• The Women on Board Turkey Association (WOB Turkey), which works to gets more women Board members in companies, associations and non-governmental organizations, organized a panel entitles "All Aspects of Board Membership and Turning Risk into an Opportunity".
• In the panel, which emphasized that women are more successful in working with the new generation in addition to multiple thinking, WOB Turkey also set its 2019 target as "Working for at least two female members to each board by strengthening cooperation with relevant stakeholders."

The notions of management and leadership are redefined especially with the participation of Y and Z generations in the business life. The new generation wants managers who establish strong relationships in business life, do not apply hierarchy, are flexible and include their colleagues in the decision process. In addition to their versatile multiple thinking, women are more successful than men in terms of these qualities. Therefore, the numbers of women on Boards and decision-makers should increase in order to work efficiently with the new generation and to get results. All over the world, companies have seen this reality and started to take action. Companies have entrusted their management to women in many areas from banking to automotive, food industry, consumer communication.

However, the number of these companies is still in a minority. The presence of women, who make up half of the population, on Boards, which is the highest decision-making point, can only occur between 5 and 15 per cent in the world, except for countries with quotas. Therefore, many countries including Turkey develop special programs for women on Boards to be more common to take place and decisions. For instance, the Capital Markets Board in Turkey recommends 25% of female members on Boards in open corporations. WOB Turkey, working to eliminate gender inequality and ensure that more women take part on boards, prepared 90 leader women for the Boards in since established 2012. 47 of them were appointed to one or more Boards. 50 new women candidates will be ready for Boards after 18-month WOB Turkey Certificate program.

The panel was held under the moderation WOB Turkey Board Member, Akiş Real Estate and Multinet Uo Independent Board Member Selen Kocabaş with the participation of Independent Board Member, Coca Cola International Former President Ahmet Bozer, Akkök Holding CEO Ahmet C. Dördüncü, MY Executive Founder Partner Müge Yalçın, Tepar Chairperson, ISO Board Member Sultan Tepe and ARGE Colsuntancy Chairperson, Argüden Governance Academy Founder Dr Yılmaz Argüden as a panellist. The panellists talked about the Board Membership in all aspects, the risks in the Boards, the critical success factors and the diversity as an important success factor, based on their experiences.

Companies will win thanks to women who work productively with the new generation

WOB Turkey Board Member Selen Kocabaş moderated the panel and mentioned that the precondition of Turkey's progress in ensuring gender equality depends on the empowerment of women in economic life. "When we look at the examples from all over the world, we see that the greater participation of life has the power to create a leap forward in economic growth and development. For this reason, we set our targets in 2019 as "placing at least two female members of each board."

Kocabaş stated to the fact that there is a serious change of generations especially with the participation of Y and Z generations in the business world. "The new generation wants managers who establish strong relationships in business life, do not apply hierarchy, are flexible and include their colleagues in the decision process. The new generation is open-minded, research-loving, practical and result-oriented. Therefore, companies will win thanks to women who work productively with the new generation.

Kocabaş continued as follows: "The new generation is open-minded, research-loving, practical and result-oriented. Women who are more creative, flexible, listen to trouble, adapt easily to change, and encourage women around them, are more advantageous in working with the new generation compared to men. Therefore, the numbers of women on Boards and decision-makers should increase in order to work efficiently with the new generation and to get results. All over the world, companies have seen this reality and started to take action. We want to give at least two members to each board in 2019 and accelerate the transformation in our companies as WOB Turkey.

At least three women, not two for each Board

Coca Cola International Former President and Independent Board Member Ahmet Bozer pointed out that there should be at least three women on Boards at the panel under the moderation Selen Kocabaş. Bozer: "One person is already crushed, even two people have difficulty in accepted their opinions. I strongly advocate that at least three female members must be in order to overcome minority psychology. Because equality is achieved only then. For this reason, it is necessary to have several results-oriented practices such as female quota on Boards or guest board membership."

Akkök Holding CEO Ahmet C. Dördüncü: "The question to be asked for Board Membership is not "What can I add here?" it can be "What can I get here?" I love people that manage challenges, can say 'No' and can ask questions. You should ask the simplest question so that a completely different perspective open. This question will most likely surprise the Board and will reveal some unrecognized facts."

ARGE Consulting Chairperson Dr Yılmaz Argüden: "The important thing in Boards should be a diversity of ideas. The duty of the Boards is not to replace the management, but to direct it and evaluate its work. It should show possible deficiencies to the management and give directions to remove these deficiencies."

Founding Partner of MY Executive and WOB Turkey Advisory Board Member Müge Yalçın: "Family companies recently have applied to us for independent Board Membership. The numbers are not hundreds yet, but it is hopeful. Family businesses are just at the beginning of this issue. Because their main desires are about the establishment of Boards and institutionalization. However, in non-open corporates, independent board members sometimes hesitate. Then we position them as board advisors."

TEPAR Chairperson Sultan Tepe: "There have been pleasing developments regarding the increase of female members on boards in recent years, but this is not yet at the desired level. Everyone on Boards says yes to the Boss's opinions. Last year, we said, let's find board members who can say no. However, it should be stated clearly; we cannot benefit from them unless we suppress our egos and say 'Let's look at them from this perspective'.

About Women on Board Turkey Association:

WOB Turkey has started its activities in 2012 and changed our status to an association in 2017.
br /> The origin of our association is the Women on Board of Directors Program which Turkey's first and only certificate program in the field of Board Membership, accredited by respected academic institutions. The program provides women board member candidates opportunity to take mentoring from Turkey's business leaders. During every 18 months, our mentors play an important part by working with new female mentees and helping them prepare for their role on Boards of Directors. Candidates also receive training on different subjects from experienced names from the business and academic world. The program, which has completed two terms so far, has included 88 women leaders, 40 in the first term, 48 in the second term, and 65 mentors, some of whom gave voluntary support all three terms. 47 out of a total of 90 women leaders are currently appointed as Board Members of one or more institutions or NGOs. Now, the third term is continuing. As the Women on Board Association Turkey, we continue to implement this unique program while carrying out our activities of communication, cooperation, awareness and information sharing in order to increase the representation rate of women on boards.

Program Objectives:

• The pool of senior executive women candidates in Turkey, having the required level of competence and experience to become Board Members, is enlarged,
• Female executives with high potential are brought together and connected with the decision-makers who elected/appointed members to the Boards,
• with the recommendations and guidance of the Mentors, the mentees are equipped with the right resources for being a Board Member.