Sema Başol (MBA) is the co-founder of Turkish Women’s Initiative (TWI). Since its launch 14 years ago, more than 600 young women have graduated from TWI’s signature Sparks Program. The number continues to grow year by year. The social change projects the women have created and implemented continue to touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Turkiye and beyond.
Sema is also the founder of TWI’s sister organization: Değişim Liderleri Derneği (DLD) (Change Leaders Association). Based in Turkiye, DLD provides leadership skills training for university women through its signature Sparks Program. Compelling stories of some of the graduates are captured in Sema’s first book: “Sparks: Transformational Stories of Young Women Who Dream of a Better World.” It was published in Turkiye in 2020.
Prior to founding TWI, Sema served as a global marketing and public relations executive with over 35 years of experience in the U.S. and in Turkiye. She has worked with multi-billion dollar corporations including Mattel Inc. and Koc Holding. She also has played key roles in start-up ventures and non-profit organizations in both the U.S. and Turkiye.
Sema, a Turkish American, has a BA degree from Bogazici University in Istanbul, and an MBA from the Anderson School of the University of California, Los Angeles. Sema and her family have lived in California for more than 40 years.