“Count a few women from the tech industry.” What names come to mind? Or are you thinking of someone? Although we see names like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey almost every day, he doesn’t know much about female leaders in the tech industry.

In fact, efforts have been made for decades to increase gender diversity in companies and organizations, but the percentage of women leaders working in the tech industry is still too low to research. On the other hand, there are highly successful female leaders driving technology both in the world and in Turkey. We too wanted to commemorate the women who are shaping technology, both in our country and in the world, on the 88th anniversary of the granting of women’s voting and suffrage rights in Turkey. On this occasion, we would like once again to express our gratitude to the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his friends, who gave Turkish women the legal rights they deserve against many Western countries, which are considered the pioneers of civilization. Let’s take a look at the women leaders active around the world and in our country who will inspire the women entrepreneurs of the future.

“I can have kids and a career”: Susan Wojcicki

Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube since February 2014. Susan Wojcicki, one of the names involved in Google’s $1.65 billion acquisition of YouTube in 2006, is a true example of “I can have children or a career”. Because he has five children. When Wojcicki’s second child was born, many of her colleagues thought she would stop working, but on the contrary, Susan continued to climb the career ladder with firm strides.

More than a COO: Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg

COO of Facebook since 2008 Sheryl Sandbergis of great importance in increasing the sales of Facebook. She is also using her position very usefully to raise awareness of gender diversity in the tech industry. Before joining Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg was a vice president at Google for six years. Sandberg, who also held executive positions at Apple and Yahoo!, was the first woman ever elected to the company’s board of directors when she joined Facebook.

SpaceX COO Gwyne Shotwell, who wants to be a leader in an uneven business environment in addition to space travel

Director of operations at Elon Musk’s SpaceX company Gwyne ShotwellShe is ranked 49th on the Forbes list of the world’s most influential women in 2020. Shotwell’s job is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the company and ensure the company’s growth. In addition to being the company’s director of operations, we can say that he is also the spokesperson for the company’s diversity efforts. “We are the world leader in aerospace. Why not be a leader in creating a work environment free of prejudice and inequality?” used the words.

Ruth Porat, Chief Financial Officer, Alphabet and Google

parent company of Google since 2015 Alphabet and Googlefinancial director of Ruth PortatHe was a vice president of investment bank Morgan Stanley from 2010 to 2015. Like SpaceX COO Gwyne Shotwell, Ruth Porat is also on the Forbes list of the most influential women in 2020. Porat was 16th on this valuable list. In addition to his work at Google, Porat helps companies damaged in the US after the pandemic process to reintegrate into the economy.

Başak Taşpınar Degim, the founder of Armut, who changed the dynamics of the service sector in our country.

He is the founder of armut.com, which provides services on various topics. Basak Taspinar DegimHe graduated in 2000 from Boğaziçi University, Department of Civil Engineering. After her years in the Bosphorus, Başak Taşpınar Degim, who did her master’s degree at Koç University and the US, worked as a manager at Revlon and Nielsen companies. In 2010 he returned to Turkey. Basak Taşpınar Degim, based on the difficulty she had in finding companies that provide quality service, founded armut.com based on her own experience. Armut.com, which received a Series A investment from Hummingbird Ventures, a European investment in 2014, is one of the first startups that comes to mind when it comes to service in Turkey.

Hande İzmirlioğlu, one of the founders of Dolap, an online second-hand clothing application

He is one of the founders of the Dolap application, which was created to prevent unused items from getting old in the cupboards and to contribute to a more sustainable world, where shopping is possible at affordable prices. Hande Izmirlioğlu Between 2003 and 2008 he studied Computer Engineering at Boğaziçi University. He then worked at companies such as Turkcell and n11.com. Later on, İzmirlioğlu, who founded Dolap, is one of the companies that comes to mind when we talk about thrift store applications, one of the important names of the industry with its breakthroughs.

Sezen Saral, Turkey’s 2018 female entrepreneur

Boğazici University of International Trade Sezen Saral, who graduated from the department with a “High honors” degree, is the name that created the first e-book reader brand in Turkey. Sezen Saral started with the aim of spreading the culture of reading books and liberating knowledge. She carries out sponsorship and social responsibility projects by taking initiatives in education and sports, as well as her collaborations with technoparks and universities.

