“The goal of my life is to make Türkiye a better place. The financial industry is a means to that goal.”
After finishing German High School in İstanbul, Ömer left his hometown for Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where he double-majored in engineering and economics. After graduation, in the midst of one of the biggest financial crises in U.S. history, he joined Merrill Lynch. “Markets were in turmoil,” recalls Ömer. “My early career was not the most straightforward experience; events changed every day.” Ömer had to show flexibility to survive under unpredictable conditions—and he did. He welcomed greater responsibilities and quickly moved up the corporate ladder. When Bank of America and Merrill Lynch merged, he became an associate in the divisions of global markets and investment banking. Behind the bold career achievements, Ömer nurtured a bigger purpose.
Ömer started community work at an early age at the Rotary Club in Türkiye. It was not until college that his vision for the “Small Steps Big Tomorrows” project— which ultimately changed the way the education system approached community work in Türkiye—emerged.
Awarded $10,000 in seed money for his idea by the Eugene M. Lang Opportunity Scholarship Program at Swarthmore College, Ömer, together with the Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı, convinced the Ministry of Education in Türkiye to introduce community service as part of the middle- and high-school curriculum. The project started with a pilot program: a workshop for college students to train high school and middle school students on the responsibilities of fortunate citizens and on how to improve the community. The project eventually grew with additional support of $300,000 from Procter & Gamble in Türkiye, enabling students to allocate time for community work during school hours.
Turkish Philanthropy Fund’s scholarship for Ömer’s Executive MBA program at Columbia University recognized his achievements. Now, Ömer works five days a week and goes to school on Saturdays, leaving Sundays for homework. “It is all about time management,” he says. “The MBA program made me more efficient in life.”
What would Ömer like to do next? “I have role models like Haldun Tashman. I would like to start my own business one day, become a generous philanthropist like him, and give back to my community.”