board Darussafaka Society, IIF (Institute of International Finance), EMAC (Emerging Markets Advisory Council), GBA (Galata Business Angels) angel investor network, and acts as a mentor for YKKD (Women on Boards Association).

Ömer Aras has written a book titled "Deneyimler" ( Insights) detailing his professional and personal life experiences.

Ömer Aras is married, has two children, and is a grandfather to four.

Abdullah KİĞILI

Abdullah Kiğılı was born on April 20, 1943. He started his business life by working in his father's fabric store in Sultanhamam during his years at Istanbul High School for Boys. After graduating from high school, Kiğılı continued the family business and started shirt production under his own brand name, Kiğılı, in 1965. Through his successful initiatives, he quickly became a well-known name in the men's clothing industry and played a significant role in the establishment and development of the ready-to-wear industry. Following his success in shirt production, he expanded his collection to include trousers, jackets, and knitwear, further growing the Kiğılı brand. With these visionary steps, Kiğılı has become one of Türkiye’s leading brands in the menswear industry. 

Abdullah Kiğılı's achievements were not limited to the business world; he also made significant contributions to the sports arena. Between 1991 and 1997, he served in the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) under the presidency of Şenes Erzik. Between September 9, 1997, and October 23, 1997, Kiğılı served as the President of the Turkish Football Federation and is remembered as one of the key figures in shaping Turkish football. In 1998, Kiğılı was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of Fenerbahçe Sports Club and served as the board member responsible for Fenerium stores between 2009 and 2015, during which the financial performance of Fenerium saw significant improvement.

While Abdullah Kiğılı's vision in business life has shaped the menswear industry in Türkiye, his contributions in the field of sports management have established him a respected leader. Notable for his achievements in both the business and the sports communities, Kiğılı is recognized for his innovative approach and strategic leadership in the industry.

Married with three children, Abdullah Kiğılı places great importance on his family and social responsibilities, maintaining a balance between work and family with great dedication and care.

Sena SUERDEM

Sena Suerdem graduated from Sabancı University with a degree in Management Sciences in 2010. She began her career with an internship at Kiğılı and further enhanced her global experience with an internship at Ermenegildo Zegna, one of Italy's largest menswear brands. This opportunity allowed her to get acquainted with the world of global fashion retail, marking an important step in her career.

After returning to Turkey, Suerdem took on responsibility for Operations and Customer Relations Management at Kliksa, an e-commerce platform, one of the new initiatives of Sabancı Group. Here, she gained valuable experience in customer satisfaction, process management, and operational efficiency.

Sena Suerdem began her journey at Kiğılı in 2010 in the marketing department, later continuing for an extended period in store operations, making significant contributions to the brand through store management. In 2012, she was appointed Marketing Director, and in 2014, she became the Deputy CEO. Following an eight-year period serving as Deputy CEO, she was appointed CEO of Kiğılı in 2022. Having held various positions in every function of the company, Suerdem took significant steps toward Kiğılı’s corporate transformation and sustainable growth. She strengthened interdepartmental communication and coordination to support the institutionalization process of the company and developed innovative practices to enhance operational efficiency. Additionally, through prioritizing customer satisfaction, she expanded call center operations and implemented projects that improved customer experience.

Sena Suerdem has received trainings in fashion management, style consulting, and branding in global marketing at UCLA London College of Fashion and Istanbul Fashion Academy. She also participated in Koç University's Young Leaders in Family Businesses Program in 2015. These trainings and the experiences she gained, contributed to Suerdem developing an innovative perspective in fashion retail sector, enabling her to bring new solutions to the industry. In her work at Kiğılı, she aims to elevate the brand to global standards and contribute to the sector’s development by presenting innovative approaches in fashion retail.

Sena Suerdem is married with one child.

Mustafa DOĞRUSOY

As a Management, Strategy, and Investment Consultant, he provides support in Corporate Governance, Corporate Risk Management, Corporate Finance, Financial Structuring, Family Businesses and Institutionalization, the application processes of the Turkish Commercial Code in companies, and Capital Market regulations for publicly traded companies.

In the field of Investment Consulting, he has worked on financial situation analysis and reporting, creating financial discipline, and budgeting techniques, as well as managing the initial public offering (IPO) processes of companies.

