İrem Taşçıoğlu, Sustainability Manager at Anadolu Group, graduated from the Public Relations and Promotion Department of Yeditepe University in 2011. She completed her master's degree in Advertising and Promotion at Marmara University with her thesis on 'Evaluation of Corporate Sustainability in terms of Brand Management'. She began her career at Yıldız Holding as the Corporate Communication General Manager, where she worked in sponsorship, social responsibility, and advertising departments.
We talked with our graduate about sustainability, one of the most important topics of our time. Despite her busy schedule, she answered our interview questions for Yeditepe alumni.
Can you share your experience at Yeditepe University?
When I started at Yeditepe in 2005, I was 16 years old, likely one of the youngest students. Yeditepe was not just a university but a living space for many of us. Throughout my student years, I built beautiful friendships and collected memories and experiences. I received education on one of the most beautiful campuses in Turkey. The spring months spent lying on the grass, soaking up ample vitamin D and the abundant oxygen, the snow-covered mountains even in Kayışdağı when it rained mixed with snow in Kadıköy – each season had its own unique charm.
The days in Güney Hazırlık when there were Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe derbies were particularly special. We would wear jerseys, cheer during breaks, and go together to watch the matches. Even when we had different opinions, it was an environment respectful of ideas and individuals.
Yeditepe's spring festivals held a special place in my heart; that week was always full of activities. The festival coincided with both the final exam week and the most beautiful weather. I would study for hours in the library in the mornings to prepare for finals and then enjoy the festival. We had dogs that traveled on the campus shuttles, accompanied us in the mornings on our way to class, and even entered the classrooms as if to support us during exams.
I was part of an educational system where I didn't just attend classes; I participated, developed a dynamic of learning together, learned leadership, and became part of a team. I was in an educational environment that encouraged comprehensive and visionary thinking. When I pause to reflect, I feel that I made the right choice.
What differences and advantages has being a Yeditepe graduate brought to your career?
I believe that meeting and taking classes with the founder of our Public Relations and Promotion department, Prof. Dr. Ayseli Usluata, was very valuable. She inspired me with her knowledge, conversations, sincerity, management, and vision. The classes of Mario Levi and Genco Gülan were one of the turning points in my cultural development. Due to my department, I took classes from various faculties. I came to appreciate both the content and the value added by the academics of economics, sociology, statistics, and marketing courses more in my professional life. We had a rich library with digital resources, books, and publications where I wrote good articles and prepared presentations. Even now, when I need to do research or access reliable information at work, I miss being able to access Yeditepe's digital library.
In your opinion, what was a significant turning point in your career?
Although we create turning points ourselves, the importance of luck and the people who come into our lives cannot be understated. The elective course I took in my last semester at Yeditepe, "Fund Raising," and my introduction to dear instructor Mine Göknar, who is also the Deputy General Manager of TURMEPA, played a role in shaping my career. Getting to know NGOs and volunteering increased my awareness of social responsibility and enhanced my knowledge. The motivation to start my professional career in the social responsibility field within Yıldız Holding's Corporate Communication department stemmed from my desire to transition to the Sustainability Department stablished in the same company.
What recommendations do you have for students/new graduates on their career journeys?
Engaging in volunteer work at any non-governmental organization, internships, or short-term work experiences in any field or place while studying can better prepare them for professional life. If they are not yet sure about which department or sector they want to work in, I suggest they first identify what they do not want to do.
What is your New Year message that you would like to share with our newsletter readers on the 100th anniversary of our Republic?
I wish for a year filled with peace and health, where we continue to preserve our values of the past 100 years, using reason and science to be good individuals and good citizens, nurturing 'generations with free minds, free consciences, and free knowledge'
What can Universities do regarding Sustainability?
They can contribute to the awareness, recognition, and dissemination of accurate information about sustainability for everyone by collaborating with national and international universities, associations, and non-governmental organizations. I believe in the idea of increasing student involvement by implementing joint projects that involve both the private sector and the public, creating mutual benefits.
