At the event organized by our Faculty of Business Administration’s Department of Logistics Management, Billur Barlın, Managing Director of Solmaz Logistics, shared her experiences with our students and discussed transformation in the logistics sector, technology, and human-centered leadership approaches.
Billur Barlın, Managing Director of Solmaz Logistics, was the guest speaker at the event titled “Solmaz Logistics: Present and Future,” organized by the Department of Logistics Management at our university’s Faculty of Business Administration. The talk, held at the Sütlüce Campus, was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Prof. Dr. Elif Güneren Genç, faculty members, and numerous students.
SECTORAL TRANSFORMATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SUSTAINABILITY
Beginning her remarks by saying, “Today, we will talk not only about the sector but also about the future,” Billur Barlın evaluated developments in the sector based on the history of Solmaz Logistics. Sharing the technological transformation process of the company, which has nearly 1,200 employees, as well as its innovative practices in sustainability, Barlın stated, “Thanks to developing digital technologies, logistics is no longer just about transportation. Using the right technology in the right place makes a difference.”
EMPHASIS ON LEADERSHIP, PEOPLE, AND CULTURE
Addressing the concept of leadership in her speech, Barlın also emphasized the importance they attach to employee development. Stating, “The most important quality of a leader is the ability to place the right person in the right position,” Barlın noted that they aim to continuously improve the employee experience through structures established within the company, such as the People and Culture Committee, the Employee Happiness Committee, and the Sustainability Committee.
ADVICE TO STUDENTS: FOREIGN LANGUAGES, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND TEAMWORK
Sharing career advice in response to questions from students, Barlın emphasized that university education is important not only for providing technical knowledge but also for developing critical thinking and communication skills. Stating, “Knowing a foreign language is not a preference but a necessity in the logistics sector,” Barlın noted that individuals who are inclined toward teamwork, solution-oriented, and entrepreneurial always stand out in the sector. At the end of the event, a plaque was presented to Billur Barlın by the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Prof. Dr. Elif Güneren Genç, in recognition of her contributions.