In the area of corporate finance and consulting, he has provided services in the realization of IPO processes, securing financial resources from foreign markets, project financing on a sectoral basis from international sources, finding partners, and managing mergers, transfers, and acquisitions of companies.

Through his consultancy for family businesses, he has supported numerous families and their companies in developing family constitutions, shareholder agreements, and institutionalizing family businesses.

As a guest lecturer in postgraduate and doctoral programs at universities, he teaches courses on Corporate Governance, Institutionalization, Risk Management, the formation and structuring of Boards of Directors, and the effective operation of company strategic structures. He also serves as a member of the Advisory Board at a foundation university.

He was honored with the Contribution to Corporate Governance Award by a foundation university for his contributions to Turkish business life and the economy. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors at the Corporate Governance Association of Turkey.

For many years and still today, he holds positions as a member of the Executive Board, Board of Directors, and as an advisor to the Board of Directors in some of Turkey’s most respected institutions. Since 2012, in compliance with Capital Market regulations, he has served as an Independent Board Member in multiple publicly traded companies.

He is a member of the Board of Directors at KİĞILI Giyim A.Ş.

Berna ŞEN ŞENOL

She graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1997 as an industrial engineer and officer. In 2001, she made aviation history in Turkey by becoming the first female F-16 pilot.

She held various leadership roles in the Air Force for over 20 years, participating in aviation exercises and operations in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. She founded the Air Force Women's Council and contributed to changes in laws concerning women at the NATO level.

She has been featured in international documentaries, such as You Can Do It, and received numerous awards, including the Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2013.

She continues to support the international aviation industry, primarily based in London, and is currently a captain pilot on Boeing aircraft. 

She is also a TEDx speaker.

Gamze CİZRELİ

Born in 1968. Gamze Cizreli graduated from Middle East Technical University, Department of Business Administration.

Post-graduation, she started her business career in gastronomy with her ex-husband by creating many brands in Ankara such as Cafemiz, Kuki and Quick China.

10 months after her divorce she created a new brand “BIG CHEFS Cafe Brasserie”  with a 100% bank loan.

Today, Big Chefs has reached 110 locations in 9 countries with more than 4500 employees.

In 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2017 she was awarded as “Woman Entrepreneur of Turkey” by  Economist magazine.

In addition to the growth targets of BigChefs,Gamze Cizreli; focused on Community Services and SDG’s.She had the chance to speak at the United Nations General Assembly with her Gender Equality Project  “From the Women farmers to the Tables”.

Besides her core business, she was a part time lecturer on “Entrepreneurship” in Middle East Technical University.

She wrote weekly to Hürriyet Daily News and has written her own cookbook named “Lezzeti Giydiren Eller”.

She was also one of the jury members of “Dragon’s Den” broadcasted on Bloomberg TV and “Winning Restaurant” on FOX TV.

For a while, she made a radio program on music, art and literature on Kiss FM on Sunday mornings.

In 2021, Fast Company selected her as one of “Turkey’s Sustainability Leaders”.

Most recently, she was selected to the list by Forbes “50 Over 50 Women” in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EMEA) .

She is an Executive Board Member in KAGIDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey) and in TURYID (Tourism Restaurant and Entertainment Association).

In October 2023, his book titled Fire Players was published.

She has two sons named Oğul and Ali.

Pamir KARAGÖZ

Pamir Karagöz started her professional career as an auditor in 1998 and held various positions in Citibank Turkey's Consumer Banking between 1999 and 2008, including Strategy, Sales & Wealth Management.

In 2008, she was appointed as a senior executive responsible for Premier Banking and investment products at Barclays Emerging Markets' Dubai regional office. At Barclays, she led new market entry strategies, product development, customer value management and strategic channel management in 14 countries, including Russia, United Arab Emirates, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan, and African countries.

Between 2011 and 2012, she served as a senior executive responsible for wealth management; sales and marketing of investment, insurance and mortgage products in United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Qatar during Mashreqbank’s restructuring. 

From 2012 to 2015, she served as the Director responsible for strategy, marketing, and business development at Deloitte Turkey. Between 2015 and 2018, she served as the Executive Vice President responsible for Retail and Wealth Management at QNB Invest. Since February 2018, she has been the General Manager and Board Member of QNB Invest and Board Member of QNB Finans Asset Lease Company. As of March 2024, she is appointed as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of QNB Digital Assets.

