2nd Woman Directors Meeting

The 2nd Woman Directors Meeting was held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at the Conrad Hotel roof as part of the Independent Woman Directors project initiated by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum in 2013 for strengthening company boards with woman candidates.

Designed to enhance networking among women and discuss recommendations for increasing the number of woman directors serving on boards, the meeting was opened by Damla Birol, CEO of Türk Tuborg, which had achieved first place in the Boards Empowered by Women index developed by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum in 2015. Damla Birol discussed how she became aware of glass ceilings and what she did to change the situation once she gained awareness. Damla Birol urged woman executives to pave the way for their successors.

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director Melsa Ararat commented on the developments and future plans regarding the Independent Woman Directors Project. Melsa Ararat reviewed key points from the “Women on Board 2015” report. Melsa Ararat also discussed recent developments for the"30% Club" that will be initiated in Turkey by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum.

Lectures were followed by a cocktail where participants had structured conversations. Woman directors included in the Woman Directors Project database found the opportunity to talk with male directors and CEOs including Ahmet Dördüncü, Attila Köksal, Erdal Aksoy, Erol Bilecik, Halil Nalçaoğlu, Tayfun Bayazıt, Coşkun Yılmaz, Murat Kolbaşı, Murat Yeşildere and Markus C. Slevogt. The conversations revolved around answering predetermined questions. The event improved networking among women and sought to generate new knowledge.