Halkbank Chairman Özdil Shares His Experiences in the “Experience at Haliç” Series

As part of the “Experience at Haliç” series, our university hosted Recep Süleyman Özdil, Chairman of the Board of Halkbank, this week. The event, attended by our Rector Prof. Dr. Nihat İnanç, faculty members, and students, offered enjoyable and memorable moments.

Conducted in a conversational format, Özdil shared insights from his personal journey and offered valuable guidance to participants regarding their careers and future endeavors.

Born in 1961 in Istanbul to a family originally from the Black Sea region, Özdil recounted his early education in Istanbul and his high school years in Balıkesir. Reflecting on his time at Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, which he began in 1978, he described those years as challenging yet profoundly formative, laying the foundation for enduring friendships and a stimulating intellectual environment.

Özdil also noted that his interest in literature during university brought him into contact with prominent figures, stating, “Learning under their guidance was like attending a second university.” Regarding his post-university career, he shared an important piece of advice for young people: “Do not set overly ambitious expectations in life; everything unfolds as it is meant to.”

Highlighting his 25 years in the private sector followed by service in public institutions, Özdil emphasized his nearly 40-year career in banking and stressed that ethics has always been the cornerstone of any professional choice.

Reflecting on the changing world and evolving professions, Özdil noted that concepts such as digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainability are shaping the future. Yet, he emphasized that humanity remains at the center of this transformation, underscoring the enduring importance of values such as compassion and justice.

Concluding his speech, he reminded students of the value of lifelong learning and stressed that those who remain true to their values will not lose their way. He also assured that Halkbank’s doors are always open to young people, and collaborations with the university on internships and professional opportunities will continue.

Following his talk, Rector Prof. Dr. Nihat İnanç presented Özdil with a special gift reflecting Haliç’s historical and cultural heritage. Prof. Dr. İnanç expressed gratitude for the discussion, stating, “Experience often equals life itself. Attending ten lectures may influence one side of the scale, but just one hour of real experience balances the other side. Therefore, we must learn from experiences and draw lessons from past events. As Mr. Özdil emphasized, having goals and focusing on them is essential, but we must also avoid excessive ambition. Ultimately, we are all subject to fate.”

The event concluded with Recep Süleyman Özdil responding to questions from the participants.