Sinan YAMAN

Advisor, President

Yaman, a graduate of METU, worked at Unilever for 10 years. He managed the two big brands of Unilever: Sana and OMO. Founding YGA in 2000 and currently chairing the YGA Board, Yaman attended research and training programs in various countries of the world - UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, USA. He was in charge of 22 countries in his last position. Currently teaching at a university, Yaman gave speeches to over 100,000 students, lecturers and business people in the most prestigious universities of the world such as Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Georgia Tech and UCLA. Yaman provides consultancy for senior managers of multi-national and international companies and prepares leadership programs, including: Turkcell, Unilever, İş Bankası, Fritolay, Danone, Garanti Bankası, Nokia, Bosch, Roche, Novartis, Koç Holding, Alarko, Yapı Kredi, Eti, Coca Cola and HSBC. He published his first book "Truthful Leader" in 2002 (also translated into English), and his second book "Leader & Dream Partners" in 2006. Besides giving interviews to both Turkish and American press, Yaman also appeared as a guest on TV shows.

Melike Aydın

Vice President

Işıl Altıntaş Can

Board Member

Born in Kütahya in 1972, Işıl Can Altıntaş graduated from Mimar Sinan University's Department of Urban and Regional Planning, and did master's on urban design. Her career that started in the Human Resources department of Axa Oyak Insurance continued in different manager roles at Human Resources and Training/Improvement departments of Turkcell. She still continues her professional life in the human resources field as the manager of Turkcell Technology Group Business Partner team. Can met with YGA in 2010 and held Read/Think/Share sessions with 1200 students in 6th and 7th grades of disadvantaged primary schools in Gaziantep for a week within the scope of the Anatolia Discovers Leaders program of YGA. Can, who is married and mother of two, continues to dedicate both her time and knowledge to YGA, providing consultancy actively.

Can Kavanoz

Board Member

Accepted to YGA while studying at Middle East Technical University in 2008. Worked in strategic financing and marketing at Turkcell for 2 years at the beginning of his professional career in 2011. Continued his consulting career at Accenture and Ernst&Young after Turkcell, and took consulting roles in numerous different projects in telecommunication, banking, insurance and public sectors both in Turkey and overseas at Accenture and Ernst&Young. Currently working as the vice president for finance and business development at YGA.

Murat Ugiş

Board Member

Born in Kırıkkale in 1982. Started working at YGA as a volunteer while studying at the Business Administration Department of Middle East Technical University in 2003. Took active roles in the Read/Think/Share workshops of that period. Worked at the sales department of PepsiCo, and the marketing departments of Beiersdorf and Unilever within the 10 years following his graduation. Recently resigned from his brand development management role that he was in charge of +20 countries at Unilever. Founded an enterprise generating mobile technology solutions at METU Technocity. Transferred his rights in the enterprise in 2016, and began working at YGA professionally. Murat Ugiş, who dedicated +10,000 hours to YGA since 2003, continues to serve YGA as a vice-president.

Can Kavanoz

Board Member

Murat Ugiş

Board Member

Feyza Fulden Küçük

Program Director

Born in Ankara in 1990. Joined YGA family while studying Industrial Engineering at Anadolu University in 2010. Volunteered at the Read/Think/Share project throughout her undergraduate education. Lead the Ankara Region team of 200 in her final year. Selected to attend YGA Leadership School in 2013 and joined YGA graduates. Graduated in 2014 after her internship at Eczacıbaşı. Completed the online "Building Your Leadership Foundation" program of Columbia Business School. Began working as YGA executive board member and YGA Secondary School Programs coordinator after graduation. Donated +3000 hours to YGA since 2010 and continues to take responsibility with eager to donate more.

Sezin Aydın

Program Director,

Born in Eskişehir in 1987. Began working as a volunteer at YGA while studying Production Systems Engineering at Sabancı University in 2008. Created Young Leaders Program for High School students, a first at YGA. Graduated in 2010 and worked as a volunteer teacher for 6 months in Eskişehir for the Anatolia Discovers Leaders project carried out within the scope of the protocol signed between Turkish Ministry of National Education and YGA. Attended America Leadership Camp the same year and became a YGA Graduate. Fulfilled the Leadership and Skill Improvement specialist role for 2 years at Turkcell Academy. Did Master of Business Administration at Stockholm School of Economics. Attended Social Entrepreneurship Program of Harvard&MIT with scholarship. Works at YGA since 2014 as the person in charge of the Global Impact Program that high school and university students attend, and the strategic cooperations made with the world's top universities such as Harvard, Berkeley and Columbia. Donated more than 10,000 hours to YGA since 2008.

