Women Shaping the Future and the Frankofoni

Francophone Women Shaping the Future

We explore the influence of the Francophone world in academia and the business sector through the perspectives of women who have deep expertise in their fields and international experience.

Our event will consist of two sessions. In the first session, titled “The Place of Francophonie in Academia,”

we will discuss the role and development of Francophone intellectual heritage within universities.

Our speakers for this session are:

• Prof. Dr. İpek Merçil – Faculty member at the Faculty of Science and Letters, Galatasaray University. With her PhD from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris, she conducts original academic research on the sociology of religion, Islamist movements, and women intellectuals.

• Dr. Itır Toksöz Bullens – Assistant Professor and holder of a Ph.D. in International Relations from Northeastern University. She is an expert in international security, science and technology policies, space policies, and peace studies; former president of the European Peace Research Association (EuPRA).

In our second session, The Role of Francophonie in the Workplace

We will discuss the role of Francophonie in the global business world, multicultural work environments, and the dynamics of international careers.

Our speakers for this session are:

• Bihter Ayyıldız – A strategist and curator working in the fields of sustainability, culture, and luxury brand communication. She is the founder of BA Projectz, the creator of PlumeMag, and the Turkey ambassador for the University of Lille International Alumni Network (ULIAN).

• Şansel Gönenç Genç – A graduate of Galatasaray University. She gained an international communication perspective through her experience at Université Bordeaux Montaigne and has specialized in brand communication and digital strategy through her work at global brands such as L’Oréal and Caudalie.

A Q&A session will follow the event. The event will be conducted in Turkish.