"Future Women Leaders" Programme Marks Its 10th Year

The 2020 meeting of the 'Future Women Leaders' project, carried out in collaboration with Turkey Women Entrepreneurs Association (KAGİDER) and Sanofi Turkey, took place digitally on 13-16 October. Following the four-day training program that received 1,000 applications this year, 200 successful young women from across Turkey completed their four-day training; bringing the number of 'Future Women Leaders' graduates to 1,000. Implemented to create equal opportunities for women in career advancement and contribute to female employment, the 'Future Women Leaders' project continues its efforts to help young women make a strong start in business through KAGİDER and Sanofi's collaboration. Entering its 10th year and one of the longest-running projects of its kind in the country, the 'Future Women Leaders' project's training program took place over four days on a digital platform this year. The program's educational content covered fundamental knowledge and skills for working life, perspectives on career development and management, and job entry skills. The training program began with opening remarks from KAGİDER President Emine Erdem, Sanofi Turkey Corporate Communications Director Pınar Kaya, and Sanofi Turkey Inclusive Diversity Ambassador and Diabetes Business Unit Director Buğra Kulak. Kulak expressed that as a father imagining his daughter's future, he dreams of a bright future without injustice; emphasizing that every step taken to address gender inequality in society and business is crucial. Kulak stated that such a severe problem can only be solved through strong partnerships and strong advocacy from both men and women. Kulak said: "Gender inequality is a social problem that not only women but also men need to solve."

KAGİDER President Emine Erdem said the following in her opening remarks:

"Gender inequality is a social problem that greatly complicates women's professional lives. To enable women to achieve equal opportunities in career advancement, we have been sustaining our 'Future Women Leaders' program for 10 years with Sanofi's corporate support. Future Women Leaders is a highly important project for young women to make a strong start in business. Young women participating in this program, after intensive training on working life and career planning, have the opportunity to begin their professional lives more prepared and stronger. We sincerely believe that women play an extremely important role in building a bright future. We women will grow stronger together, and we will build the future by working together. I believe we will continue this program, which has yielded very positive results for our country, together for many more years and continue to change young women's lives."

Sanofi Turkey Corporate Communications Director Pınar Kaya:

"Discussing the problem is not enough; we must contribute to the solution"

In her opening remarks, Sanofi Turkey Corporate Communications Director Pınar Kaya, who emphasized that as Sanofi, achieving sustainable success in social responsibility projects in all areas and contributing to solving social problems through pioneering programs is critical, said: "In this sense, as a company that received the first certification of the equal opportunities model in Turkey, we have successfully maintained the Future Women Leaders project uninterrupted for 10 years in collaboration with KAGİDER. Through this project we have implemented with KAGİDER, we aim to support valuable young women from all across Turkey who will shape our country's future with knowledge and skills they will benefit from throughout their lives, and contribute to Turkey's development of women leaders. The Future Women Leaders project is far more than these trainings; it is actually a sisterhood network where we support each other throughout our lives. If we equip our young women with the competencies required by the business world today and provide necessary educational support, we have no doubt that many women leaders will emerge. Within the scope of our project, this year, together with 200 of our young women, 10 years of Future Women Leaders training were completed by 1,000 young women. We are proud of this. We look at a brighter future with hope, enriched by your presence" she said. In this year's project meeting spread over 4 days of training program, 200 successful women were selected from recent university graduates or final-year university students who did not have equal opportunities.

The selected successful women receive training and mentoring support from KAGİDER and Sanofi covering all the information they will need in the job-finding process.

KAGİDER Board Member Ayşegül Özsan made the following statements regarding the Future Women Leaders program: "This year, considering pandemic conditions and with the support of our stakeholder Sanofi, we decided to conduct our GKL 10th-year program online. During the 4-day program, we identified young women without equal access to opportunities from among applications and prepared an extremely detailed program that could create the most impact for a strong first step in business life. We are pleased to come together in the 10th year of the GKL program with 200 young women in their final year or graduates from 78 different universities in 32 different provinces. Future Women Leaders, despite not having equal access to opportunities, prepares women with high potential who look to the future with faith and determination for the first steps of their career journey by strengthening them through good guidance. Looking at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Gender Inequality Report, our country ranks 136th among 153 countries in women's participation in the economy and workforce... GKL, which we believe will open doors to equal opportunities for women who will put an end to this inequality, holds great meaning and value for us for this very reason." Sanofi Turkey, Iran and Levant Human Resources Director Senem Korol, emphasizing that Sanofi is a company that places special emphasis on projects supporting women's workforce with its corporate approach emphasizing diversity worldwide, stated the following; "Preventing discrimination is a very important part of Sanofi's ethical rules. Maximum sensitivity is shown on this matter both at management and employee levels.

As Sanofi Turkey, we also provide equal opportunities to all employees without discrimination. Gender equality should be a priority goal for sustainable development.

Without women's participation in social, political and economic life, it is impossible to achieve development goals in the world, particularly the "United Nations Sustainable Development Goals." Therefore, placing gender equality at the foundation of goals should become a priority." Emphasizing that female employment is one of the most important indicators showing a country's level of development, Korol stated; "For gender equality, civil society organizations, the private sector and public institutions must work hand in hand very closely. Because women's status in society concerns not only women but also the future of the entire country. As a sponsor of the World Women's Forum since 2010, in addition to our 'Future Women Leaders' project that we carry out in collaboration with KAGİDER in Turkey, we are implementing initiatives that support the 'Equal Opportunities Model' approach. The Future Women Leaders project is a very valuable initiative we carry out hand in hand with Turkey Women Entrepreneurs Association. Following our 2020 training program, 1,000 young women in our country have graduated from Future Women Leaders over 10 years, and we are proud of this. I sincerely believe that this project will produce strong women leaders and that each of you will shed light on our country's bright future" he said.

GKL 2019-2020 Project Leader Seçil Şendağ:

"GKL is not just a training camp but a lifelong women's leadership support platform" GKL 2019-2020 Project Leader Seçil Şendağ, noting that the 'Future Women Leaders' program opens the door to an important journey for young women, spoke as follows: "I believe that this training and mentoring support is an undeniable driving force for young women as they enter professional life and provides important contribution that will enable them to make a difference. In this meaningful four-day program, in addition to highly valuable speakers, GKL graduates who have become role models will also speak and share their experiences with young women. Important responsibilities also fall on the program's young participants here. Throughout their careers in all positions they hold, they should work for gender equality, participate in employment, advance in their careers and make a difference in their work." Support provided to young women is not limited to the four-day program either. After completing the training, young women graduates from the 'Future Women Leaders' program receive support from educators, mentors and GKL alumni both in finding jobs and in the first years of their careers. Future Women Leaders program graduates, whose numbers are steadily increasing in business life, also empower each other through various communication channels, social media groups, periodic and regional meetings.