My lifelong interest in social issues led me to Ashoka, where I assumed leadership of Ashoka Turkey in January 2006. Before joining Ashoka, I pioneered the field of social and political communications in Turkey. As a social entrepreneur, I have been very active in advancing women’s rights in Turkey. With a few others, I founded Ka.Der, a prominent citizen organization begun in the early 1990s to secure greater women's representation in Turkish politics. I have an MA in Political Science and a BA in Journalism and Public Relationn. I am lecturin at Istanbul-area universities on political and social campaigning, public relations, and media relations. I also give trainings for grassroots women on probono basis on campaigning, communications.