Z Kuşağının Beklentileri | Bahattin Aydıngüler | TEDxYouth@NesibeAydinKocaeli

Introduction and Background

• Everyone has their own unique identity and the TEDxYouth@NesibeAydinKocaeli stage is a platform where people from different cultures, cities, ethnic backgrounds, and professions come together to share their experiences and successes without any financial expectations (22s).
• The speakers are appreciated for taking the time to share their valuable knowledge with the community, and it is emphasized that simply reaching one's own family and children is not enough, as there is a world, society, country, and nation that needs to be considered (50s).
• In the business world, the new generation of CEOs is more open to communication and sharing their experiences, unlike previous generations, and this is seen as a valuable aspect of networking and collaboration (1m8s).
• With the advancement of technology, it is now possible to reach millions of people through screens, and it is emphasized that it is essential to be willing to learn, work, and utilize the information available (1m41s).
• The importance of sharing knowledge and not holding back is highlighted, and it is believed that the information shared will have a positive impact, much like the concept of "zekat" (charity) (1m55s).

Personal Journey and Education

• The speaker shares their personal background, having completed their primary and secondary education in Gaziantep, and then embarking on a journey to university, with a clear goal and direction in mind (2m21s).
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing one's path, having a clear goal, and choosing the right means to achieve it, using the metaphor of a journey and the need to select the right vehicle and route (2m31s).
• The individual developed a personal method to achieve their goals, which they discovered after taking the university entrance exam and achieving a good score, but not being able to get into their desired school due to the limited number of preferences available at the time (2m56s).
• The university entrance exam system was different back then, where students would take the exam after already making their preferences, and the result would be either a yes or no, with no option to make new preferences (3m8s).
• Despite achieving a good score, the individual was not able to get into their desired school, but they did not see this as a problem, as they had a clear goal and expectation, and they knew they had to work hard to achieve it (3m19s).
• The individual's goal was to attend Istanbul University's Faculty of Business Administration, and they were able to achieve this goal by working hard and getting a high score in their second year (3m47s).
• When the individual first started at the university, they were offered the option to switch to a different department or pursue a double major, but they declined, preferring to focus on their original goal of completing their education and entering the workforce as soon as possible (4m7s).

Family Influence and Early Work Experience

• The individual believes that their upbringing and environment played a role in shaping their personality and goals, but they do not believe that their birthplace or family background predetermined their fate (4m38s).
• The individual was born in Gaziantep on October 17, 1980, and they believe that the circumstances of their birth, including the military coup that took place a month earlier, may have had an impact on their development and worldview (4m49s).
• Growing up as the seventh child in a family of seven, there was a sense of competition from a young age, with six siblings to surpass in order to be successful, which led to a strong work ethic and a drive to achieve more (5m36s).
• Despite having a family background in industry and trade, the individual had to start looking for a job from the first month of university, as they wanted to stand out from their siblings and make a name for themselves (5m58s).
• The job search was motivated by a desire to differentiate themselves from their siblings and to achieve something that would put them ahead of the 80 million people in the country (6m40s).
• The individual was determined to work hard and make sacrifices in order to achieve their goals, and they spent every day thinking about how they could improve themselves and find new opportunities (6m49s).
• They set their sights on a large holding company in Istanbul, which was the biggest in their region, and they applied for a job there, despite being rejected multiple times (7m9s).
• After multiple rejections, the individual was finally called by the human resources department and asked what they wanted to do, and they expressed their desire to start working in any department and to work their way up to the top of the 27-story building (7m36s).
• The ultimate goal was to rise through the ranks and reach the top of the company, starting from the bottom and working hard to achieve success (7m43s).
• The individual's first job was in the internet department of the company, which was the starting point for their journey to the top (7m48s).
• The individual used to work at a service provider company's call center, where they would explain to people how to access the internet using a telephone and a 56k modem, despite not having a computer or internet at home (8m9s).
• This process was challenging, but they worked hard, interacted with people, and eventually found themselves at the human resources department after three months, asking about their career plan (8m34s).
• The human resources representative told them that their current position at the call center was the highest point they could reach, suggesting they were in the wrong field since they studied business administration (9m2s).
• The individual expressed their desire to become the company's General Manager by the age of 26 or 27, which was met with skepticism, and they were advised to consider quitting and applying elsewhere (9m7s).

