NEWS

The "The Art of Staying Afloat" event, organized by the Industrial Engineering Club of Istanbul Nişantaşı University, was held for the third time this year. The event attracted significant attention from students, offering inspiring talks and valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship.

Event moderator Egehan Türk introduced the program flow and the speakers. The first speaker, Ziya Şakir Yılmaz, founder of Simurg Academy, emphasized the importance of freedom and risk management in entrepreneurship. Stating, “Not every entrepreneur is free; what matters is being a smart entrepreneur,” Yılmaz shared the five stages of entrepreneurship and the impact of consumer behavior with the students. He highlighted how technology transforms micro-players into macro-players and underlined the critical importance of communication and sales skills for success. At the end of his speech, Yılmaz was presented with a plaque.

The next guest, Mustafa Kemal Sözkesen, co-founder of Keyo Digital Inc. and Medipara Health Inc., shared his journey through entrepreneurship, discussing the chalenges he faced and the successes he achieved. After a failed venture, Sözkesen focused on medical products and explained how he grew as an e-commerce platform provider. He emphasized flexibility in leadership, the importance of customer satisfaction, the role of artificial intelligence in business processes, and the value of networking in professional life. Sözkesen received a plaque following his insightful talk.

Finaly, Mert Güler, founder of Eknevia, shared the process of developing Turkey’s first boat rental platform. Güler explained how his passion for the sea inspired the project and how his core team built a sincere family-like atmosphere. Stressing the importance of patience and psychological resilience in entrepreneurship, Güler encouraged students to take bold steps with original ideas. He also discussed his new projects, such as “Ismarlıyo,” highlighting that entrepreneurship is a continuous learning journey. The event concluded with a plaque presentation to Güler.

"The Art of Staying Afloat" event was well-received, offering participants inspiring stories and valuable knowledge about entrepreneurship.