Front Flip: A Metaphor for Personal Leadership

Sezen Sungur Saral opens her talk with a captivating childhood anecdote, describing how she boldly entered school early, making a "front flip" into the classroom. This anecdote serves as a metaphor for her personal leadership journey, highlighting the importance of taking bold steps and believing in oneself.

From Employee to Entrepreneur: Rising to the Top

Saral's impressive career trajectory is a testament to her leadership abilities. She rose through the ranks in her first workplace, eventually founding her own firm, which brought e-book and tablet technologies to Turkey and established the country's first phone factory with a predominantly female workforce.

Women's Natural Leadership: Unlocking Potential

Saral recognizes the natural leadership abilities of women, both inside and outside of the workplace. She shares a workshop activity where female employees were encouraged to acknowledge their successes, revealing their hidden talents and contributions. This activity underscores the importance of empowering women to recognize their own leadership qualities.

Girls are Coding: Empowering Future Leaders

Saral's commitment to women's empowerment extends to the younger generation. She describes the "Girls are Coding" project, an initiative that provides science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education to female students in technical high schools. This project aims to equip girls with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in technology and become future leaders.

The Importance of Personal Meaning: Building a Bridge

Saral emphasizes the need for personal meaning in work, drawing inspiration from her attendance at Harvard University's program for successful entrepreneurs. She encourages listeners to find a bridge between their work and its significance, creating a fulfilling and purposeful career path.

The Role of Technology in Education and Empowerment

Saral acknowledges the role of technology in education and empowerment. Her company's mission is to overcome fear through knowledge, and they have used this mission to empower women through education and training programs.

Take Your Leap: Embracing the Unknown

Saral concludes her talk with an inspiring call to action. She encourages listeners to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the unknown, like jumping off a plane without a parachute. She believes that our experiences and knowledge can act as our parachute, guiding us as we create our own bridges of meaning and purpose. Saral emphasizes that women are particularly adept at this, as they are "more equal" than men.