In a milestone month for the Aspire Alumni community in Türkiye, community leaders Melis Berfin Karakaş and Buse Avcı, alongside domain leader Baran Örnek, launched two significant initiatives. These alumni leaders organized the first in-person Aspire Alumni Türkiye meet-up, ‘Aspire Link- First Chain’, in Istanbul. They also launched a new virtual series, ‘Inspiration Gatherings’ with the first session featuring Didem Duru, General Manager of Cisco Turkey, Romania, and CIS regions.
Aspire Link – First Chain Event
‘Aspire Link – First Chain’ brought together a group of incredible individuals, each eager to contribute, share ideas, and actively participate in upcoming events. “This gathering underscored the dynamic and collaborative spirit of our community, with participants demonstrating a genuine enthusiasm for building connections and fostering shared growth,” Melis reflects.
The meeting focused on shaping the alumni community’s future with engaging events and participating in the growth of Aspire leaders as a community. One of the most significant takeaways from this meet-up was the realization that the Aspire alumni community is more than just a professional network. It also serves as a platform for cultivating meaningful friendships. “This dual focus on community and connection creates a strong foundation for long-term commitment and member engagement,” Melis explains.
The community leaders are grateful to ‘Climate Pioneers’ and ‘IPA’, which supported the event by arranging the venue. Additionally, Climate Pioneers enriched the meet-up with an insightful presentation that added significant value and sparked meaningful discussions among attendees.
Looking ahead, Melis envisions a bright future, “We are excited about Aspire Link’s potential to grow into a community rooted in trust, collaboration, and mutual support. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this first meetup a success.”
Inspiration Gathering
On December 13th, the Aspire alumni community in Türkiye also launched its first online event, drawing over 80 enthusiastic participants during the two-hour session. The community inaugurated it’s ‘Inspiration Gatherings’ session with Didem Duru, General Manager of Cisco Turkey, Romania, and CIS Region. This virtual event marks the first of many planned sessions with distinguished leaders.
Didem Duru opened the evening by sharing her personal career journey, experiences, and tailored advice with the attendees. She offered inspiring insights across business, civil society, career development, academia, and social responsibility in Turkey. The discussion expanded to include an inside look at Cisco Turkey, where Duru highlighted engagement opportunities for young professionals as the technology leader.
In the second half, Duru led an interactive mentorship session, dedicating her time to address participants’ questions about academic and career paths. She provided detailed, thoughtful responses that resonated with the audience’s professional aspirations.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Didem Duru for dedicating her valuable time to supporting young people through her voluntary efforts. Having such an inspiring figure within our network is an invaluable asset,” Baran shares.
The community and domain leaders in Türkiye continue to develop events that connect inspiring leaders with their members. They invite the alumni community to keep an eye out for upcoming event announcements.
