Finance World Expertise Meets CIU Students

Cyprus International University (CIU) hosted Orhun Köstem, the CFO of Sabancı Holding, one of Turkey's leading companies. During the event titled "Career and the Finance World," Köstem shared his experiences and perspective on business life with the students.

Köstem, who started his career in 1994 at Anadolu Group, stated that he has worked at significant institutions such as Efes Breweries International, Coca-Cola, and Sabancı Holding. Emphasizing that there is no single path in a career journey, Köstem said, "There is no one path for a person's development. Personal growth should continue at every stage of your career. The moment you say 'I've made it,' it's time for you to retire."
Köstem drew attention to the importance of trust in the business world, stating, "Trusting the people you work with and acting as a team brings success." He also mentioned that taking risks is linked to teamwork, saying, "I prefer to take risks together with the people I work with."

Touching on the global economy of today, Köstem stated, "While the concept of 'global' is prominent today, it is likely that in the future, due to lower labor costs, regionalization will become more important than globalization."
Köstem emphasized that universities should not only develop students' professional skills but also nurture their ideas, culture, and art. He said, "As the world becomes smaller, the ability to manage diversity becomes more important. This skill can only be developed in a university environment."

At the end of the event, CIU Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences faculty member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nusret Sinan Evcan highlighted that Köstem is a valuable role model for students. Evcan stated, "Mr. Köstem shared the importance of professionalism, sincerity, and seriousness in career success. He conveyed to the students that making a difference and finding what is unique is the key to success."