Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Competitions
Certification
Publications
Interests
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Özlem KALKAN

C-level Executive
Özlem KALKAN

Summary

Known for collaborative leadership approach that aligns teams with organizational objectives and drives performance. Adept at navigating complex challenges, fostering innovation, and ensuring adaptability to evolving market conditions, with focus on strategic planning and operational excellence. Currently working as CEO at AGM Teknoloji, a mobile device manufacturer, with a proven track record of success. Completed two advisory projects during a sabbatical year in Team.Blue and Reeder, showcasing expertise in strategic partnerships and business development. Board member at Lumnion and various NGOs, contributing to the community while leveraging 20 years of executive experience in the telecom and technology sectors. MBA from INSEAD and double MS degree in Telecom Engineering & Management from Sabanci University, with a strong background in sales, marketing, strategy, and digital transformation. Known as a thought leader with a reputation for excellence and recipient of prestigious leadership awards.

Overview

22
years of professional experience
8
Certifications
2
Languages
1

Publications

Work History

AGM Teknoloji

CEO
11.2024 - Current

Job overview

  • Company Overview: AGM Teknoloji is the manufacturer subsidiary of Mıstaçoğlu Group. The group is experienced in mobile technology device distribution more than 30 years. AGM Teknoloji has 5.5 mio unit production capacity including multiple SMT lines. AGM currently manufactures in CKD form OPPO and OMIX mobile phones which are distributed in Turkish market. AGM Teknoloji targets to increase the number of brands and product types manufactured in the factory as well as start exporting 'Made in Turkeys' products to region in the following years.
  • Forming and leading growth-oriented team with SMART KPIs.
  • Forming scalable, sustainable and efficient factory systems & organization.
  • Initiating new alliances and new distribution channels.
  • Leading R&D and incentive program's.
  • Leading Group Marcom and PR Activities.
  • AGM Teknoloji is the manufacturer subsidiary of Mıstaçoğlu Group. The group is experienced in mobile technology device distribution more than 30 years. AGM Teknoloji has 5.5 mio unit production capacity including multiple SMT lines. AGM currently manufactures in CKD form OPPO and OMIX mobile phones which are distributed in Turkish market. AGM Teknoloji targets to increase the number of brands and product types manufactured in the factory as well as start exporting 'Made in Turkiye' products to region in the following years.
  • Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
  • Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
  • Drove profitability with thorough financial analysis and strategic decisionmaking.
  • Created a positive work culture, resulting in increased employee satisfaction and retention rates.

Team.Blue

Non-Executive / Board Director & Interim CTO
11.2023 - 01.2025

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Team.Blue is a global hosting company operating in 22 countries, serving with 40+ brands to 3.3 mio of customers. Positioned to enhance SMEs' online growth through innovation, continue to acquire new companies across Europe with vision to make online business simpler.
  • Advising, guiding the local Board & SLT to make well informed and thought-out decisions on business and M&A matters.
  • Evaluating plans, ideas and issues which have been put forward by the local management team.
  • Offer ideas for innovation, areas of improvement and call out risks.
  • Lead 3 Major Technical Projects: 1) Datacenter migration project 2) virtualization of customer servers 3) New product deployments to Turkish market.
  • Team.Blue is a global hosting company operating in 22 countries, serving with 40+ brands to 3.3 mio of customers. Positioned to enhance SMEs' online growth through innovation, continue to acquire new companies across Europe with vision to make online business simpler.
  • Provided oversight during times of crisis, guiding the organization toward stability through decisive action.

Lumnion

Non-Executive / Board Member
01.2023 - 12.2024

Job overview

  • Company Overview: State-of-the-art AI based insurance pricing products. First SAP Fionner partner in Europe in 'Amplify Insurtech' program. Offices in Munich, Cologne, and Istanbul.
  • State-of-the-art AI based insurance pricing products. First SAP Fionner partner in Europe in 'Amplify Insurtech' program. Offices in Munich, Cologne, and Istanbul.
  • Steered the organization toward long-term sustainability by maintaining a clear vision for future growth opportunities.

Reeder

Non-Executive / Digitalization Project Advisor
09.2023 - 04.2024

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Reeder is a consumer electronics manufacturer & retailer. Publicly traded since 2023. Reeder's POS are the 200+ own stores and phygital strategic partners.
  • Responsible for leading creation and transformation of the company's digital assets.
  • Consulting advisory for software optimization.
  • Leading ideation and execution of new application products.
  • Reeder is a consumer electronics manufacturer & retailer. Publicly traded since 2023. Reeder's POS are the 200+ own stores and phygital strategic partners.
  • Facilitated stakeholder meetings to address concerns, gather feedback, and develop actionable plans for improvement.

Teknosa

Non-Executive / Board Member
03.2022 - 12.2023

Job overview

Teknosa is a prominent retail company specializing in consumer electronics and technology products. Turkey's most widespread and “love mark” technology retailer.