Duygu Gençoğlu

Program Director

Born in Istanbul in 1991. Enrolled to the Production Systems/Industrial Engineering Department of Sabancı University in 2010. Joined YGA as a volunteer in her first year and took responsibilities for 4 years, dedicating +3000 hours of her time to YGA. Became the Istanbul Region Leader in her final year, and managed a team of 200. Completed her long term internship at Ericsson by staying another two months in Sweden that she went for 5-month Erasmus at Jonkoping University in 2013. Worked at the Customer Services&Logistics Department of Mondelez in 2014-2015. Works at YGA professionally since 2015. Currently serves YGA as the Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs.

Tülay Ugiş

Content Management

Met with YGA in 2006 while studying International Relations at Middle East Technical University in 2006. Worked in the corporate communications department of Garanti for 6 years while still taking volunteer roles in the leader development program of YGA. Resigning from her job, attended graduate program of Psychology at Sussex University, UK. Began working as a program and content developer for YGA Leadership Programs after her return to Turkey.

Gasia Çavuşyan

Global Impact Program

Met with YGA while studying Psychology and Media/Visual Arts at Koç University. Took responsibility in various different projects of YGA at the end of her 3 years of volunteer work. Worked in visually impaired, secondary school and international cooperation projects, and actively at YGA office as Global Impact Program Leader after her graduation. Responsible from the secondary school programs and the journeys of YGA volunteers abroad as a YGA Graduate.

Cemre Balaban

Science Movement

Volunteered at YGA while studying at Istanbul Technical University, and led visually impaired, high school and university programs of YGA. Graduated from YGA in 2017. Worked in Piri initiative established by YGA Graduates while she was still a university student, and continued working in marketing for Piri after graduation. Led YGA Global Impact Program after gaining experience at Piri. Currently takes role in the Science Movement.

Merve Dikiciler

High School University Program

Volunteered at YGA while studying Civil Engineering at Çukurova University in 2014. Took responsibilities as a volunteer in social innovation projects of YGA such as My Dream Partner, Global Impact High School and Global Impact Secondary School from 2014 to 2018. Continues her work at YGA professionally in the office as the leader of Global Impact High School & University since her graduation in 2018.

Neşe Elçin

Volunteer

Joined YGA while studying Fine Arts at Gazi University in 2010. Worked as an Art Director in the creative teams of various advertisement agencies including 2 global firms for 6 years. Works professionally in YGA Marketing team since 2018.

Mina İlköz

Volunteer

Born in Balıkesir in 1994. Studied Economy in Sabancı University, went to Tilburg University of Netherlands as an exchange student. Worked in social responsibility projects in Brazil. Took roles in the social innovation projects of YGA for 3 years. Worked in Arıkovanı (BeeHive), the crowdfunding platform of Turkcell. Currently works in the marketing team of YGA professionally.

Cansu Aykan

Volunteer

Born in Yalova in 1994. Met YGA while she was studying English Teaching at Boğaziçi University. Joined the YGA family with 2014 Summit. Volunteered in Stars Leadership Program, My Dream Partner projects and Taking Strength From Heart project for the children under government protection. Began working part-time at the YGA Office in the final year of her university education. Presented Syrians Project of YGA at the Hult Prize entrepreneurship contest that 57 teams from 25 nations compete in London. Joined YGA Graduates in 2017. Dedicated 7000+ hours to YGA since 2014. Worked in the production of Know&Experiment TV Show in 2017. Currently works professionally in marketing and production.

Efraim Ölçer

Data Analyst

Began working as a volunteer at YGA while studying Industrial Engineering at Istanbul University in 2017. Named as one of the Outstanding Success Scholars of Turkish Education Foundation. Worked as the Project Leader of the Turkish Exporters Assembly-YGA Inter-High School Innovation Program that 60 high school students from 15 cities had attended in 2018. Interned long term at YGA as the Technical Officer&Data Scientist in the summer of the same year. Decided to transfer to the Computer Engineering Department of Istanbul Technical University after internship. Still continues his education in the same department.
Organized sessions to make children love science in +40 schools during his volunteering period, attended +20 YGA Camps, took responsibility in +10 teams. Dedicated +2500 hours of his time to 5 different projects of YGA since 2017. Works at YGA Office professionally since 2019.