Hürriyet Highlights Sema Başol’s Vision for Empowering Young Women

We’re proud to share a meaningful moment for Turkish Women’s Initiative.
Hürriyet has featured Sema Başol in a beautifully written piece by journalist Elif Zorlu Tapan, highlighting her lifelong commitment to empowering young women and expanding leadership opportunities across Türkiye and the United States.

The article opens with a special reflection:
“About two months ago, by complete chance, I found myself seated at the same table as Sema Başol — one of the most respected figures in the Turkish American landscape in Los Angeles. As our conversation unfolded, I realized I was speaking with the founder of two remarkable organizations that have shaped the lives of hundreds of young women in both the United States and Türkiye.”

The feature also traces Sema’s educational and professional journey — from Robert College and Boğaziçi University to earning her MBA at UCLA and beginning a distinguished career in the U.S. Shortly after their conversation, she shared that she would soon be traveling back to Türkiye, continuing her work across borders.

At the heart of Sema’s work lies a clear intention:
to support university-aged young women in becoming leaders and agents of change within their communities, guiding them and helping them build essential leadership skills.

As Elif Zorlu Tapan notes, the passion behind this mission stems from Sema’s own lived experience. Sema once reflected:
“Despite studying at Türkiye’s top schools and earning an MBA from a highly regarded U.S. university, I realized I had not been taught some of the fundamental skills needed to build a successful career and become an active, engaged member of society. I had to acquire these competencies later — and with great effort.”

This realization became a mission that would transform the lives of hundreds of young women.

In 2008, Sema founded the Turkish Women’s Initiative (TWI) in California.
In 2009, she launched the Kıvılcım Leadership Program in Türkiye, followed by the establishment of the Değişim Liderleri Derneği (DLD).

She recognized that young women in Türkiye had tremendous potential, yet lacked access to the confidence-building, responsibility-taking, and initiative-driven experiences that leadership requires.

Meanwhile in the U.S., Sema saw women leading corporations, serving on boards, shaping city councils, and influencing educational institutions. This contrast inspired the creation of a leadership model that could bridge this gap.

Today, the Kıvılcım program has over 800 graduates, many of whom have moved into leadership roles across their careers.
And with the contributions of Dr. Ayça Altıntığ, Prof. Nurcan Ensari, and Nalan Yalçın, this ripple effect of transformation continues to grow.

Sema’s story is the foundation of TWI’s mission — and this feature, captured with care by Elif Zorlu Tapan, reflects an impact that continues expanding across generations and geographies.

Read more:
https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/elif-zorlu-tapan/degisim-liderleri-43048731