Within the scope of the Career Planning Course, the “Public Administration to Entrepreneurship” conference—part of the “Our Alumni Speak” event series—was organized by the Faculty’s Management and Politics Student Society.
The conference was held at the Prof. Dr. Sabri Bektöre Conference Hall with the participation of the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (FEAS), Assist. Prof. Dr. Hale Fulya Kaya; faculty members from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, including Assist. Prof. Dr. Atahan Demirkol; as well as academic staff and students. The guest speaker of the event was Entrepreneur and Author Büşra Yeşim Aslantaş, a 2014 graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences.
In his opening remarks, Assist. Prof. Dr. Atahan Demirkol emphasized that graduates of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences do not have to limit their career plans to the public sector or direct employment in private companies, noting that there are many alternative career pathways available. Demirkol stated: “This will be a career story demonstrating how the education we receive can be integrated into our career planning and the opportunities it offers us from a multidimensional perspective. Events like this, where our alumni guide you through their experiences, are valuable for us and, we believe, highly beneficial for you as well.”
“My career goal was never civil service”
In her presentation titled “From Public Administration to Entrepreneurship,” Entrepreneur and Author Büşra Yeşim Aslantaş shared her experiences from her student years and her professional journey. Stating that she never considered becoming a civil servant as a career goal, Aslantaş explained that her dynamic personality did not align with public service or the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS) process. She noted that she began shaping her career around entrepreneurship during her university years.
Providing information about the youth project titled “New Generations Understanding the European Union,” which they carried out in Afyonkarahisar, Aslantaş explained that through international exchange programs and the projects they developed, they gained international experience and established associations as well as student clubs and communities. Emphasizing that her primary motivation throughout this process was always personal development, Aslantaş pointed out that the high number of FEAS graduates makes it essential for students to continuously improve themselves in order to stand out.
She underlined that self-improvement is not limited to writing projects alone, but also includes reading books and expanding social and professional networks. Aslantaş also noted that thanks to projects she participated in during her university years, she had the opportunity to visit nearly 50 cities across Türkiye, with project budgets covering transportation, accommodation, and other expenses.
Advising students to learn foreign languages and pursue graduate education, Aslantaş stated that she follows the principle that “knowledge is the greatest power,” adding that her ability to generate income is fundamentally based on her project-writing skills. She emphasized that producing projects means developing solutions to problems and noted that taking active roles in non-governmental organizations demonstrates both teamwork skills and sensitivity to social issues.
The conference concluded with a question-and-answer session.