In May 2024, she was elected as the first woman Chairperson of the Board of the Turkish Capital Markets Association. She has also been appointed as Deputy Chairperson of Central Securities Depository & Trade Repository of Türkiye.

Pamir Karagöz is graduated from Middle East Technical University Business Administration and she has an MBA in Business from the University of Chicago Booth School. She also has a leadership certificate from Harvard Business School.

Dr. Rıza KADILAR

Alumni of Stanford University, HEC Paris, METU, and INSEAD, Dr. Riza Kadilar is a PhD in media economics. His professional career includes senior level bank management for almost thirty years in France, The U.K., The Netherlands and Turkey.

Dr Kadilar is the president of EMCC Global (formerly known as “European Mentoring and Coaching Council”) and contributes to the democratization of learning & development with his online platform (RK Academy). He is the author of seven published books, and columnist at Harvard Business Review (HBR) Turkey and a regular keynote speaker at in-company events, and international conferences.

Besides his role as an advisor in human capital and business development, Dr. Kadilar is also an investor in tech startups (with a special focus on agri-food technology) with a potential to scale up into Europe. He also serves as scientific committee member at Institut du Bosphore (Paris), founding president at TUSIAD The Netherlands Network (Amsterdam), board member at DEIK Dutch-Turkish Business Council, and trustee & board member at Hisar Education Foundation (Istanbul).

Prof. Dr. Itır ERHART

Prof. Dr. Itır Erhart studied English Language and Literature and Philosophy at Boğaziçi University. She earned her M.Phil degree from the University of Cambridge and her Ph.D. from Boğaziçi University. She is the Dean of the Faculty of Communication at Istanbul Bilgi University. In 2008, together with five friends, she co-founded "Adım Adım," which today has 130,000 members and has raised 250 million TL for NGOs through sports activities. She is also a co-founder of the transparency platform "Açık Açık" and "Açık Açık Social Enterprise." In 2014, she was selected as an Ashoka Fellow. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Theater Cooperative, the Board of Directors of Inogar, the Board of Directors of the Impact Circles Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of TEGV.

Dr. İzel Levi COŞKUN

Dr. İzel Levi Coşkun was born in 1973 in Istanbul.

He studied at the University of Istanbul, English Faculty of Business Administration, and received
his master's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He completed his
doctorate at the Marmara University in 2013 by completing his thesis on “From the Turkish
Consumer’s Perspective, the Relationship Between Corporate Sustainability Components and
Brand Equity Components”.

He has worked at Forvis Mazars Türkiye since 1992 and is currently their CEO and Corporate
Sustainability Ambassador. He serves on the boards of the Turkish Industry and Business
Association (TUSIAD), the Business for Goals (B4G) Platform and the Turkey Informatics Foundation
(TBV). He has active roles in many NGOs and civil associations such as the Marine Life Protection
Association (DYK), Buğday, Endeavor, Young Executive Businessperson’s Association (GYIAD), the
Association for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (KMKD), The Turkish Family Business Association
(TAIDER), The Turkish Association of Certified Public Accountants and Certified Public Accountants
(TURMOB). He is the husband of Sibel Horada Coşkun and father to Serra and Lara.

Ajay RAMACHANDRAN

Ajay is the Co-Chair of the Kutsa Foundation - a Single-Family Office that his father started in 1974 with diversified interests in real estate, tech, venture capital, education, and public and private equity across the US, UK and India. Ajay is also the founder of ifMagic Ventures - a seed stage Deeptech fund investing in mission-driven founders and seed-stage, startups that are co-creating a better future by disrupting the status-quo and doing the impossible. He actively seeks entrepreneurs with a ‘magical-mindset‘ who view problems and challenges as opportunities. 

A Silicon Valley native, Ajay brings decades of experience as a successful serial entrepreneur and startup investor. An engineer by nature (with degrees in genetic engineering and communications), Ajay loves creating investment funds and companies and working with founders. As an entrepreneur himself, Ajay’s been part of the core founding and executive team in 11 startups, 7 of which were successfully acquired and 3 of which IPO’d. He’s also been an active angel investor.  Ajay has a lovely and talented family including his wife and daughters.