Duygu Akbudak, co-founder of Denebunu.com

Graduated from Koç University, Department of Business Administration. Duygu AkbudakDuring his university years, he started doing internships at important international companies. Akbudak, who started working at The Coca Cola Company after college, went on to work at US-based company Kimberly Clark after this experience. Duygu Akbudak, who made a sudden decision in her early thirties and decided she wanted to start her own business, showed an example of courage and founded Denebunu even though she had no experience. Denebunu is a platform that allows you to try or consult the products of leading brands in the world before purchasing. Denebunu offers a wide range of products, from electronics to cosmetics, from food to household cleaning products, and offers product sample boxes once a month, some in proof size and some in original size, according to the user’s profile. The more users keep their profiles full, the more comments they make, the more likely they are to get a product sample box.

Tuğçe Yılmaz Özbilgi, co-founder of Gezimanya, the most comprehensive Turkish travel guide

Istanbul University Market Research and Advertising After his department, he studied Public Relations and Advertising at Marmara University. Tugce Yilmaz Ozbilgi After working as a senior manager at various companies for a while, he wanted to do something about his passion for travel. That’s why in 2011 travel maniahe founded. Every month, about 1 million internet users visit Gezimanya, which currently hosts 75 authors and more than 6,000 travel articles. Tuğçe Yılmaz Özbilgi went on an adventure in Gezimanya with his wife, Murat Özbilgi. The duo tries to move forward by finding bigger dreams and ideas for themselves every day.

Demet Mutlu, who manages an e-commerce brand in Turkey and Europe with Trendyol

trendyolFounder and CEO of Bunch of happyHe left Harvard Business School, one of the best MBA schools in the world, and founded Trendyol by following his dreams. In his observations during the summer months, when he came to Turkey from the US, he noticed some gaps in e-commerce in Turkey (especially in fashion). Thus the idea of ​​Trendyol was born. Founded in 2009, Trendyol has taken an important step in facilitating access to consumer products in Europe as well. Because en.trendyol.com offers service in 27 countries in Europe. In line with consumer needs, Trendyol has also contributed to new formations. For example, Trendyol Express in logistics, Trendyol Go & Good in online shopping and food ordering, Trendyol Wallet in e-wallet and Wardrobe application in second-hand product market.

Selin Ezer, founder of Ankara-based mobile advertising platform App Samurai

Samurai appsis a mobile advertising platform that was founded in Ankara, Bilkent Cyberpark, and later opened to the US. Co-founder of App Samurai Selin Ezer, founded this company with four of his friends who are experienced in mobile marketing. App Samurai allows the user to measure the quality and results of their ads. It also allows to create high conversion rate campaigns with smart suggestions. Founded in 2016, App Samurai has received significant investment over the years. It even announced that it has donated $250,000 to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.

Hande Çilingir, co-founder of Insider, which provides services in more than 24 countries

insideris a software company that provides tools to increase sales of e-commerce sites. With offices in more than 24 countries, Insider, with its artificial intelligence-enabled technology, Singapore Airlines, Marks & Spencer, Samsung, MediaMarkt, Virgin, Uniqlo, Garanti BBVA and Estée Lauder It helps more than 800 global brands accelerate their digital growth. Insider CEO and co-founder Handy LocksmithHe started his university life in London and then continued in China. In 2012 they founded Insider with five co-founders. Locksmith was named one of the top 3 female CEOs in the world outside the US by Crunchbase in 2018.

Melis Guctas, the founder of ModaCruz, which is on Wired’s 10 Most Popular Startups list

To create a perception of second-hand fashion in our country, FashionCruzin 2014 Melissa Guctas was founded by Guctas, who founded ModaCruz with the aim of strengthening sharing between people and the women’s economy, was born in 1988 in Bursa. After completing Industrial Design at Boston Wentworth Institute of Technology, she worked as a digital marketing analyst at a startup for 2 years. Melis Guctas later returned to Turkey and started working on various digital platforms. He realized that designer clothes in Turkey were sold at exorbitant prices and that some brands were not easily available. Driven by her entrepreneurial spirit, Melis Guctas established the ModaCruz business model. He is still the CEO of ModaCruz and continues his career.

Eda Günay, the founder of Uplifers, which started with the motto feel good, live well

Eda GunayHe received his bachelor’s degree from Paris IV Celsa Sorbonne and the communications faculty of Galatasaray University. After completing his master’s degree in communication and media studies, he returned to Turkey and rolled up his sleeves for the Uplifers project. Eda Günay, who started in 2012 with the slogan “feel good, live well”, Uplifers founded the website. It is possible to say that Uplifers is a blog that provides scientific and experiential content to users about personal development, psychology, sports, healthy nutrition, sexual happiness, fashion, travel and space for a healthy and fit life. The Uplifers staff, which has grown over time, currently includes about 40 writers who are experts in their field.