Can Uz’s Post

All things have an end and change is inevitable :) After 12 years and two internships, I had my farewell from Siemens. I had the luxury to give myself some free time. I travelled four continents, found some interesting books, learned new things, built new friendships, rested, and had some quality time with my family and friends whom I have been neglecting since COVID-19. I am grateful for all the learnings and good work, I have been part of. It's time to fly for new adventures.

Reflecting on my recent journey into the vibrant world of venture capital in the Bay Area of California feels akin to watching a captivating Kurosawa movie unfold before my eyes—a narrative rich with multiple perspectives and stories intertwining seamlessly. For a week, my address was the Bay Area Entrepreneurship and Investing class, led by the esteemed David Charron and Vivek Rao at the University of California, Berkeley. Our cohort was a dynamic mix of Oxford Said Business School and UC Berkeley Haas School of Business alumni and students, each bringing a unique blend of experience and insights to the table. I must extend my heartfelt gratitude to the program coordinators, @Avni Kansara and Isabelle Kenney-Herbert, for orchestrating such a transformative experience. The class was structured around two major themes, allowing us to explore the landscape from entrepreneurial and investor perspectives. On the entrepreneurial front, we immersed ourselves in the world of startups, meticulously analyzing their products and business models through creating a canvas. A special acknowledgment goes to my dedicated team— Iakovos Dimitriou , Xueming Zhao, Rhonda Bucklin. Also Vassilis Karavas, Ph.D. —whose invaluable insights and patience made our collaborative efforts truly rewarding. From Anna Roumiantseva's Skip, empowering the elderly, to David Carter's Deep Planet AI for Sustainable Agriculture, and Ashima Sharma's Dreami, breaking the barriers in careers; each venture presented unique challenges and opportunities that fueled our learning journey. The second theme centered around the intricacies of venture capital investment. Alongside my investing team—comprising Diwakar Kasibhotla, Igor Liski, and Anchit Jain—we delved into the soul of VC, grappling with the complexities of late-stage investment decisions. Drawing upon real-world expertise spanning investors, bankers, and product managers, our discussions were as illuminating as they were challenging. Field trips enriched our experience, with highlights including a visit to the Skydeck Capital led by the amazing Ekin Günaysu, offering a panoramic view of the Bay Area's innovation landscape. Additionally, our candid Q&A session with AJ Shankar CEO of Everlaw, challenged so many entrepreneurial dogma's. Key takeaways from the entrepreneurship segment underscored the importance of curiosity, resilience, diverse skill sets, and effective leadership in navigating the startup ecosystem. Meanwhile, discussions on identifying investment-worthy startups emphasized the critical role of product-market fit, accompanied by a scalable business model and an experienced founding team. Grateful for the wealth of learnings, networking opportunities, and the privilege of immersing myself in the vibrant ecosystem of Berkeley, I recognize the continuity of knowledge-building from Tim Jenkinson's Entrepreneurial Finance class in Palo Alto last year and the undeniable effect of AI in the valley.

Mentoring is a skill where we can learn more and lead better. I have always been grateful for my mentors and mentees. Thus, I decided to cultivate my mentoring skills through: the EMCC Mentoring Foundation from EMCC Global! #mentoring Through this certification process, I've gained a deeper understanding of effective mentoring strategies, communication skills, and the importance of fostering growth and development in others. I am excited about the opportunity to mentor, guide, and inspire individuals on their own paths to success and learn from them. I look forward to embarking on this new chapter as a certified mentor, ready to make a positive impact and contribute to the growth of others. A huge thank you to #ODTUMIST #metu FIRAT TARAKTAS, EMBA, MSc. Dr. Riza KADILAR Hande Karabatak Binns- MSc (Psychology)- MCIPD, PCC, EIA Nuray Tamer, PCC, Senior Practitioner Coach Göknur Agabeyoğlu PS: And a beautiful paper - https://lnkd.in/dUk4fW3V

Change is inevitable, but it is usually not easy. Good guidance can help during this journey. Thus, I highly recommend the PDP, curated for young talents by my dear friends. Apply now, and live the transformation.

Books are my soft spot! And here is another one on strategy. I had the privilege to be a student of Tim Galpin in the M&A class, one of the best lectures I have attended. He also wrote another book on the M&A (link in the comment), which was precise and written structurally and enjoyably. I am sure that the strategy book is fantastic, and without any hesitation, I ordered it. I am sure that you will enjoy reading it! Michelle Darracott Ebrahim Barkoudah, MD, MPH Yinan Muehlbacher

I am also very proud of my wife’s achievement. Years of work and commitment and she managed wonderfully!Nida Öztop

Isn’t it amazing to discover Dürer and Holbein’s works after centuries…

Valuable friends, colleagues. My home country, Turkey has been heavily hit by multiple large scale earthquakes. As you can see the numbers, a huge tragedy is happening at every level. I always believe that technology is in the service of humanity but actually as long as we don’t support each other, every single soul, nothing is going to be achieved. Therefore I need to ask for your prayers, good thoughts and if possible for some donations. If you would like to help, there are some charities, those we know with their good work. Thank you. #earthquakeinturkey

If someone can make predictions on e-commerce, dear Gemma Spence is to hear! Enjoy the good read! #ecommerce #mobile #sustainability #oxforduniversity