Onur EREN

Weaving impact startups, funds and investors together, through conversations, facilitations and investments at Light Eagle AG. Specifically passionate about a Net-Zero future.

Leading Digital Transformation Task Force in Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD SD2). Founder of KolayOto.com, Turkey’s leading online tyre e-commerce platform. (Exit 2021)

Board Member in Maxion Wheels, Chairman of the Board in Aren Family Office, Inci Holding shareholding entity.

Background in Software Product Management (KolayOto.com), Business Development in Ukraine&Russia (Inci Aku), Financial Institutions (Garanti Bank) and BSc in Mechanical Engineering.

Trained as Council Guide with authorization to carry and teach the basic Medicine Wheels and Concepts for Self Development and Spritual Growth as they are being held in the tradition of the Teachings of the Delicate Lodge.

Endurance athlete, Ironman70.3 Finisher.

Husband, father of 3 sons, lives in Izmir, Turkey.

Explorer and a Guide.

Bilge KALPAKLIOĞLU EYİLİK

Bilge Kalpaklıoğlu Eyilik, Digital Transformation and E-commerce Director at PınarOnline, has nearly 15 years of experience in product management and digital transformation in the food and beverage industry. Her close interest in technology and strategic marketing skills have enabled the launch of innovative products and the growth of e-commerce under her leadership, enabling the visibility of brands and the birth of innovation projects.

Bilge Kalpaklıoğlu Eyilik graduated from Koç University, Department of Business Administration in 2010 and completed her master's degree in Economic Law at Galatasaray University between 2011 and 2012.

Starting her career in marketing at Pınar Dairy in 2011, Bilge brought innovative products to the sector with her strong analytical skills and marketing strategies and played a critical role in the success of brands.

As of September 2020, Bilge founded PınarOnline as the pioneer of digitalization and an example of intrapreneurship within Yaşar Holding. She is leading the growth and expansion of the PınarOnline e-commerce platform as Digital Transformation and e-Commerce Director.

While continuing her busy business life, Bilge Kalpaklıoğlu Eyilik started to work as a volunteer in the “Bu Gençlikte İş Var” formation within TÜSİAD and has been the president of the TÜSİAD Entrepreneurship in Institutions Working Group since 2022. She also supports sustainability efforts within Yaşar Holding and is a board member of Sagalassos Foundation.

She is married and has 1 child.

Metin SALT

Metin Salt is the founder of Salt Fikir Sanat Danışmanlık A.Ş., a consultancy specializing in education and advisory services in entrepreneurship, innovation, and management.

He holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), where he actively participated in projects with The Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK).

Metin began his career at ASELSAN, a leading military electronics company, where he focused on cryptographic systems and coordinated university-industry collaboration initiatives. He played a key role in the development of electronic warfare training systems for the Turkish Air Force's F-16s.

He subsequently moved to Silicon Valley, where he held leadership roles at several technology companies for eight years. In 2005, he joined Vestel Group to establish Vestek, a startup dedicated to video chips and IPTV software. He later founded Vestel Ventures, the corporate investment arm of Vestel, and served as a board member of Vestel Group, where he led innovative initiatives within Zorlu Holding.

An inventor with numerous international patents, Metin actively writes about technology, speaks at industry events, and makes appearances on television programs. He contributes to university advisory boards and serves on executive committees of prominent professional associations, including TÜSİAD, DEİK, and the Turkish-American Business Council. A licensed angel investor, he mentors various entrepreneurship programs such as İTÜ Seed, TT Pilot, TET Project Market, and Slingshot. Currently, he is a co-founder of multiple social and technology startups.

Gökçe GÜLCÜLER

Gökçe Gülcüler is the second generation of her family business, Gülcüler Sigorta. She has been volunteering as a selected next-gen of the FBN-I NextGen Leadership Team as leader of FBN-I Podcast Project and founded the TAİDER Entrepreneurship Committee as co-president. Currently, she is co-president of the sports community at TAİDER and contributes to the global NextGen Summit 2025 as a project team member.

She has experience in a variety of fields, including aviation, cybersecurity, risk management, and social entrepreneurship. She completed her undergraduate and master's degrees in Aeronautical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, her MBA at Koç University, and an exchange program in North Carolina. She has worked as a systems engineer at various institutions, both internationally and domestically, specializing in aircraft and missile engine design.

