‘Leadership Stands Out in an Era Where Uncertainty Has Become the Norm’

Organized since 2012 by Capital, Ekonomist, and Start Up magazines, the International Economy Summit (UEZ 2026) is being held for the 15th time this year, hosting respected politicians, business leaders, and academics from Türkiye and around the world.

Held under the theme ‘The Great Transformation: A Compass for the Transition to a Resilient and Sustainable Global System’, the second day of the summit also saw strong participation.

The fifth and final panel of the second day, sponsored by Tera Finance Group, was titled ‘Leadership for the Future: Human, Culture, Data and Technology Oriented Management.’

The panel was moderated by Mevhine Canan Özsoy, Chairman of the Board of Biotrend Energy and Independent Board Member. Özsoy noted that we are going through a period where leadership is being redefined, stating; “In an era where demographics are changing and data and technology continuously reshape our lives, leadership is also evolving. We will seek answers to how balance can be maintained between people, technology, and nature.”

‘IDEAS MUST INSPIRE TRUST’

Tam Finans CEO Hakan Karamanlı said; “The rules of the game are changing, and access to information has become critical. When information is everywhere, how you use it becomes equally important. We are living in a world of constant change and uncertainty. People want clarity, not uncertainty. In this uncertain world, leaders must be decisive. A company takes a step, but you must be able to explain it to people. Clarification itself is a complex issue. Your ideas must inspire trust. The ability to use technology is now indispensable for managers. The era of saying ‘the IT team will handle technology and others will take care of AI’ is over. Today, a manager must be able to derive insights from data, detect errors, and use technology effectively. In the age of AI, what differentiates leadership is not having technology, but defining the problem correctly. If you can ask the right questions, interpret data correctly, and guide the system properly, real value emerges there. In this era where uncertainty has become normalized, leadership begins exactly at this point. The new generation of employees no longer questions only outcomes but also the ‘why’ behind them. Therefore, leadership is not about suppressing uncertainty and making everything definite; it is about enabling the team by building trust.”

‘IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO PROGRESS BY INSISTING ON OLD METHODS’

Bülent Öztürk, Chairman of the Board of ArsaVev, stated that access to housing has become a global issue over the past three years, not only in Türkiye but worldwide. He said; “In Türkiye, this issue is felt even more deeply. You need to be a very resilient businessperson. Instead of strictly following traditional methods, you need to rewrite the rules of the game. Our sector is very large—a locomotive sector. But you must act carefully. With high interest rates, limited access to financing, and increasing cost pressures, it is no longer possible to move forward by insisting on old methods. Today, leadership in the sector requires not only resilience but also the courage to rethink the system. To say ‘I am changing the game’ requires realism. You must adapt to technology and data. Being innovative alone is not enough. We are in an earthquake-prone country, and there is a demand for safe structures. There are expectations for social living and security. On one hand, we face accessibility issues; on the other, there is a demand for quality. At this point, we have developed a model based on land.”

‘HUMAN FACTOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH’

IDO CEO Dr. Murat Orhan stated that strategy and planning are extremely important concepts. He said; “They are essential for sustainable growth, but people must be part of that strategy. A strategy without people remains on paper. We transport over 30 million passengers and more than 13 million vehicles annually. When you try to expand your operational scope, different dynamics come into play. At this point, we particularly need human resources-and we have them. Our workforce has gone beyond its own competencies and, within three years, expanded operationally from 4 lines to 10 lines.”

‘THOSE WHO CANNOT MANAGE UNCERTAINTY CANNOT SURVIVE IN COMPETITION’

Ozan Kırmızı, CEO and Board Member of Alternatif Bank, stated that leadership in the banking sector is becoming increasingly complex, noting that performance pressure and profitability debates are among the sector’s main agenda items. He emphasized that one of the most critical aspects of leadership today is managing uncertainty, and that this is not a new phenomenon. Kırmızı said; “The process that started with the pandemic and continued with protectionist policies has created a prolonged period of uncertainty in the business world. Within the company, we aim to build a structure where every employee can make decisions, take responsibility, and demonstrate leadership. I am trying to create an organization where each employee can reflect their own leadership and take responsibility for decisions. Under current conditions, the ability of organizations to act agilely and make fast decisions is decisive. Structures that cannot manage uncertainty are finding it increasingly difficult to survive in a competitive environment.”