Birmingham is one of the most diverse and vibrant cities a student can study in. As most of the people come from overseas, I thought I would be at home. This also meant that there was a wide variety of fantastic cultural events throughout the year. And as an international student to be located in the middle of the UK meant I was able to commute to the rest of the country easily.

I was relatively young aged when I have decided I wanted to become a successful businesswoman. I researched successful businessmen and saw that marketing was unconditionally the key factor. Studying at the University of Birmingham was helpful as it equiped me with the skills required to pursue a successful career.

Besides having a strong educational background, a businesswoman should also have good communication skills to engage with other employees. I believe that working as a team is very important on the path to success. So, studying in a multi-cultural university enhanced my knowledge about other cultures, backgrounds etc so I could cope with difficulties in the real business life. 

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

I always believe in 'learning by doing' which helps me when learning the practical points of any subject. The UK allows students to work whilst they study so international students especially should take advantage of this opportunity when studying abroad. 

What has been the most extraordinary or memorable day on the job?

Well with the beginning of 2020, the airline industry lived through the most difficult year in aviation history. But as a company we worked with determination and faith to succeed together. Each day was so memorable and difficult. On the 23rd of April, on National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft drew the world's largest national (Turkish) flag on the sky. We as a country followed the flight live and the pilot made an announcement referring to the statement of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, 'Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation'. By saying he emphasized that Turkish Airlines ensured that his legacy lived on in the skies. That day, I felt so proud and felt privledged being part of the company. 

What is your top career tip? 

No matter which university you graduated from or what grades you had, professional life will be very different from university life. Communication is the key to an employee's and an organization's success. And in how the way you show it, the value of action is far greater than that of mere words. Use this as a principle in your dealings at the office. And never forget, pay attention what you do and always be willing to learn.