When people think of Türkiye, they often picture its rich history, culture, and position as a bridge between East and West. But beyond its heritage, Türkiye is fast emerging as a hub for business, technology, and innovation. From thriving startups to bold digital transformations, the country is shaping the future of industries not only in Asia but also on the global stage.
In this landscape of rapid growth, ideas and leadership matter more than ever. That’s why we’ve curated this list of the Top Voices You Should Follow in Türkiye — inspiring professionals, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who are driving meaningful change and offering insights you don’t want to miss.
Highlights
Hamid Hassanzadeh
Hamid Hassanzadeh, a visionary architect and entrepreneur, is the Founder and CEO of ParametricArchitecture and PAACADEMY, platforms that bridge architecture with emerging technologies such as AI, computational design, and digital fabrication.
With over a decade of experience as an architect and computational designer, Hamid identified inefficiencies in traditional processes and set out to revolutionize the industry. Furthermore, through PAACADEMY, he curates innovative workshops and courses that empower professionals to adopt advanced design tools.
Moreover, his global community-building efforts have positioned him as a leading voice shaping the future of design innovation.
Koray Tuğberk Gübür
Koray Tuğberk Gübür, a renowned SEO strategist and entrepreneur, is the Founder of Holistic SEO & Digital, where he helps Fortune 500 companies and global brands grow through data-driven digital strategies.
With expertise in machine learning, semantic search, and topical authority, Koray has published in-depth SEO case studies, success stories, and A/B tests that are widely referenced across the industry. Additionally, he serves as a Brand Ambassador for WhitePress®, promoting SEO culture and innovation globally.
Moreover, his recognition as the most-read author by Serpstat, along with his frequent keynote appearances, underscores his influence. Ultimately, Koray’s mission is not only to optimize websites but also to bridge coding and marketing, fostering a new generation of SEO professionals.
Merve Ayyüce Kızrak
Dr. Merve Ayyüce Kızrak, an AI governance and safety expert, is the Founder & CEO of HUX AI, a global consulting firm dedicated to ethical and human-centered AI-powered organizations and AI systems. With over 16 years of experience, her journey spans academia, government, and international organizations.
Notably, as an AI Specialist at Türkiye’s Presidency Digital Transformation Office, she played a key role in crafting the National AI Strategy. Furthermore, she represents Türkiye in global forums such as the OECD, G20, NATO, and UN, advocating for responsible AI design.
In addition, her open-source lectures and online courses have educated more than 70,000 students worldwide. Recognized among the Top 50 Women in GovTech, Dr. Kızrak continues to shape the global AI discourse by aligning technology with ethical values.
Bertay Fişekçi
Bertay Fişekçi, a culture strategist and leadership mentor, empowers mid-level managers to evolve into inspiring leaders who can drive engagement and transformation. As the Founder of Bertay Fişekçi Training & Consultancy, he focuses on leadership development, employee engagement, and positive intelligence coaching.
With over two decades of corporate experience, Bertay blends empathy with strategy to help organizations overcome challenges like high turnover and weak communication. Moreover, he is a certified PQ Mental Fitness Coach, using science-backed methods to rewire leadership mindsets. In addition, his expertise as a speaker coach enables leaders to communicate authentically and with impact.
Ultimately, Bertay’s holistic approach makes him a guiding force in creating human-centered, thriving workplace cultures.
Can Bakır
Can Bakır, a seasoned venture capitalist and innovation strategist, is the CEO of AI Startup Factory and General Manager of 100th Year Technology Ventures Inc., the corporate venture capital arm of İşbank. With 20 years of experience spanning marketing, sales, product development, and strategy, Can has dedicated his career to nurturing startups and driving global innovation.
Furthermore, through AI Startup Factory, he supports artificial intelligence ventures in Türkiye and abroad, preparing them for competitive international markets. Meanwhile, at 100th Year Technology Ventures, he leverages corporate backing to provide mentorship, investments, and long-term growth opportunities.
In essence, Can’s work reflects his passion for technology, flexibility, and tailored innovation strategies that maximize startup potential on a global scale.