  • Fostered collaboration among board members, promoting open communication and shared decisionmaking.
  • Reviewed financial reports, budgets, and audit results to monitor the organization''s fiscal health.

SabancıDx

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
04.2019 - 09.2023

Job overview

  • Company Overview: SabancıDx is a global digital portfolio company with headquarters in Amsterdam, data center and operations in Istanbul and branch offices in London & Tel Aviv. Its mission is enabling digitalization of companies through its products and services focusing on cyber security, advanced data analytics & marketing technologies, cloud & technology services, and digital transformation products.
  • Leading a team of 100 members in sales, marketing, partnerships, product management and technology products buy & sell operations.
  • Doubled number of customers, doubled revenue in USD, added 10 more products to the portfolio, doubled gross profit by focusing on agility and efficiency.
  • Overachieved sales and financial targets in the last 3 years.
  • Mobilized the teams for globalization and transformation of the company.
  • Developed and led digital strategic partnership opportunities for the entire Sabancı Group including Microsoft, SAP, UiPath, Blueprism, IBM, etc.
  • SabancıDx is a global digital portfolio company with headquarters in Amsterdam, data center and operations in Istanbul and branch offices in London & Tel Aviv. Its mission is enabling digitalization of companies through its products and services focusing on cyber security, advanced data analytics & marketing technologies, cloud & technology services, and digital transformation products.
  • Built strong relationships with clients through exceptional customer service, leading to increased repeat business.
  • Negotiated contracts with key partners and suppliers, optimizing costs while maintaining quality standards.

Türk Telekom

OTT General Manager & Marketing Director
06.2017 - 04.2019

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Turk Telekom is the largest integrated telecommunications operator in Turkey, providing a wide range of services including fixed-line, mobile, internet, and TV services as well as playing a significant role in the country's telecommunications infrastructure.
  • General Manager of Pay-TV platform with 17 channels including premium sports and movies.
  • Led diversified marketing team of 150 members working on Broadband, Mobile, Fixed, Infrastructure (Fiber & Wi-Fi), TV, Value Added Services, 3rd party Partnerships, operator services and digital services.
  • Extended the product portfolio adding new products such as a digital music streaming platform, digital magazine & newspaper platform, OTT TV service, etc.
  • Pay-TV platform became the 2nd in the market in just 6 months, reaching 1.25 million large screen and 5 million OTT customers.
  • Digital Music streaming platform became the largest local music content owner, reaching 4.5 million customers in 6 months.
  • Led 3rd party partner ecosystem of more than 200 partners and 1000+ products.
  • Turk Telekom is the largest integrated telecommunications operator in Turkey, providing a wide range of services including fixed-line, mobile, internet, and TV services as well as playing a significant role in the country's telecommunications infrastructure.
  • Cultivated strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure long-term success and loyalty.
  • Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.

Türk Telekom

Strategic Partnership Director
02.2011 - 06.2017

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Turk Telekom is the largest integrated telecommunications operator in Turkey, providing a wide range of services including fixed-line, mobile, internet, and TV services as well as playing a significant role in the country's telecommunications infrastructure.
  • Created and led the first mobile virtual operator business in Turkey.
  • P&L and 360 management of strategic partnerships with Turkey's leading retail brands.
  • Reached %10 of total revenues and customers of the company in 4 years.
  • Developed and led business development and new partnership opportunities for Turk Telecom Group.
  • Managed end-to-end launch operation for alliances (incl. IT, regulations, marketing, channel processes).
  • Turk Telekom is the largest integrated telecommunications operator in Turkey, providing a wide range of services including fixed-line, mobile, internet, and TV services as well as playing a significant role in the country's telecommunications infrastructure.
  • Developed partnership strategies for expanding market reach and increasing revenue opportunities.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative products and services, resulting in increased customer satisfaction.

Türk Telekom

New Product Development Head
05.2010 - 02.2011

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Turk Telekom is the largest integrated telecommunications operator in Turkey, providing a wide range of services including fixed-line, mobile, internet, and TV services as well as playing a significant role in the country's telecommunications infrastructure.
  • Developed proposition categories and new product opportunities for the company.
  • Designed new product roadmap to meet the company's vision.
  • Prepared short term business plans for main proposition categories.
  • Initiated market research studies and analyzed findings to understand customer and market opportunities.
  • Turk Telekom is the largest integrated telecommunications operator in Turkey, providing a wide range of services including fixed-line, mobile, internet, and TV services as well as playing a significant role in the country's telecommunications infrastructure.

Global İletişim

Business Product Development Manager
01.2008 - 01.2010

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Global İletişim is an alternative telecom operator via strong infrastructure and a collaborative approach distinguishing itself from competition providing 2000+ customers new and creative products based on innovations born of a rapidly developing technology.
  • Led the product management team and created profitable new business lines and products.
  • Created and managed business relations with international operators.
  • Managed public sector relations and led public sector sales operations.
  • Initiated and managed company strategic plans.
  • Represented the company in several sector associations.
  • Managed relations with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
  • Led company-wide quality certification process.
  • Global İletişim is an alternative telecom operator via strong infrastructure and a collaborative approach distinguishing itself from competition providing 2000+ customers new and creative products based on innovations born of a rapidly developing technology.