Career Progression and Achievements

• This conversation motivated them to write a 180-page report outlining their suggestions for the company, including changes to internal processes and potential improvements (9m27s).
• The report was written at home, without access to a laser printer, making it a challenging task due to the limitations of printers at the time (9m49s).
• The individual presented the report to their superior, who was initially confused about its purpose, and explained that it was a proposal for the company's future (10m16s).
• A person expressed their desire to contribute to the company's future plans, but received a lukewarm response from their superiors, with repeated assurances that their concerns would be looked into (10m20s).
• Despite the initial lack of interest, the individual persisted and presented their 180-page report to their superior, only to receive the same dismissive response (10m34s).
• The person then took their report directly to the general manager's office, where they were given three minutes to present their ideas, and were subsequently told to return to their position (10m59s).
• However, the general manager later called the individual back to their office, where they were unexpectedly offered a new role working directly with the general manager (11m40s).
• The person was initially hesitant, fearing they were being let go, but the general manager reassured them that they were being given a new opportunity to contribute to the company's future (12m8s).
• The individual was tasked with closing their current workstation and relocating to the general manager's office, where they would work together to implement the ideas presented in the report (12m18s).
• This new role marked a significant turning point in the person's career, as they went on to become the head of a 350-person organization, Turkey's largest, and eventually sold the company to a foreign entity, earning a success award in the process (12m30s).

Generational Differences and Expectations

• The current generation, referred to as the Z generation, has high expectations and wants everything to happen quickly, with some individuals feeling the need to constantly be productive and not waste any time (13m1s).
• This generation's expectations are not always realistic, and they need to understand the importance of hard work and patience to achieve their goals (13m19s).
• Having a career plan is essential, and it's crucial to be aware of one's progress and the steps needed to reach the desired position (13m51s).
• Time management is vital, and it's possible to balance work, education, and personal life by prioritizing tasks and making the most of the available time (14m0s).
• Seeking guidance from experienced individuals, such as a general manager, can be beneficial in career development and provide valuable insights and advice (14m26s).
• Creating opportunities for growth and development is essential, and it's necessary to take the initiative to ask for help and support when needed (14m45s).
• After gaining experience and developing skills, it's possible to transition to a new phase, such as starting one's own business, but this decision may not always be well-received by others, such as family members (15m27s).
• The traditional expectations of success, such as graduating from university and working for a company, may not be the only path to success, and individuals should be open to exploring alternative options (15m39s).
• After completing university, expectations for career advancement and success began to emerge, with a focus on continuing to work at the same company (15m41s).
• The process led to intergenerational conflicts, as younger generations tried to learn from the experiences of older generations, but the older generations struggled to understand the younger ones (15m52s).
• Older generations had developed their own habits and models based on their experiences, making it difficult for them to adapt to new ideas (16m23s).

Return to Gaziantep and Entrepreneurship

• Despite having a successful career, a decision was made to resign, move back to Gaziantep, and start anew, which was met with shock and disappointment from family and colleagues (16m36s).
• The decision to return to Gaziantep was part of a pre-planned career path, with a clear vision of what was to be achieved (16m52s).
• Upon returning to Gaziantep, the first step was to create a workspace, which involved renting an office and establishing a daily routine (17m5s).
• The daily routine consisted of working in the office from 8 am, regardless of whether there were clients or not, and closing the office at the end of the day (17m15s).
• The business involved trading with countries like America and China, which required working at odd hours due to time differences (17m30s).
• The experience of running a business in Gaziantep revealed the city's needs, including the lack of a strong export sector, despite having a strong industrial base (18m2s).
• The perception was that the older generation believed they knew everything and did not see the need to learn from others or adapt to new ideas (18m14s).
• Initially, there were difficulties in convincing companies to work together, but eventually, three firms were found that were willing to collaborate, and a journey as a consultant began with these companies, with the goal of conducting market research, finding products to sell, and providing ideas to people in the industry (18m27s).
• The goal was to find a market, customers, and products in America, and after finding these, product samples were brought back to Turkey and presented to industrialists in Gaziantep, with the question of whether they could supply these products to the customers found (18m51s).
• However, the industrialists were hesitant, saying that they could not produce products that did not fit their own vision, and that each country has its own values, colors, and specialties (19m16s).
• Despite the initial rejection, the experience ultimately led to new opportunities, and the knowledge gained from the market and customers was used to work with multiple customers, leading to significant sales over six years (19m50s).
• One of the companies that was initially hesitant is now the number one exporter from Turkey to America, and 70% of the carpet sector in Gaziantep relies on this company to sell their products (20m4s).
• However, the other two companies that were initially involved have since closed down due to a lack of vision and failure to listen to young people (20m22s).

