"Our Seat at the Table" Panel was organized by WOB Turkey

AHMET DÖRDÜNCÜ: "WHEN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE WORLD POPULATION IS WOMEN, WE CANNOT FLY WITH ONE WING."

SELİN HAMAMCIOĞLU: "THE BIGGEST ADVICE TO WOMEN IS THAT THEY RAISE THEIR VOICE."

"More Women on Boards" Project, which was realized within the scope of the European Union Local NGO's Grant Program, "Our Seat at the Table" Panel was moderated by WOB Turkey President Hande Yaşargil. Klimasan Independent Board Member Ayşe Güçlü Onur, Klimasan Board Member Selim Hamamcıoğlu, Akiş Real Estate Independent Board Member Selen Kocabaş, Akiş Real Estate Chairperson Ahmet Dördüncü and Mutlu Akü Independent Board Member Tülin Karabük participated in the panel as speakers.

At the "Our Seat at the Table" Panel, which was realized within the scope of the European Union Local NGO's Grant Program, speakers shared their stories of being an independent member and experiences.

Akiş Real Estate Chairperson Ahmet Dördüncü stated that the obligation to be a meöber of the Boards in public companies issued by the Capital Markets Board in 2011 was an important development. Ahmet Dördüncü continued as follows: "Why is there an independent board member? What does it mean to represent minority rights on Boards? In previous Boards, no one would say anything, only the chairperson said something, the other members would look at the chairperson's eyebrow, if it was playing, they would take position accordingly. Boards would be like this. If you ask me what are you looking for when you become an independent Board member, I look for self-confidence. I mean those who question, have the knowledge, protect minority rights and oppose. They should be able to say that they do not agree when necessary, they cannot sign. We will learn a lot from you, we need to learn a lot like men. If you too need to learn something from men, it's self-confidence. I see women wasting time to do everything in the right. I am on Board in Akkök and my teammates are predominantly women. There is a very nice saying "A bird with one wing does not fly." Today, you look at the demography, 50% of the world are women. We have really talented and well-equipped women candidates. This is actually not a problem for women. If we set out from gender equality, we can open up more women on Boards. My suggestion to women is to be pragmatic and confident."

Klimasan Board Member Selim Hamamcıoğlu pointed out that Klimasan Board, which consists of 5 people, 2 independent members are also women.

"We have selected two female independent board members from different sectors because we think that they bring new perspectives to us. Our rate of female and male in the number of white-collar employees is 60% male and 40% female, as in Board Memberships. This rate is above the average in Turkey, but we must run. The number of our female blue-collar employees is also increasing every year, and our number of female employees increases by 12 to 15% every year. In our blue-collar employees, women's continuity to work is 3 times higher than that of men. Our female employees work much longer. Let's try to increase the number of female Board Members in companies as much as we want. We have been coming from Anatolian, women stay in the background until the Atatürk term. In Turkey, we row against the tide, and it's true. Nothing happens without collision. My biggest advice to women is to raise their voice."

About Women on Board Turkey Association:

WOB Turkey was founded by Hande Yaşargil and Burçak Güven in 2012 as the first organization that works to increase diversity and women's representation in executive boards in our country.

On January 16, 2017, we changed our status to an association and expanded our activities, and we started to take important steps towards institutionalization. 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 three terms so far, has included 137 women leaders, 40 in the first term, 47 in the second term, 50 in the third term, and 86 mentors, some of whom gave voluntary support all three terms. 75 out of a total of 137 women leaders are currently appointed as Board Members of one or more institutions or NGOs.

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,

it is ensured that the Chairpersons of the Boards of our country's leading companies get to know female executives with various qualifications and recommend them for appropriate positions.