Grid Telekom

Assistant General Manager
01.2006 - 01.2008

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Grid Telekom is a telecommunications company mainly working on International Fiber Connectivity, Metro Fiber Connectivity, Access, and Datacenter businesses. With two datacenters in Turkey (Istanbul and Ankara), one of its major projects has been the redundant fiber route between Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
  • Grid Telekom is a telecommunications company mainly working on International Fiber Connectivity, Metro Fiber Connectivity, Access, and Datacenter businesses. With two datacenters in Turkey (Istanbul and Ankara), one of its major projects has been the redundant fiber route between Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

Teletek Telekom

Business & Process Manager
01.2005 - 01.2006

Job overview

  • Company Overview: Infrastructure JV of two retail groups providing alternative telecom services to customers.
  • Developed and managed the tariffs and budgeting.
  • Designed new business opportunities.
  • Infrastructure JV of two retail groups providing alternative telecom services to customers.

Borusan Telekom

VAS Manager
01.2004 - 01.2005

Job overview

  • Company Overview: First alternative telecom operator providing alternative corporate telecom services. Acquired by Vodafone Turkey in 2009.
  • Launched the multi-tenant video conferencing service, the first of its kind in Turkey.
  • Developed teleconferencing service.
  • First alternative telecom operator providing alternative corporate telecom services. Acquired by Vodafone Turkey in 2009.

Education

INSEAD

Master of Business Administration from Strategic Leadership Program
01.2016 - 07.2016

University Overview

SABANCI UNIVERSITY

Leaders for Industry (LFI) Double Degree Master Program from M.Sc. in Telecommunication Engineering & Management
01.2003 - 01/2005

University Overview

SABANCI UNIVERSITY

B.Sc. from Microelectronics Engineering
01.1999 - 01/2003

University Overview

IZMIR AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

01.1992 - 01/1999

University Overview

Ranked 3rd in the class of 1999

Skills

Solid Leadership

undefined

Competitions

Competitions
  • Ranked in top 0.005% in university entrance exam, 1999
  • ECIS MATH OLYMPIADS - Won 2nd place in the European Math. Contest as a team, 1999

Certification

Sales Network – Leadership in Sales Award

Publications

Publications

Academic paper* published & presented in IEEE International in 2004 at Tokyo, Japan.

*Multi-Chip Implementation of a High-Speed Sorting Engine Based on Rank-Ordering O.Kalkan, M.S.Hanay, I.Hatırnaz and Y.Leblebici

Interests

Dance instructor

Child yoga trainer

Volunteering for charity projects

Training 6 days per week

Skydiving, climbing, wave surfing

Traveling

Timeline

CEO
AGM Teknoloji
11.2024 - Current
Non-Executive / Board Director & Interim CTO
Team.Blue
11.2023 - 01.2025
Non-Executive / Digitalization Project Advisor
Reeder
09.2023 - 04.2024

Sales Network – Leadership in Sales Award

05-2023

Sales Network - 100th anniversary Leadership award of the year

05-2023
Non-Executive / Board Member
Lumnion
01.2023 - 12.2024

CMO of the Year – Gold Leaders Award

05-2022

Most Successful 50 Digital CMO – Fast Company

05-2022
Non-Executive / Board Member
Teknosa
03.2022 - 12.2023

Microsoft Woman Leader of Technology, Turkey

05-2021

IDC Best Digital Transformation Leader of the Year

05-2021

Sales Network Leader of the Year in Technology Category

05-2021
Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
SabancıDx
04.2019 - 09.2023
OTT General Manager & Marketing Director
Türk Telekom
06.2017 - 04.2019
INSEAD
Master of Business Administration from Strategic Leadership Program
01.2016 - 07.2016
Strategic Partnership Director
Türk Telekom
02.2011 - 06.2017
New Product Development Head
Türk Telekom
05.2010 - 02.2011
Business Product Development Manager
Global İletişim
01.2008 - 01.2010
Assistant General Manager
Grid Telekom
01.2006 - 01.2008
Business & Process Manager
Teletek Telekom
01.2005 - 01.2006
VAS Manager
Borusan Telekom
01.2004 - 01.2005
SABANCI UNIVERSITY
Leaders for Industry (LFI) Double Degree Master Program from M.Sc. in Telecommunication Engineering & Management
01.2003 - 01/2005

Sabancı University Premium Scholarship for Undergraduate & Graduate

06-1999
SABANCI UNIVERSITY
B.Sc. from Microelectronics Engineering
01.1999 - 01/2003
IZMIR AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL
01.1992 - 01/1999
Özlem KALKANC-level Executive