“Türkiye has an amazing potential to become one of the most developed nations in sports.”
Emre Turanlı has two important hats: He is the Global CMO Mobility/Convenience & License Markets Chairman Shell Brands International, as well as the Vice-President of the Water Polo Federation of Turkey. With these dual roles, he is in a unique position to evaluate how sports and leadership are related.
How did you get interested in water polo?
I started swimming competitevely when I was five years old at Istanbul Yüzme İhtisas Klübü. At age eleven, I transitioned to water polo as it was more fun and a team sport.
What does being president of a sports federation entail?
Federations are private institutions, and our job is to make sure that the league operates at all Olympic age groups both for men and women. We also support the development of international delegates and referees. National Team development is also crucial, and we cultivate and manage it for all age groups. Therefore, this position particularly entails enabling all the required funding and facilitating work so that facilities are secured. We also have a very strong program on TOHMs (Turkish Olympic Development Centers) especially to develop women’s water polo with the goal of competing in the next Olympics.
Türkiye has developed significantly in sports over the last decade; in particular, in Olympic sports. The facilities are now on par with the most developed nations’. Turkiye has an amazing potential to become one of the most developed nations in sports, and the biggest challenge is to raise public awareness and interest. Sports is still seen only as a health improvement aspect in our society. The more we support young athletes in pursuing professional sports—particularly outside major cities where excellent facilities exist—the more successful we can become”
What impact does sports have on your career?
Both work and sports require discipline, hard work, decision making, not giving up. Team sports teach to take decisions under pressure, not to let yourself sink down after a wrong decision, discipline in the face of adversity, and competing against competition not internal targets. All those situations are also very common in business. At work, I would also always prefer somebody who has done competitive sports from a young age, because they would have the grit, discipline, and winning mind set.
