Ms. Güler Sabancı: “We need to break glass ceilings.”
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Sabancı Holding organised a meeting under the title of “Those Who Steer the Life”.
- “NOW, IT IS TIME TO HANDLE THE ISSUE OF WOMAN FROM NEW DIMENSIONS.”
- “52% OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WERE PROMOTED IN 2016 WERE FEMALE.”
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Sabancı Holding organised a meeting under the title of “Those Who Steer the Life”. Ms. Güler Sabancı, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sabancı Holding, made the opening speech of the event. Ms. Sabancı noted in her speech that they wanted to remind everyone of the importance of women who shape all areas of life, by designating the name of the event as “Those Who Steer the Life”.
The panel organised within the scope of the event, which was presented by the theatre player Yetkin Dikinciler, was moderated by Elif Ergu Demiral from Hürriyet Newspaper. The panellists shared their work and career journeys with the participants during the panel participated in by Prof. Dr. Feryal Özel from the Astronomy and Physics Department of the Arizona University, Dr. Gözde Durmuş, lecturer at the Stanford University, Demet Akbağ, the actress and theatre player, Erol Bilecik, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Industry and Business Association, Melahat Aydın, the specialist teacher and Ayşe Karabt, the reporter. After the panel, Nükhet Duru took the stage. Ms. Duru had a conversation with Yetkin Dikinciler on the role of women in art and sang her favourite songs.
Ms. Güler Sabancı pointed out in her speech, “We designated the name of today’s event as “Those Who Steer the Life” and wanted to take this opportunity to remind of the importance of women who shape all areas of life. The United Nations target is to achieve the equality of women and men across the world by 2030. This year, it designated the theme of the International Women’s Day as “Women in the Changing Business Life”. Yes, business life is changing; globalisation, technological and digital transformation, 4th industrial revolution are the concepts discussed by all of us. However, the positioning of women in the changing world depends on many variables, from their access to social rights, to their appointment to management levels and from gender sensitive budgeting to access to technology. Of course, there are lots of obstacles to be overcome and glass ceilings to be broken. The engagement of women in work in Turkey is still at the level of 33%. There is a long distance to be covered in the public sphere, politics, education and so on. None of these is sufficient. We deserve better. We need to run faster, force the doors more and work harder. But there has been some undeniable progress made as well. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Engagement in politics as a decision maker is increasing across the world. The rates of engagement in education are rising. The awareness of the media, civil society, the public and the business world of the issue of woman is raising. Now, everybody knows that the achievement of “equality” is of critical importance, not just for a certain segment of the society, but for our common future. It has been proven over and over that the exclusion of women from labour in many countries of the world harms not only women but also global development. Nobody raises an objection now against the importance of educating women, the economic value they create, their selective role as a customer and decision maker role as a manager, their contributions to the economy and such other information we have. It is a scientific fact that companies managed by women increase their profits by up to 15%. However, it is time to go beyond all these utterances now. Now, it is time to handle the issue of woman from new dimensions. Women are going beyond the limits and pushing the conditions henceforth. They do not find it sufficient to study or have a job.”
Equality is important for everyone
It is required to break glass ceilings, in other words, to overcome the invisible, transparent but existing limits and go beyond the assigned social roles. Mentioning the necessity to expand the definition of the concept of gender equality while doing so, Ms. Güler Sabancı continued, “We should not regard the concept of gender equality in figures only. We should add new dimensions now. Today, we will see altogether what happens, what kind of a change will occur and what can be achieved when the glass ceilings are broken and the limits are exceeded. Our guests who will be on this stage shortly, have won the competition of “equalities” and made a difference beyond courage and self-confidence. Or otherwise, they provided opportunities for women to get ahead just like Mr. Erol. They are very successful and valuable in their fields. Just like the unlimited examples in the world, Christian Lagarde could not be elected as the Chairman of the IMF just because she is a female. Meryl Streep could not be nominated for an Oscar just because she is a female. Zaha Hadid was not a prominent female architect; she was an outstanding architect. For this reason, the main point is to devote ourselves to what we are doing and to be the best of it. In fact, equality is not only for women, equality is for everyone. It is not for today, only, equality is for the future.”
Stating that they tried to make a contribution for a bright future through the Sabancı Foundation, Ms. Güler Sabancı noted that they were working to ensure equal and active engagement of women in society and raise awareness in society in this respect with the help of the programmes implemented. Ms. Güler Sabancı continued her speech as follows, “We support women and girls to overcome ‘glass ceilings’. We particularly support the efforts of the non-governmental organisations which create awareness about the human rights of women and play a key role in the solution of problems. As the Sabancı Foundation, we have transferred about 15,000,000 TL resources for initiatives intended for women in the last 10 years, excluding the devoted efforts of my fellows in the Foundation. As a result of these initiatives, 170,000 people were accessed directly and about 700,000 people were accessed indirectly. The theme of the ‘short film, long term effect’ which has been implemented for the first time this year is refugee women. On the other side, we are working to encourage economic engagement and internalise the conscience of gender equality across the whole Group. I say proudly that the rate of our female employees is above the average in Turkey. 40% of our employees are female. 52% of the employees who were promoted in 2016 are female. However, we do not find this sufficient and want more. Moreover, we are taking the whole Group to the same knowledge and conscience levels in terms of gender equality. We provided online training to over 10,000 employees of ours in terms of social gender equality last year. The Sabancı Volunteers are still implementing 45 different projects for women thanks to the fact that our employees embrace this issue sincerely.”
“MY DREAM IS A LIFE FOR ALL WOMEN AS EQUAL INDIVIDUALS.”
After a while, we will listen to some very prominent figures who have steered through life altogether. While I was preparing for this speech, I thought about the people who “supported me to find my way in life”. the first one was my grandfather, Mr. Hacı Ömer Sabancı. He took me to the factories starting from the age of 3. Another person was my grandmother, who was literally the first Anatolian woman from whom I received my management education. She was one of the first female teachers of the Republic. My grandmother Mrs. Rukiye Tarcan, a student of Halide Edip. Of course, my mother, who stood with me throughout my life with her strong support. My uncles, who made me feel their support all the time, and of course Uncle Sakıp with whom I worked for about 30 years. I endlessly thank them all. Mr. Sakıp told me once, “My daughter, we are opening the door for you. But it is up to you to enter in, and to stay there and be successful.” As you see, the people who steered my life, just like everybody, include both women and some really very “smart men”. I learnt from them to struggle by asking for advice intensively, without fighting but preparing well, to be patient if required but to never give up, to stand firm, not to be affected by temporary problems and to smile even at the most difficult times. Subsequently I better figured out the value of what I had learnt and who supported me. In fact, we know that everybody does not have an equal chance in life. Our Foundation has been aware of this and assumed this responsibility to help since its establishment. Therefore, we are working in order for women to have a place for themselves in all areas of life and have an equal balance. My dream is that women are supported starting from their childhood, their access to education is ensured, and so that they live as equal individuals who can stand on their own two feet. International Women’s Day has been celebrated since the 1900s. However, we achieve real equality when we stop regarding March 8th as a special day and when we are no longer required to organise such kinds of events.