Zeynep Özler recently joined strategic communication consultancy Communication Partner as Vice President. Having experience in corporate communication in companies like Yıldız Holding, Kale Group, and Turkcell, Özler brings to the new role a perspective shaped by creativity, collaboration, and a belief in the transformative power of communication. Describing herself as someone who finds meaning in both loving life and producing value through ideas, she has often reflected on the power of building stories “from the right place” — where thoughtful strategy, intuition, and clear communication come together. Her approach to communication extends beyond visibility or reputation management. Rather, she views it as an opportunity to create genuine value and contribute, however modestly, to making the world a better place. In this new position, Özler hopes to continue creating, producing, and investing in work that carries meaning.

Mozaik, which brings some of the world’s leading design brands to Türkiye, has expanded its executive team with the appointment of Doğan Balamir Nazlıca as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO).

In his new role, Nazlıca will oversee the company’s sales, marketing, e-commerce, and business development functions under an integrated growth strategy. He will also lead Mozaik’s corporate transformation and operational development initiatives. He plans to focus on improving the customer experience and developing sustainable revenue models, while strengthening collaboration across Mozaik’s retail, project, corporate sales, and digital channels. Nazlıca earned his degree in International Relations from Istanbul Bilgi University. Over the course of his career in sales, he has held senior positions at companies at various stages of growth. With extensive experience in sales leadership, revenue growth, business development, organizational transformation, and data strategy, Nazlıca is expected to make a significant contribution to Mozaik’s growth and transformation in its new chapter.

 

Founded by Yeşim Özsoy RC 90, GalataPerform is an independent, international theater dedicated to bringing diverse stories and voices together. At its core, it is an interdisciplinary space driven by experimentation. Through its platform, LAB, GalataPerform also organizes online and hybrid workshops, mentorship programs, and creative gatherings that connect leading practitioners from Türkiye and across the globe. These initiatives span a wide spectrum—from theater and cinema to literature, music, design, and new technologies.

On June 13, 2026, LAB hosted a masterclass led by literature professor Hülya Adak RC 89. The session explored the creative journeys of prominent female authors, including Virginia Woolf, Toni Morrison, Margaret Atwood, Jeanette Winterson, and Emine Sevgi Özdamar. By centering on a gender perspective when analyzing contemporary literature, the masterclass used novel excerpts, feminist dramaturgy, and stage adaptations to spark lively analysis and discussion.

 

Landscape as a Staged Surface, an exhibition that took place in One Arc Gallery last spring, showcased the decades-long photographic and collage archives of Taner Şekercioğlu. Curated by Filiz Ağdemir, the works charted the artist’s conceptual evolution and interdisciplinary methodology.

Rather than treating photography as mere documentation, Şekercioğlu reframes the earth as a calculated, manipulated surface. His art traces humanity’s shifting connection with nature, capturing a transition from peaceful coexistence to deliberate intervention. Instead of presenting definitive images, these works act as visual notations that document an Ultimately, the collection highlights the multi-layered foundation that inspired his later work, revolving around threedimensional wall panels

After graduating from RC, Öneş studied at the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at Middle East Technical University. For more than 30 years, he worked seniro across various sectors such as tourism, cement, automotive and finance and in management positions. In the last eight years of his management career, he served as CEO and Board Member at Mercedes-Benz AG’s companies in Romania. After retiring, he founded the ONES ACADEMY where he has shared the experience he gained over the years from companies across different cultures with young people. He has provided corporate training and personalized consulting services, both domestically and internationally.

Tayfun Öneş will continue his career as General Manager of Akçansa, where he was already a Board Member. Akçansa is a leading company in the cement sector.

At the 2026 Retail Days (Perakende Günleri) held at the Haliç Congress Center, Silk & Cashmere founder Ayşen Zamanpur RC 76 was presented with the prestigious 25th Anniversary Honor Award. Celebrating a quarter-century of the retail industry’s most prominent gathering, the ceremony recognized legendary pioneers who have previously received Lifetime Achievement awards. Zamanpur was recognized for her enduring contributions to global fashion, particularly her leadership in sustainable design and the concept of “silent luxury.” Upon receiving the honor,

Zamanpur shared an inspiring message on resilience, noting that, while navigating professional fields as a woman presents unique challenges, passion and true entrepreneurship transcend gender boundaries. In a touching moment, she dedicated the milestone accolade to her grandchildren.

