What factors influenced your choice to pursue a career
in this particular field?

İpek Bozkurt: I became familiar with the aviation industry at a young age when I used to visit Atatürk Airport with my family to meet my father who worked in Germany. While waiting for him in the passenger reception hall, I always dreamed of crossing the air side of the door. After completing my studies in International Relations, I came across an announcement from Havaş and immediately applied. I was accepted as an Operations Officer at the Istanbul station, which opened many new doors for me in the aviation industry.

Suna Karabıçak: I believed that partnering with an explosive detection dog would be advantageous in the private security sector, which contributes to the safety and tranquility of our nation. After researching the field, I discovered that I could engage in projects following my training with an explosive support dog.

Catherine Awiti: I have always had a passion for service and working in hospitality industry was one of the ways I could have this fulfilled. Just ending the day knowing I made people feel comfortable and at home away from home.

Mejrem Reci: I started working at the airport, by chance, 23 years ago, as a short-term seasonal employee. Back then, I did not have any plans for long-term employment within the aviation industry. However, I have stayed all these years mainly because of the nature of the business – the pace and dynamics of everyday airport operations, and the fact that airport operations always keep you intellectually challenged and in problem-solving mode.

What do you think is the biggest problem for women in your line of work? Have you faced a similar challenge yourself? If so, how did you deal with it?

İB: Each industry comes with its unique set of challenges, and ours is no exception. At our workplace, we often encounter inquiries about weather conditions and time management. Considering the nature of our operations, time is of the essence, and we must execute our duties while racing against it. Despite these challenges, I believe that we can overcome them through proper planning, collaboration, stress management, and discipline.

MR: The aviation industry globally, still has one of the poorest gender balances, particularly because it lacks females at a leadership level. One of the main obstacles encountered by aspiring female leaders includes bias, as well as assumptions about women's abilities, old-fashioned perceptions and prejudices towards women, and a lack of adequate career guidance in universities. However, TAV Macedonia is a very good example that should be followed, because we have a significant number of women on managerial positions. For the past 23 years of experience in this industry, of course, there were various challenges. Nonetheless, my clear goals, awareness of my abilities, and hard work help me in overcoming every single challenge.

SK: In recent years, women have made significant strides in breaking down gender inequality, especially in the workplace, thanks to their talents and strengths. As a result, I have not faced any significant obstacles that can be deemed as difficulties. As women, we have eliminated the term "difficulty" from our vocabulary.

CA: Safety, pleasant work environment, prejudice and flexible working hours are some of the obstacles women face in hospitality. Hospitality industry working hours entail night shift and having to work at night especially for women with young children is a bit hectic especially when you do not have help. When my daughter was young I had to request to swap shifts with my colleagues frequently to be there at night. TAV OS also offers flexible working hours that ensures safety of the staff since there are no late night drop offs and pickups.

What achievement are you most proud of in your
career up to this point?

SK: As a K9 executive at TAV Security, I work with a living being, my trusty dog. In our line of work, we must pass numerous exams together. The exams that we have successfully passed because of our collaborative efforts hold immense value to me. This is because the triumphs we achieve together are not simply my individual victories, but rather, they are the rewards for our joint efforts.

CA: I started out as a CIP Agent in 2016 and got promoted to a lounge supervisor in 2017. I have gained a lot of experience & skills in my supervisory role. These include leadership, administrative skill, staff training as well as accounting which I term as accomplishments. I have also been able to get back to school n order to get papers that are in line with this experience.

İB: My biggest achievement in my career so far is becoming a Dispatcher after passing the "Flight Operations Specialist License" exam held by DGCA in 2019. Working as an Operations Officer at Havaş, my passion for aviation grew even more, and I was thrilled to be between the planes I had dreamed of.

MR: If I make a retrospective of my career, I can only say that I am proud of where I am now, and I am happy with the job position I have at the moment. On the other hand, my experience, expertise, know-how, and strong will and commitment say that I have more achievements yet to accomplish.

Have any women played a significant role in inspiring or guiding you, or do you look up to any women as role models?

İB: Burcu Geriş, who recently received the "Türkiye 's Leading Women Awards," is my role model in the aviation industry. She is listed among the world's young global leaders and is inspiring to me for successfully managing the work-family-social life balance. I also admire the first Turkish female pilots, Bedriye Tahir Gökmen and Sabiha Gökçen.

