The GEV Future Summit, organized by the Gedik Education Foundation (GEV) and Istanbul Gedik University, was held on December 9, 2025, at the MEXT Technology Center in Ataşehir. Held under the theme “A Vision for the Future at the Intersection of Education, Technology, and Employment,” the summit brought together representatives from the world of education, business leaders, academics, young people, and civil society organizations.
The opening and day-long moderation of the summit was led by Hande Demirel, host, journalist, and GEV volunteer. In her opening speech, Hande Demirel summarized the purpose of the summit as follows: “We are here to discuss the competencies of the future with a focus on education, technology, and employment, to forge new connections, and to shed light on the journey of our youth.”
The opening speech of the summit was delivered by Hülya Gedik, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Gedik Holding, Chairwoman of the Gedik Education Foundation, and Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Gedik University. Hülya Gedik conveyed GEV's vision and outlook for the future, delivering the following message to participants: “We are not waiting for the future; we are building the future together.”
In her speech, Gedik emphasized the Gedik Education Foundation's efforts to strengthen the country's human capital and prepare young people, women, and individuals with special needs for the world of tomorrow; she noted that the summit was an important reflection of this vision.
Efe Erdem, General Manager of the MEXT Technology Center, described the industrial transformation taking shape at the intersection of industry and technology. In his speech, he stated, “The key to industrial transformation is combining technology with strategy,” emphasizing that technology investments cannot create a sustainable competitive advantage without a strategic perspective.
Following the opening speeches, the GEV Future Summit Future Talks began.
Aydın Erdem, General Manager of KONDA Research and Consulting, spoke on “Social trends and the sociology of the future,” conveying the effects of intergenerational change, daily life practices, and the transformation of the value system on the future workforce, organizational culture, and education policies.
Ahu Büyükkuşoğlu Serter, Founder of Fark Labs, highlighted the role of women in social and economic transformation, emphasizing that no transformation that does not take gender balance into account can be sustainable with the statement, “We are transforming the world with gender balance!”
Strategic Management Consultant and Co-Founder of the Mentoro Platform, Şahin Tulga, emphasized the importance of strategy and leadership in an era of uncertainty, stating, “Shaping the future begins with implementing the right strategy at the right time,” and stressed that organizations must be agile and forward-thinking.
Seçil Yıldız, Sustainability and Impact Leader and Deputy General Manager at Development Investment Bank, drew attention to the critical role of sustainable finance in development and social welfare, stating, “Sustainable finance is the most powerful force transforming the future,” emphasizing that the direction of financial resources has a decisive impact on the world future generations will live in.
Murat Alsan, Country Chairman of KPMG Turkey, addressed the changes in the global economy and the transformation facing the business world in his assessment, stating, “Global success begins with reading change correctly,” and expressing that institutions should not only follow change but also read it and position themselves in advance.
Academic and Civil Society Volunteer Dr. Melek Sarıbekir, in her speech titled “The Predictable Capital of an Unpredictable Future,” emphasized knowledge, ethics, and collective wisdom, stating: “I envision a society 6.0 where valuable minds prevail.”
The summit, held under the main themes of education, technology, and employment, aimed to shed light on the future world of work through panels, speeches, and interactive sessions.
Technology Panel
The panel was moderated by Şule Güner, Global Ambassador of the Responsible AI Global Council, Founder of the Human-Centric AI Lab, and AI author. Panelists included Hakan Erdem, Chairman of the Board of Tuzla Tekmer; Dr. Işıl Boy Ergül, Education Technology Specialist and Founder of TeacherX & ETZ; and Ercüment Büyükşener, Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Strategist.
Education Panel
Moderated by Emre Başkan, Founder of Azor Brand & People Solutions. The panel featured Cem Atacık, Co-Founder of Advancity; Alp Köksal, Director of Khan Academy Turkey; and Prof. Dr. Güray Erkol, General Manager of Koç School.
Employment Panel
Moderated by Emine Erdem, Chair of the Board of Directors at SEDEFED. Panelists included Mehmet Gürsoy, Founder of Udepa; Ufuk Gedikli, General Manager of Randstad; and Canan Alkın, Founder of Robot Employment Agency.
Future, Barrier-Free Future Panel
Moderated by Rahime Gökboğa, Specialist Psychologist and Director of the Barrier-Free Living Application and Research Center at Istanbul Gedik University. The panel featured Prof. Dr. Yasemin Ergenekon, Academic at the Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, Anadolu University, and Elif Karabulut, Director of Employment and Career Education.
The Future of Women's Power Panel
The panel titled “Women's Power of the Future” was moderated by Dr. Ayşin Kaya Şişman, Director of the Women's Entrepreneurship Application and Research Center at Istanbul Gedik University. Ahu Bade Özkan, Founder of NBS Human Resources and Management Consulting & HC-hiringcycle AI, and Asiye Bahar Tabanlı, Founder of Turkishe Network, were the speakers on the panel.
Sponsors of the inaugural GEV Future Summit included Arzum, Altek Casting, ASAD, Gedik Holding, Gedik Advanced Casting Technologies, Gedik Thermo Valve, Gedik Welding, Istanbul Gedik University, Gedik Art, Radio Gedik, and MEXT Technology Center. EKONOMİ Newspaper served as the summit's media sponsor.
Throughout the summit, artificial intelligence and technological transformation, changing education models, the future of employment, sustainable finance, social trends, the role of women in transformation, and the steps that need to be taken for a barrier-free future were discussed in a multidimensional manner. Additionally, coffee breaks were held with music performances by our sponsor Gedik Art's Philharmonic Orchestra, while our sponsor Radio Gedik shared participants' views and experiences through Open Mic interviews throughout the day.
About Gedik Education Foundation:
Established by Gedik Holding on September 7, 1994, Gedik Education Foundation (GEV) supports the equal participation of young people, women, and individuals with special needs in social life, focusing on education, production, and sharing with over 30 years of solid experience.
By establishing Istanbul Gedik University in 2010, GEV extended its vision to the academic field. It has reached tens of thousands of people through education, science, art, and social projects, continuing to train qualified experts by strengthening industry-university cooperation.
Having provided free education to more than 32,500 people to date, the Foundation continues to contribute to Turkey's future with the Presidential Gratitude Plaque, Ministry of National Education Certificates of Appreciation, and international certificate programs under the umbrella of the International Institute of Welding (IIW).
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