Building a New Company and Leadership Role

• Despite the challenges, a new company was established, and although there was pressure from the family to join the family business, the decision was made to continue with the new company (20m32s).
• A company was established, a factory was opened, and an experienced team was formed, but the team leader left the company after 9 months, leaving the management to wonder what to do next (20m59s).
• The 25-year-old team leader was given the responsibility of managing the company, and he assured the management that they could trust him based on his past experiences and his dreams for the company's future (21m29s).
• The young manager's confidence and determination convinced the management to give him the role of general manager, and he is now grateful for their trust and support (21m56s).
• He is one of 7 children, and despite his young age, he has gained significant responsibilities, including signing authority and strategic decision-making power (22m9s).

Perceptions of Youth and Generational Conflict

• The common perception is that Turkey's young people are disrespectful, dissatisfied, and lazy, and this stereotype is often discussed in public and private settings (22m42s).
• The young manager wonders why this perception exists and what might have caused it, and he begins to research and reflect on his own experiences and those of his peers (23m16s).
• He realizes that his own father and others may have had similar doubts and criticisms about his generation, and he is determined to prove them wrong (23m35s).
• Socrates, one of the founders of philosophy, stated around 400 BC that the youth of his time loved luxury, had no respect for authority or their elders, and preferred talking idly to working (24m2s).
• A similar sentiment was expressed by another philosopher, approximately 3000 years ago, stating that the youth were so reckless that it made him lose hope for the future when he thought about them taking over management roles (24m40s).
• The youth were described as being disobedient to their elders, not following rules, being impatient, and wanting everything to happen immediately (24m57s).
• Aristotle, another influential philosopher, also expressed concerns about the youth being out of control, eating roughly, and being disrespectful to adults (25m13s).

Technological Advancements and Changing Perspectives

• The common expectation from the youth is respect for others' opinions and a sense of responsibility, but it is also important to reflect on one's own actions and consider the differences between generations (25m37s).
• The speaker, born in 1980, belongs to the generation between X and Y, and notes that this generation grew up with only one television channel, TRT1, whereas younger generations, such as Z, Y, and Alpha, were born into a world with numerous channels and social media platforms (25m53s).
• The current generation has access to various platforms such as Netflix, allowing them to watch their desired programs at any time, whereas in the past, television programs were only available at specific times (26m27s).
• The speaker feels old when explaining these differences, as their elders also used to share similar experiences about not having television in the past (26m35s).
• The process of technological advancement has been rapid, with television being invented in 1950 in America and taking time to spread globally, whereas the internet has spread rapidly since the 1970s, with information being updated every second (26m51s).
• The speaker notes that the current generation can access information and platforms instantly, unlike in the past when it took time for new technologies to reach different parts of the world (27m12s).
• When the older generation shares their past experiences with the current generation, it may not resonate with them, as they are from different worlds and have different perspectives (27m26s).
• The speaker shares a personal experience about using their Istanbul card to travel easily, but having to be more cautious when their daughter uses it, illustrating the differences in their experiences (27m40s).

Importance of Intergenerational Communication and Learning

• The speaker advises the current generation to listen to the experiences and advice of the older generation, as they have gained knowledge and insights through their life experiences (28m24s).
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of hard work and effort, stating that success is not achieved simply by existing, but by putting in the effort and learning from others (28m27s).
• The speaker encourages the current generation to appreciate and learn from the experiences of others, including those shared in conferences and talks (28m37s).
• The speaker notes that the experiences and knowledge shared by others are not gained overnight, but through years of effort and dedication, using the example of someone who has traveled to Africa 150 times (28m46s).
• A 150,000-liter experience can be shared in 15 minutes, allowing people to learn about Africa, the market, and the world without leaving their seats, which is how we should look at things (28m56s).
• For mutual understanding, both sides need to listen to each other, and this is why it's essential to communicate with the younger generation (29m9s).
• The younger generation has different expectations and demands, and they were born into a different world, so it's crucial to communicate with them and show respect (29m36s).
• The current situation shows that different generations, such as the DT generation, are living together, but the younger generation is transitioning into a completely different world (29m51s).
• It's essential to listen to the younger generation, sit down with them, and have conversations to learn from them and show respect (30m10s).
• The most significant value should be to learn from each other and work together, showing respect and appreciation for one another (30m18s).
• Success without hard work is not possible, and even if someone is successful, they need to continue working hard to stay at the top (30m29s).
• To achieve success and stay at the top, it's crucial to plan for the future, work hard, and respect each other's rights (30m45s).
• The key to success is to work together, respect each other, and appreciate one another, which is essential for building a strong and harmonious community (31m0s).