Gökçe, who was selected as an entrepreneurial fellow by organizations such as the International Youth Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Summit, Laureate International Network, Endeavor, İTÜ Çekirdek, and TUBITAK, decided to continue her career as a new generation media member; she had been creating content at Harvard Business Review Türkiye. Global conferences such as ICPA, Websummit, Slush, and Vienna-Up invite Gökçe Gülcüler as a media member, and she actively engages in content creation across various publishing platforms. She also moderates discussions and serves as track chair at both global and national conferences.

Mümin SEKMAN

Mümin Sekman was born in Istanbul. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ankara University but never pursued a career in law.
He chose to study successful people, systematize how they achieved success, and convey this knowledge to those who aspire to succeed as his profession and mission.
He is the first person in Turkey to define and use the title "personal development expert."
In 25 years, he has written 24 books. His books have been translated into 5 languages and reached a total of 4 million readers. His book Everything Starts with You has sold 1,325,000 copies, breaking a national record in its genre. At least one out of every hundred people has read one of his books.
To date, he has delivered success seminars to over 100,000 people and trained numerous certified success instructors. His motto: Be successful, stay successful, and make others successful!
Sekman, who believes that "success can be learned," has made it his life's goal to increase the number of successful people per square meter in the world.

Mehrad JABERANSARI

Mehrad is a 3rd generation member of an Iranian enterprising family.

He is Global Co-Director of Partnerships at The Conduit - a collaborative community of people committed to creating a just, prosperous and sustainable future - where he spearheads initiatives to cultivate meaningful collaborations.

Mehrad’s purpose in life revolves around empowering units of positive change, or as he fondly calls them, ‘changemakers’. He finds joy in connecting people, setting them up for success, and identifying synergies between financial gain and social & environmental impact. 

Mehrad is an avid snowboarder, and enjoys maintaining a balanced lifestyle via fitness, nutrition, meditation and an active social life.

He holds an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics (LSE) and an International MBA from IE Business School in Madrid.

Roles within FBN International:               

• President, NextGen Community

• Member, Board of Directors

• Founder & Chair, Entrepreneurs Community (2018-2021)

Kazım KÖSEOĞLU

Kazım Köseoğlu is a distinguished figure in the real estate and investment sectors, currently serving as the Managing Partner and Chairperson of Esas Properties. In this role, he oversees strategic initiatives and manages the company's real estate investments, ensuring alignment with the broader objectives of Esas Holding. Additionally, he plays a vital role on the investment committee, where he evaluates potential opportunities and guides the firm’s investment strategies. 

Kazım is also a board and investment committee member of Capreon UK and an investment committee member of Feldberg. Kazım's extensive experience in finance and investment began as an investment analyst at F&C REIT Asset Management. In this capacity, he honed his analytical skills and developed a deep understanding of real estate markets, asset valuation, and investment strategies. His tenure at F&C equipped him with valuable insights that he has since applied to his work at Esas Properties and Esas Holding. Kazım Köseoğlu holds a Master of Science degree in International Finance and Banking from Cass Business School, where he focused on financial markets and investment analysis. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics (German) from Brown University, where he developed a strong foundation in economic theory and business principles. 

With his academic credentials and professional experience, Kazım is well-positioned to contribute to the growth and success of Esas Properties and its parent company, Esas Holding. His expertise in finance, coupled with his leadership skills, makes him a valuable asset to the board, where he actively participates in shaping the strategic direction of the organization.

Klára VİTKOVÂ

Klára is a second-generation member of NWT Holding, which operates across diverse industries, including renewable energy, agriculture, electric cars, and real estate. She is an active member of both the global and local FBN chapter and a former NxG President for her local chapter. Klára has been a part of the NxG International Leadership Team for over five years and now serves as a member of the board of directors of FBN International.

She studied at King’s College London and continued her Masters in Germany at WHU and MBA at University of Toronto in Canada.

She has a wealth of experience, having worked for a PE and VC funds, now managing a private wealth fund.  

Olivier KRAMER

With more than 25 years of successful experience and track record in the financial sector in Switzerland and North America, Olivier Kramer specializes in the areas of portfolio management, private banking services as well as international life insurance distribution and wealth planning solutions. 

