A conference titled “From Public Administration to Entrepreneurship”, organized within the scope of the “Our Alumni Speak” series of the Career Planning Course by the Faculty’s Management and Politics Society, was held at our faculty.
The event took place at the Prof. Dr. Sabri Bektöre Conference Hall with the participation of Vice Dean Asst. Prof. Dr. Hale Fulya Kaya, Asst. Prof. Dr. Atahan Demirkol (Faculty Member, Department of Political Science and Public Administration), academic staff, and students. Büşra Yeşim Aslantaş, entrepreneur, author, and 2014 graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, attended the conference as the invited speaker.
Opening the event, Dr. Atahan Demirkol emphasized that graduates of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences are not limited to a career solely in the public sector or in private companies, noting the availability of many alternative career paths. He stated, “The education we receive provides multiple opportunities that can shape our career plans from various angles. Events like this, where our alumni share their career stories, are highly valuable and we believe they offer significant guidance for our students.”
“Becoming a civil servant was never among my career goals”
In her presentation titled “From Public Administration to Entrepreneurship”, Büşra Yeşim Aslantaş shared her experiences from her student years and career journey. She stated that becoming a public servant was never part of her career aspirations, noting that her energetic personality did not align with civil service or the KPSS exam process. She explained that she began shaping her career in the direction of entrepreneurship during her undergraduate years.
Aslantaş described the youth project they carried out in Afyonkarahisar, “New Generations Understand the European Union,” and highlighted the international exchange programs and project-based activities through which she gained valuable international experience. She also noted that she and her peers founded associations and student clubs during this period. Emphasizing that her primary motivation was always personal development, she stated that, given the large number of economics and administrative sciences graduates, students must distinguish themselves by continuously improving their skills.
She stressed that self-development is not limited to writing projects; activities such as reading, networking, and engaging in social and professional initiatives are equally important. She mentioned traveling to nearly 50 cities in Türkiye through project activities—project budgets covering travel, accommodation, and related expenses.
Aslantaş encouraged students to learn foreign languages and pursue graduate studies, highlighting her belief in the principle that “knowledge is the greatest power.” She noted that her ability to earn income was rooted in her skill in developing project proposals, explaining that producing a project essentially means proposing a solution to a defined problem. She added that working with NGOs helps develop teamwork skills and fosters sensitivity to social issues.
The conference concluded with a question–answer session.
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