Music critic, author, and academic Evin İlyasoğlu has added another title to her prolific bibliography of over twenty books. Her latest work, İki Alem Arasında Ali Darmar (Ali Darmar: Between Two Worlds, Remzi Kitabevi), is a book-length interview with her longtime friend, the composer and educator Ali Darmar.

The project was initially sparked by Darmar’s suggestion that İlyasoğlu write his biography. The collaboration evolved into a dynamic dialogue, with the pair meeting via Zoom for two hours every day. İlyasoğlu credits Darmar’s rigorous discipline—the same rigor he demands of his piano students—with ensuring the seamless completion of the book. For readers looking for a unique perspective, the final chapter on parapsychology offers a particularly fascinating window into Darmar’s life and world.

As part of ART SHOW 2026, the International Association of Art Galleries (USGD) presented its newly established “Forty Years of Remembrance” Award (Kırk Yıllık Hatır Ödülü) to prominent gallerist and art manager Nuran Terzioğlu, making her the first-ever recipient of this honor.

Terzioğlu has long been a foundational figure in the development of Türkiye’s contemporary art ecosystem, particularly through her gallery Apel. She was selected for the award in recognition of her lifelong dedication to fostering artistic production, her commitment to building enduring relationships with artists, and her significant contributions to elevating the institutional visibility of contemporary art throughout her career.

She witnesses tangible social impact.

Gülin Yenigün Yücel serves on the Board of KAGİDER (Turkish Women Entrepreneurs Association), an organization dedicated to advancing women’s entrepreneurship and strengthening women’s economic and social participation.

An active member since 2009, Yücel currently leads KAGİDER’s Circular Economy Committee, contributes to EU-level advocacy for women entrepreneurs, and coordinates preparations for COP31. Reflecting on her work, she notes: “I have been involved in international and EUwide initiatives focused on won the development of, the Equal Rights in the Workplace Certification program, and youth empowerment projects.”

Yücel credits Robert College with shaping her commitment to civic engagement. “RC’s strong emphasis on civic responsibility, critical thinking, and social awareness made it natural for me to see social impact as part of my life rather than something separate from my career,” she says. Through the school’s diverse community, student clubs, and volunteering opportunities, she was introduced to issues such as inequality, gender justice, and environmental sustainability, gaining both the motivation and confidence to engage in NGO work later in life.

What she finds most rewarding is witnessing tangible social impact. According to KAGİDER’s Social Return on Investment (SROI) and qualitative impact study covering 2020–2025, every 1 TL invested in the organization’s projects generates an average of 4.80 TL in social value. This impact benefits women entrepreneurs through increased skills, income, and confidence, while supporting families, creating jobs, strengthening local economies, and advancing gender equality across society

A gigantic ‘ghost net’ was recently extracted from the Marmara Sea.

The Deniz Yaşamını Koruma Derneği (DYKD, Marine Life Conservation Society) joined forces with the Kariyo & Ababay Vakfı (KAV, Kariyo & Ababay Foundation) in the shared goal of protecting the sea’s ecosystem. One of their recent works garnered a lot of attention in media.

DYKD, in association with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, launched a mobile app called Mavi Atlas (Blue Atlas) in 2025. Citizens can upload information about the species, depth, and location of marine life, and therefore can contribute to the mapping of biodiversity in Türkiye. Citizens can also report problems, such as ‘ghost nets.’

Ghost nets refer to a situation where defunct fishing gear—including nets, lines, longlines, and pots that have been accidentally lost, swept away by storms, or intentionally discarded by fishermen—remains on the sea floor and continues to trap and kill marine life indefinitely.

The first such report of ghost nets came from Heybeliada, and the second came from near Marmara Island in the Marmara Sea. The net was astoundingly huge; it could cover the Çamlıca Tower completely.

An initial exploration study with divers and underwater cameras revealed that the nets were trapped in rocky areas and crevices. It was observed that while the nets were tightly wrapped around rocks in some sections, in others, they drifted along the seabed with the current, turning into a virtually invisible trap. Many marine animals that were still alive were rescued and released back into their habitats.

Meticulous work of this scale is only made possible by the dedication of patrons who champion these causes— individuals like Sami Kariyo.