Barış Karakullukçu
Barış Karakullukçu, an accomplished executive and AI strategist, has led large-scale digital transformations across technology, telecom, retail, and consulting for more than 25 years. Drawing on leadership roles at Accenture, IBM, İşbank, Turkcell, and Türk Telekom, Barış has driven AI-powered enterprise agility and measurable growth.
Furthermore, as CEO of Mudo, a company-wide transformation under Barış’s leadership became a Harvard Business School case study. Later, founding AI Startup Factory (YZF) under Türkiye İş Bankası, Barış accelerated 50+ AI startups in just two years while serving on boards and investment committees such as TT Ventures, Maxis, 100th Year VC, Atlas PE, Arya VC, and Founder One Impact Fund.
Moreover, through Aionire and independent board work at Arena, Barış continues to mentor founders, design responsible AI strategies, and scale cross-border innovation ecosystems.
Duygu Yılmaz
Duygu Yılmaz, a globally recognized biotechnology entrepreneur, is the Co-Founder & CEO of Biolive, which transforms olive seeds into bio-based plastic granules. Named among the world’s 10 most successful young innovators, she also led her patented invention to win first place in R&D and advanced materials in Silicon Valley.
Focused on replacing petroleum-based plastics that persist for centuries and drive substantial emissions, Duygu developed Bio-Pura, a biodegradable, non-toxic material for diverse industrial applications.
By upcycling agricultural waste into high-value inputs, Biolive advances circular-economy solutions without compromising performance. Her leadership positions Biolive at the forefront of climate-positive materials from Türkiye to the world.
Mert Menekşe
Mert Menekşe, an award-winning entrepreneur and ex-VC, is the Co-Founder of Co-one, a platform delivering data-centric AI solutions that combine human expertise with advanced tooling.
Recognized by Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 (2024) and Fast Company Startup 100 Türkiye (2024), Mert champions reliable, production-grade AI for enterprise teams. Moreover, Co-one’s model-ready datasets and workflows help organizations boost accuracy, efficiency, and time-to-value.
In addition, Mert’s venture background informs pragmatic scaling, from GTM to operational excellence. Consequently, he stands out as a leading voice on building trustworthy AI pipelines across industries.
Dilara Kaplan
Dilara Kaplan, Co-Founder & CEO of Orbina AI, builds AI-powered communication platforms that streamline customer interactions and internal operations. Leveraging large language models and intelligent agents, Orbina helps businesses automate workflows and elevate service quality.
Furthermore, Dilara’s focus on practical, scalable use cases ensures AI delivers measurable business outcomes, not just prototypes. In addition, her work bridges entrepreneurship and advanced analytics, accelerating adoption in traditional and tech-native sectors alike.
Ultimately, Dilara is shaping a smarter operating model for organizations embracing generative AI.
Egem Eraslan
Egem Eraslan, Founder & CEO of Midas, is redefining access to investing in Türkiye by opening seamless participation in Borsa İstanbul (BIST), U.S. markets, and TEFAS funds—with crypto features integrated for modern investors.
Moreover, Midas prioritizes transparency, user experience, and education, bringing institutional-grade tools to everyday users. In addition, Egem’s vision centers on financial inclusion, lowering barriers for first-time investors while supporting sophisticated strategies.
As a result, Midas has emerged as a flagship fintech platform, signaling a broader shift toward democratized wealth building in the region.
The Bigger Picture: What These Voices Mean for Türkiye and Beyond
These 10 leaders aren’t just influencers — they are changemakers who embody Türkiye’s growing impact on business, technology, and innovation. Each voice offers a unique perspective, from policy-making and education to entrepreneurship and the future of work.
By following them, you’ll gain access to ideas, strategies, and conversations that reflect Türkiye’s pivotal role as a bridge between Asia and Europe. More importantly, you’ll stay ahead of the curve in understanding global trends shaped by this dynamic region.
That’s why this list of the Top Voices You Should Follow in Türkiye matters: it’s not just about who they are, but about the future they’re helping us build.
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here.
