The Bilkent University Faculty of Business Administration organized a hearty welcome for new participants in the Executive MBA program, with this year’s orientation taking place September 18-21 at the coast in Bodrum. Arranged in collaboration with the Ankara Sailing Club, the three-day workshop, “Leadership on the Sea and Team Spirit,” offered a unique approach to business leadership for the 36 students beginning the program.
Designed as a sailing workshop, the orientation focused on the concept of team spirit, using the medium of maritime language and culture. Participants had the experience of “being a team” by sharing responsibilities within a group. The workshop sessions provided them with an excellent opportunity to examine their time management skills and leadership abilities.
Windy and harsh weather conditions during the workshop enabled the participants to test their risk-taking skills and cope with a crisis as a team. The sailing competition on the last day of the workshop made it clear that the new Executive MBA students are very competitive and eager to face the challenges ahead in the organizations where they work. We would like to offer our congratulations to the winning teams: Jaws, captained by Hasan Basri Aslan; Vikingler, captained by Zafer Günel; and Ocean’s 7, captained by Adnan Özaslan.
Bilkent’s Executive MBA program is currently in its sixth academic year. The 39 members of the incoming class have an average of 12 years of business experience. Up to this point, 133 students have graduated from the program, which is designed to assist participants in advancing their careers, in particular by enhancing the ability to take a strategic perspective and honing the leadership skills and qualities necessary at the senior management level.