Mehmet KESTANE ‘2008
I was born in Istanbul in 1986, am married and have a son. After graduating from Çağlayan High School, Department of Social Sciences, I prepared for the university exam for about 2 years and at the same time performed in amateur theatre for 3 years. I graduated from our university's Human Resources Management program in 2008, and I also completed my master's degree in Human Resources Management at the same school. Having been actively involved in professional business life for about 20 years, I currently work as Group Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager at Arena Bilgisayar, a position I have held for 4 years. At the same time, I also work as a part-time lecturer in the Human Resources Management program at my alma mater, Istanbul Aydın University. From the very first day I set foot on campus, I secured a great career opportunity thanks both to the institution and to my valuable professors and administrators. I made excellent use of my school's references from my first company where I started on-the-job training. After graduation, I took part in almost every organization, and about 13 years later, I returned as a lecturer. This is something far beyond material value for me, and I can say it has greatly increased my already high spiritual connection to my school. I had the opportunity to apply all the knowledge I gained in real business life. Now in my 20th year of my career, I have taken all professional methods with me to every institution I have worked for and implemented them by convincing others. Since the education I received at IAU addressed specific topics and was given broadly (i.e., periodically rather than as weekly curricula), I mastered every detail and reflected this correctly in my work life. I have never been disconnected from my school since the day I graduated. In past years, I participated as a speaker in the "If I Had My Time Again" seminar six times. I also attended the spring festival twice. I have been a reference for many people around me, including my younger siblings, during their university preferences, coached them on graduate studies, and ensured they benefited from the continuing education center. First of all, I recommend that they study hard, listen interactively in classes, know at least one foreign language very well, actively engage in processes like On-the-Job Training and Internships, and have very effective communication with everyone. Knowledge is learned and applied one way or another, but if communication is lacking, it can override all other qualities. Therefore, I advise them to elevate their interpersonal relationships to the highest level. Since I was a second-education student during my studies, I had to work intensively during the day to avoid financial difficulties. This naturally meant I could not experience the campus environment very much. If I had my time again, I would work at a slightly slower pace and spend more time at school to socialize. Apart from that, I am grateful for both the education I received and its contributions to my life. I wish success in their careers to future graduates and my students.
F. Deniz İnan Career Journey ‘2010
I was born in Istanbul in 1988. My interest in the field of human resources turned into a professional career journey through the education and internship experiences I started during my university years. Thanks to my experience in different sectors, I had the opportunity to closely observe that human resources is not only about operational processes but also a strategic structure fed by employee experience, corporate culture, and organizational development. Throughout my career of over 15 years, I have taken an active role in recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, payroll and personnel processes, performance management, talent management, organizational development, employee engagement, labor law, reward and recognition systems, change management, and end-to-end management of operational HR processes. I have also contributed to the digitalizing structure of human resources by taking part in digital transformation projects, HR system migrations, process improvement studies, and practices aimed at improving employee experience. Throughout my career journey, working within different organizational structures and intensive operational processes, I have developed my skills in fast decision-making, crisis management, stakeholder management, and strong communication. I believe that for sustainable success in human resources, not only process management but also a people-centered approach is decisive. In short, an important part of my job involves "balance management" as much as "people management." Today, I see human resources as a strategic business partner that strengthens employee experience, nourishes corporate culture, supports digitalization, and directs organizational development. People-oriented approach, sustainable development, and continuous learning motivation constitute the cornerstones of my career. Outside of professional life, I am interested in nature sports and extreme sports; I believe that team spirit, endurance, and discipline are important in every area of life. I also value taking an active role in social responsibility projects and engaging in activities that contribute to society.