He has a solid managerial background with senior level experience and is known for his good strategic appreciation and vision. 

He is a partner of Firstance Group SRL, Europe's largest broker of life insurance solutions. Olivier Kramer is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Başak KURTOĞLU

Born in İzmir in 1979, Başak Kurtoğlu graduated from İzmir American High School in 1997. She completed her undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Boğaziçi University in 2001. After working for a while in the Corporate Finance Department of PwC, Kurtoğlu decided to join her family business and pursued a Master’s degree in Retail Management at the University of Surrey in England. During her time in the UK, she received special training and became a Certified Shoe Fitter, specializing in proper footwear selection. She then worked in the retail and product management departments of one of the major footwear retail chains in England.

After returning to Turkey, Kurtoğlu started working at her family’s business, Çilingiroğlu Kundura, and later relocated the İzmir-based company to Istanbul. Specializing in comfort footwear brands and proper shoe selection, Başak Kurtoğlu, along with her brother Burçak, represents the 4th generation of the 97-year-old Çilingiroğlu company and has been serving as the General Manager since 2020. Together with her brother, they support research and development projects in the Turkish footwear industry. They also contribute by facilitating the introduction of advanced technologies to Turkey and by working as trainers in the field. Kurtoğlu is a founding member of TAİDER, serves in the İzmir American Alumni Association, and is a member of the Boğaziçi Alumni Association.

Başak Kurtoğlu, who lives in Istanbul, is married and has two children.

Tommaso FOSSATI

Born in Milan in 1994 and raised in Biella, Tommaso holds a law degree.

The Fossati family originates in what is today Switzerland, from a small village named Meride. The family name first appears in a 1227 document, and it has always produced notaries, architects and public servants, with the first official notary deed dating back to 1390. Today, even though the roots still trace back to Meride, where the family home is still used, the family members are spread out throughout Switzerland and the North of Italy. Tommaso, from his mother's side, is part of one of the oldest families engaged in entrepreneurial activities in Italy, the Sella family. It began its activities in textile (1540) and wine (1671) and has been active since 1886 in banking and finance through the Sella Group, the biggest family-owned bank in Italy.

Tommaso sits in the NxG Committe of AIDAF (the Italian association of family business) and on the Board of FBN-International, the world's largest family business association, where he also serves as Vice-President for the whole NxG.

After graduation, he worked in the legal sector for 4 years, working mainly in banking and fintech law, as well as co-founding a startup consulting firm in Milan in 2020. He is active in the world of innovation and venture capital funds.
In 2024 he joined the family business where, after an initial stint in the retail sector, he now works in the credit department.

Paulina BOTERA MESA

I'm Paulina Botero Mesa, a second-generation member of Happy Sleep, a mattress company based in Colombia. Currently residing in Madrid, Spain, I completed my undergraduate studies in architecture and industrial design in Colombia and earned an MBA here in Madrid. Now, I'm focused on building my own real estate company in this vibrant city. Additionally, I have the privilege of leading the FBN NxG Colombia chapter, where I strive to support and connect the next generation of family business leaders.

Alexander LEONIDA

Alexander is the Founder of SaaS startup SilkFlo and a seasoned digital transformation expert. He brings over a decade of experience leading multi-million-dollar automation and AI projects across various industries at Deloitte, and as part of his own consultancy, Robofy. His expertise spans the entire project lifecycle, from discovery to implementation, leveraging a toolkit that includes process automation, Machine Learning, and LLMs. Alexander has driven $millions in cost savings for both small and enterprise clients alike, helping them adapt to new technologies with confidence.

Mehmet Ali DENİZ

He was born in İzmir.

With over 20 years of experience in radio and television broadcasting, he has worked as a program producer and presenter and served as a prime news anchor. He also provides voice-over for commercials, documentaries, and promotional films. Since its establishment, he has volunteered for the Turkish Library for the Visually Impaired, recording books for visually impaired individuals.

To date, he has hosted many state protocols, congresses, award ceremonies, promotional events, summits, fairs, and various organizations and continues to do so actively.

Since 2019, he has been the master of ceremony for TAİDER National Family Businesses Summits and TAİDER North Star Awards Ceremonies.