The event opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Dr. Esra Hatipoğlu, Rector of Bahçeşehir University, who emphasized the critical role of women’s leadership, inclusive growth, and the role of universities in driving sustainable transformation. This was followed by an inspiring address by Irene Natividad, who shared striking data on the representation of women in leadership positions worldwide. She underlined the importance of increasing the visibility of women leaders and connecting young people with strong role models. Irene Natividad highlighted that the Global Summit of Women, to be held in Istanbul on June 4–6, 2026, will bring together nearly 1,000 participants from more than 60 countries, aiming to amplify women leadership stories from Türkiye on a global scale.
During the forum, Nazlı Altıpat, CEO of Estée Lauder Türkiye, Işıl Kılınç Gürtuna, CEO of IBM Türkiye, Bahar Uçanlar, CEO of Diageo Türkiye, and Eda Uluca Özcan, CEO of Pluxee Türkiye, shared their career journeys, the challenges they faced, the responsibilities of leading in an era of uncertainty, and their perspectives on the future. Moderated by Irene Natividad, the discussion brought together insights from sectors ranging from cosmetics and technology to e-commerce and beverages, addressing topics such as the opportunities created by artificial intelligence, evolving leadership approaches, and the importance of work–life balance, illustrated through the speakers’ own inspiring experiences.
It was an honor to host this distinguished group of leaders, whose presence and insights inspired the audience and the wider university community. Many thanks to all speakers, participants, and contributors who made this meaningful event possible.
TR
