Selen Kocabas

Keynote Speaker

Speaker Profile

Selen Kocabas is a graduate of İstanbul University School of Economics (English) and has a master degree in Human Resources Management and Organizational Behaviour at Marmara University.

Kocabaş started her career at Koç Group and served as HR Specilist at Arçelik before working for Marshall Chemicals. Kocabas was actively involved in acquisiton processes of Marshall Chemicals by Akzo Nobel International. She worked for Danonesa (joint venture of Group Danone and Sabancı Corporation) as HR Director.

Kocabas joined Turkcell in 2003 as Chief Business Support Officer where she served for 12 years. Human Resources, Construction and Real Estate, Administrative Affairs, IT, Legislative Affairs, Procurement, Strategic Planning were all her work responsibility which enabled Kocabas before leading Corporate Business .

She was responsible for profit&loss while working with a wide range of responsibilies such as marketing, sales, product management and services. She is one of the main actors in transforming Turkcell the GSM company into Turkcell the communications and technology company. She focused her strategy on mobile and fixed solutions, investing in innovation and turning social responsibilities into value. Kocabas was the head of more than 3,000 people at Turkcell. In accordance with this job, she managed more than 200 companies with 10,000 employees within the partner eco-system of Turkcell. She developped mobile and fixed solutions along with these companies, improved their services.

She held chair in the local and international operations of Turkcell like Inteltek Company (known as İddaa) and Astelit and Best in the region. She sat on the executive board of Global Call Center, Turkcell Payment Systems and Turkcell Technology Companies.

Kocabas was the first female president of Peryon Human Management Association which happens to be the oldest civil liberties organization in Turkey. Currently she is involved in the public services department of the same establishment. Kocabas is the first corporate representative of Ethics and Prestige Association. She is a member of TÜSİAD (Turkish Business Society) as well as The Futurists Association and Professional Management Association. She is at the Consultant Board of Endeavour.

In 2014, she was listed as the 9th Most Powerful Business woman among 50 by Fortune Magazine.

Currently Kocabas provides companies and executive boards with management consulting services and is independant Baord Member.

Kocabas is a mother to a 17 years old son. She speaks French and English.