CA: There are several women who have influenced me and whom I consider as my role models. The first is the late Prof. Wangari Mathai, a Kenyan-born leader and environmentalist whose enthusiasm and interest in the environment saw her receive a Nobel Peace Prize. Her tireless efforts to protect the environment and empower women through the Green Belt Movement inspire me to take an active role in creating a sustainable future. Another woman who I admire is Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, attorney, and author. She is a strong advocate for healthy eating, poverty awareness, education, and physical fitness. Michelle is also considered a fashion icon, and her grace and elegance inspire me to be confident in my own skin. Lastly, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian writer, is one of the most prominent Anglophone authors who has succeeded in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. Her works, which include novels, short stories, and nonfiction, often explore themes of identity, race, and gender. Chimamanda's unapologetic voice and her commitment to telling authentic African stories inspire me to embrace my cultural heritage and to use my own voice to make a difference in the world.

SK: While there are many remarkable women who have excelled in all facets of life, Safiye Ali, the first female physician of the Turkish Republic, has been the most inspiring to me.

What advice would you offer to other women who are just beginning their careers in your field?

İB: To other women starting in the field, I advise them to stay focused on their goals and dreams and to work in a planned and disciplined way. They should remain positive and not let any negativity lower their motivation.

MR: To follow and to work for their dreams, to be confident and bold, and not live for someone's validation. They should make their stories and their success empower the next generation of women.

SK: While hard work is undoubtedly crucial for success in any field, I would also advise not to give up. By persevering through obstacles with patience and determination, one can attain their desired goals.

CA: Be yourself and have a passion for hospitality as that’s the only way to have a drive for ensuring the best customer experience to clients.

What is your interpretation of gender equality? How do you believe gender equality can be promoted more effectively in your industry?

İB: Gender equality means that both men and women have equal rights, opportunities, and treatment in all aspects of life, without discrimination based on gender. I am proud to work in the aviation industry and Havaş, where gender equality is encouraged.

MR: Gender equality, for me, means to be treated equally, to have equal rights and equal opportunities. Achieving this in my industry requires promoting gender diversity from the top, including a cultural change at the top corporate levels, support, and career guidance, creating a workplace that is more flexible about how and where work is performed.

SK: It entails not prioritizing one gender over another. Success in my industry is not exclusive to men, as there are just as many accomplished women in this field. The absence of impediments for women to thrive in this profession is the most significant evidence of gender equality in the industry.

CA: Gender equality means giving both men and women equal opportunities in all sectors in the industry. Do not limit certain roles to women and vis a vis.

Reflecting on TAV Airports' achievements
towards gender equality

On the occasion of International Women's Day, it is time to reflect on our endeavors towards gender equality. At TAV Airports, we have made significant progress in this area, and we take pride in sharing some of our achievements, with more to come. Three of our subsidiaries, namely BTA, TAV OS, and TAV Air, have been included in the GPTW Institute's list of "Best Workplaces for Women," comprising 27 companies. Furthermore, TAV Airports has been ranked among the top 15 companies with the highest proportion of women employees in Türkiye, as per the ninth women-friendly companies survey conducted by Capital magazine. Lastly, TAV Airports alongside with its subsidiaries ATU Duty Free, BTA, Havaş, and TAV Security have also made it to the "100 Women Friendly Companies" list.

Our commitment to having a minimum of 25% women representation on our Board of Directors has been recognized with the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum's "Board of Directors Diversity Policy Transparency Special Award."

Last but not least, TAV Airports is one of the founding members of the Women in Technology Association (WTECH), which aims to support women in exploring their potential and increase the number of women in the technology sector, providing equal opportunities in science and technology.

We hope that these accomplishments inspire us to continue our efforts towards building a more inclusive and equitable workplace for all.

It is only when women are included in all areas of public life, that we will have a chance at peace and at ensuring that we support the rebuilding of a society that is resilient to future shocks.

Sima Bahous
UN Women Executive Director

As part of our commitment to celebrating diversity and inclusivity, here is a special playlist featuring women voices from the regions in which we operate our airports. We believe that music is a powerful tool that can bring people together and create a sense of community, and we are excited to share this playlist with you.