MilliOnAir Magazine August 2018 | Page 128

MilliOnAir

But numbers are not meaningful without a hypothesis. Because no wind is useful if the boat has no direction.

Those are very wise words, and I agree, hard work and determination are very important. Would you say you are more analytical or creative in your thinking?

Let’s say I am always open to all options. Economics is the science of alternatives. Also, life is the science of alternatives. We try to leave it as we planned but take it like it comes. It’s just the way it is. Even though I am strong in mathematics, I accept the reality of the karma and try to find solutions for the problems that come out of the blue. Of course, the experience is important. Analytical and creative skills get sharp with age.

A very profound answer. What are your thoughts on the global economy right now?

I can say that we just started positively. What we have are many issues, for example, trade wars, federal decisions, growing tensions in the Middle East. Also, high inflation, high interest rates, and high growth is a dangerous process.

Unfortunately for another three years, we will go through this. On one hand, technology and digital transformation are going faster, on the other hand, we still argue on the topics of last entry. This creates a disharmony in the world. But let’s see, things can only get better. This will all pass.

You are currently a professor at Altinbas University in Istanbul, what is the most rewarding aspect of being a professor?

Been a professor in Turkey is an honorable status but a hard one as well because some people admire you and some do not.

Provisions are heavily criticized like being far from practical life. That’s why I am obliged to be in two different worlds. The academic life and the business life.

I use my experiences from both sides and this makes me different from other colleagues. In Turkey, professors who execute in practical life are mostly accepted as trustable scientists.

But you cannot escape from the criticism of being “too practical” even though you do a lot of scientific work.

You also travel doing keynotes at other institutions. How do you keep your audiences engaged and interested?

First of all the presentation, you make has to give a message. This message has to be interpreted with a scenario, like a movie. You have to avoid showering the audience with information. Never supply if not demanded.

If the presentation is long, you have to use the shock or surprise effect. An explosive start is not always the best way. From my experience, an interesting start is good and you go higher and higher every second. The energy and the breath have to be used economically. Be careful not to swim too far from the shore, stick to the subject. So far this is my methodology.

In the 1980s and 90s, high school and college education were quite multidisciplinary in Turkey. Now, young people are more relaxed and focused. In my time, from philosophy to psychology we had to know many things to get our grades.