photo credit to casper senibal
Yesterday I attended a women's networking event.
I listened to 4 women, Melek Pulatkonak, Ozlem Denizmen Kocatepe, Anastasia Ashman and Sedef Koktenturk. Each with very clearly defined goals, incredible stamina and persistence.
Melek is working to form a women's networking group for women with ties to Turkey (TurkishWIN). Currently she has less than 100 women in her network. Her goal is 100.000 by 2014. The room where the event was held was quite crowded. Based on that, and on her visible determination, I am sure she will get there.
Ozlem Denizmen Kocatepe is another wonder-woman, with ivy league education, interesting corporate job, husband and 2 kids, a blog and a tv program to educate other women in financial issues. We watched a short section of her tv program, which was indeed very funny and educational at the same time. Actions speak louder than words.
Anastasia Ashman is a remarkable expat writer who is using her creative skills to connect women who want to operate to their fullest potential wherever they are. Her goal is to design a life where work equals play. I can only say Amen to that. In order to achieve her goal, she pursued her pastimes and discovered what 'play' meant for her. I intend to spend sometime on her website; expatHarem, where likeminds meet others who are also seeking to find their 'global niche' and create their hybrid identity.
Sedef Koktenturk, an Olympian wind-surfer in 2008 Beijing Olympics, took a 2 year sabbatical from her high powered Goldman investment banking job to train, try and participate in the Olympics. After two years of intense training she did not qualify for the Olympics, landing instead in the waitlist. Yet her luck changed just 2 months before the Olympics, when another athlete from the Turkish team disqualified and she was invited to participate. Her calm self-confidence and down-to-earth attitude was refreshing.
I came out of the event with determination to 'do' more, and design my life with more joy and less self-judgement.
I thank all the ladies who organized the event and invested time in it. It was well worth it.
Pinar cim, i just read this summary and i appreciate you taking the time to share this experience! i, too, was inspired reading this without attending the networking event! i subscribed to the expat blog and look forward to exploring this global niche and further defining myself as well!!! =) yay!
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