10/09/2025
A Journey Without Limits with Our Graduate Ece Salihoğlu
Ece Salihoğlu is one of our graduates who has forged her own path with the skills and perspective she acquired during her education. We share an interview with our graduate, which includes her career journey, success story, and her feelings about our university.
Can you tell us about the education you received at the university?
I graduated from the Department of Industrial Engineering. The diversity of the curriculum allowed me to become a more well-rounded engineer, gaining knowledge in a wide range of fields, rather than graduating as a standard engineer.
What did the freedom of choosing a program at Sabancı University offer you in your career journey?
The freedom to choose a program during my undergraduate studies played a significant role in my first years of university, helping me discover which courses I was interested in. Thanks to the problem-solving skills and optimization-focused perspective I acquired during my university education, I have successfully completed various projects in my professional life.
What are the benefits of studying in a liberal environment?
Sabancı has an educational system that doesn't force you to fit into a box and encourages you to forge your own path. Although I graduated from Industrial Engineering, I also had the opportunity to develop my skills in this field through the many art history electives I took throughout my studies, and the school fostered a lifelong hobby.
Among Sabancı University graduates, some have launched careers at top-tier companies, while others have started their own ventures. At this point, can you describe the impact of the Sabancı University education system on entrepreneurship?
I began my career in the Strategic Planning department at Şişecam-Paşabahçe, one of Turkey's leading companies. After working in senior positions in strategy and marketing at various global companies, I decided to start my own business after nearly 10 years in corporate life, drawing on the experience I had accumulated and the value I could add to the industry. In this regard, I saw my undergraduate studies at Sabancı University and my graduate studies in the UK as invaluable in the planning and implementation stages required to launch a venture.
Can you tell us about your career journey?
Throughout university, starting in my freshman year, I interned at different companies and departments every summer. This showed me the areas I could pursue in the business world, which areas I was interested in, and even which areas I wasn't. This allowed me to make much more informed choices when entering the workforce after graduation. I began my career in the Strategic Planning department at Şişecam – Paşabahçe, and then continued at BDR Thermea Group – Baymak, first as a Brand Manager and then as a Marketing Group Manager. I then served as the Marketing and Corporate Communications Director at Ankaref, one of Turkey's leading technology companies in the field of IoT technologies. In 2022, I embarked on a new journey, drawing on the experiences and lessons I gained in corporate life. In addition to running our family business, which operates in the chemical raw material trade, I founded my own marketing agency, YENILIQUE, in 2023.
Can you tell us the story of your brand?
Throughout my professional career, through roles at various companies and projects, I've interacted with numerous agencies on a wide range of topics. During this time, I've had the opportunity to observe the services and business practices of various agencies. I've often noticed that brand needs and expectations aren't being fully met. At this point, I realized that agencies offering both design services and content creation and consulting services for diverse needs lacked a robust framework, so I decided to establish an agency that combines these two services. Today, we have two offices in London and Istanbul, serving over 30 clients with presentation and report design, marketing, brand, and client consulting, and various creative projects such as catalogs, brochures, illustrative videos, and more.
Do you think the only limits an SU graduate has are the ones they put on themselves?
I believe the quality of education at Sabancı University is top-notch. This is a significant advantage for students and graduates. The university's approach fosters both personal and professional development by maximizing the opportunities it offers in every field. In this sense, I believe that SU graduates have no limits other than those they put on themselves, and that they are provided with an education that creates the infrastructure to break these limits.
What are your thoughts on these kinds of gatherings on your campus after graduation?
I strive to attend as many of these gatherings as possible. It's an opportunity to reunite with friends from my own era and witness the change and transformation of the school. I enjoy interacting closely with students and exchanging ideas on a wide variety of topics.
As you know, our university is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Could we have your 25th-anniversary message?
As we celebrate Sabancı University's 25th anniversary, I once again feel what a privilege it is to be a part of this family. Our university has not only provided us with academic knowledge; it has also provided us with a vision that encourages creativity and teaches us to act with confidence. As we celebrate our achievements here today, I believe that, thanks to the values and deep-rooted educational approach Sabancı University has instilled in us, we will continue to contribute to society in the future. A huge thank you to all our teachers, friends, and the Sabancı family. Many more 25 years to come.
How would you describe the progress Sabancı University has made in 25 years, based on what you've observed and learned?
I admire Sabancı University for its structure that closely follows trends and tailors its educational content to meet the demands of the times. I see that care is taken to be an educational institution that adapts to today's technological advancements, keeps pace with the times, and even produces graduates ahead of the times.
Now, Sabancı University is a young, 25-year-old university that has already demonstrated its capabilities. What are your future aspirations for your university?
I hope our university will become even more prominent in the international arena for its quality of education, its contribution to academic research, and the success of its graduates.
