Graduation Ceremony Held for Women Leaders of the Future Program

Future Women Leaders Programme Graduation Ceremony Held The 13th cohort of the Future Women Leaders programme, launched in collaboration with Sanofi Turkey and the Turkish Women Entrepreneurs Association (KAGİDER) to develop future leaders, has graduated. Initiated in 2010 with the aim of strengthening young women's positions in society and business life, expanding their professional networks, facilitating job-search processes and contributing to women's employment, the programme has grown stronger in its 13th year. The new graduates of the programme, implemented through the collaboration of KAGİDER and Sanofi Turkey, successfully completed their 3-day digital training following the opening event held at the Commercialisation of Knowledge Centre's Fulya campus on the first day. Among the applicants, 250 young women who qualified for the programme graduated in the 100th year of the Republic. Thus, the number of young women leaders who have graduated from the programme since 2010 has reached 1,750.

'Every 1 lira we invested generated a return 6 times over'

Pelin Yunusoğlu, General Manager of Specialty Treatments for Sanofi Turkey, Iran and Levant, stated in her remarks that as Sanofi, they attach importance to inclusive diversity and draw strength from differences and diversity. Noting that gender equality is an important area for them, Yunusoğlu said: 'We also prioritise this within our company. We have significant targets regarding the proportion of women both among our employees and among managers, and I can say we have generally reached these targets. We also care about creating an impact in society. Because we know that when women are part of the workforce, it has a serious effect on the economy.'

Yunusoğlu, noting that their objectives with the Future Women Leaders project are to prepare young women for business life, continued as follows:

'Within the scope of the programme, we have been providing comprehensive training with KAGİDER for 13 years. Although we continued online during the pandemic period, this year we met physically again and will continue in hybrid format. We are preparing our young women for business life through an intensive programme. We assign mentors to them and enable them to develop relationships with one another. We are a big family, and today with 250 young people joining this family, we have reached 1,750 graduates. 92 per cent of the young women who have participated in this programme are currently employed. This rate shows us that the programme has had a very positive impact.' Noting that they have also conducted a social impact analysis of the programme, Yunusoğlu said: 'For every 1 lira we invested in this project, there is actually a return of 6 times that amount. This is very valuable. Both a return to the economy and a transformation in women's lives. On the other hand, studies show the following: the young women in this programme have not kept what they learned to themselves. They have informed the young women around them about this issue, increased their awareness, boosted their self-confidence, and by influencing one another, enabled them to participate in these programmes.' she explained.

'As we have been for 21 years, we will continue to stand by women'

KAGİDER Chairman Esra Bezircioğlu, speaking at the opening of the programme, noted that they care about university students or graduate women about to enter professional life, and said they always prioritise young people when implementing projects and training programmes for women entrepreneurs. Noting that they wish to particularly raise awareness of gender equality among 18-25 year-olds and support young women in becoming entrepreneurs, Bezircioğlu continued as follows: 'In this regard, the Future Women Leaders project that we have been conducting with Sanofi Turkey for 13 years to prepare young women who struggle to access equal opportunities for business life holds special importance for us. We are delighted to see increasing interest in the project every year. I congratulate all the future women leaders graduating from the programme this year and wish them success. I sincerely believe that in the coming years, just as our previous graduates have, our new graduates will make us proud with their achievements.' Bezircioğlu stated that they will continue, as they have been for 21 years, to support efforts to promote women's representation in all areas of life, and will continue their training and mentoring work with women entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs.

'We are the first company in Turkey to receive certification of the equal opportunity model'

Pınar Kaya, Corporate Communications Director for Sanofi Turkey and Levant, informed that as Sanofi Turkey, just as they have made groundbreaking and successful achievements in the health field, it is important for them to produce solutions to societal needs and create value through corporate social responsibility projects. Stating that a country's development, prosperity and future can only be achieved through the contribution of women and men, all of society, Kaya noted: 'As the first company in Turkey to receive certification of the equal opportunity model, we are committed to increasing the proportion of women managers in our organisation, implementing sustainable targets on equal opportunity and diversity, and creating equal opportunity awareness and social awareness. It is quite gratifying to be marking 13 years as we reach today with the Future Women Leaders project, one of the projects we have launched in line with this vision. It is very valuable for us to know that this project, which has made a significant contribution to ensuring young women make a well-equipped start to their business lives, has created exemplary, long-term and sustainable success stories in our country. This year is particularly special for all of us. It is a source of pride for us to have been able to continue supporting future women leaders with the same enthusiasm in the 100th year of our Republic and to have been by the side of hundreds of young women who will take their first steps into business life this year.' Source