Thank you to the 1646 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions! I hope reading 7 Questions with
ETHEM ELDEM
helps you in your leadership.
Cheers,
Jonno
ETHEM ELDEM
Name: ETHEM ELDEM
Title: MANAGING PARTNER
Organisation: CANMAR TRADING & CONSULTANCY , UAE
“Engineer by education, Senior Management Executive by profession, and Entrepreneur by passion”
Following a successful Consultancy career in Istanbul between 1993 and 2003 In Organizational Development, Search & Selection and Leadership training with leading companies he has joined Turkcell Group after PwC Turkiye . He assumed the leadership of the Organizational Development and Group Coordination Division Head roles prior changing to technology management in 2010.
He played an important role during the transformation of the Group from core Telco to more Digital Services assuming roles for Innovation & Partnership Management, Product Development and Marketing. In His last role he was responsible for a business over USD 400 ml for B2B mobile solutions.
He joined Etisalat Group, UAE as Senior Director in 2014 and led several B2B product units such as IoT, Digital Payment, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Cities between 2014-2022, where he has taken important role during transformation of the digital unit to a full spin off under a new structure, now known as E& Enterprise .
Since he has left E& Group, he is serving as Consultant in UAE/ KSA markets supporting technology companies for a successful entrance and growth.
1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?
The most challenging part of leadership is to balance the conflict of interests being with the company and people, people to people or your own against any of them and yet to achieve results satisfying all
2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?
Being lucky enough I have started my career being designated as a manager of group of people who were my fellow students and friends hence learned in a challenging way leading people then in each and every step the journey continued for more people and business management in various environments, verticals. countries coupled with a lot of training eventually also leading to be a trainer of leadership over time back in 1990's.
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
Currently I am developing my own consultancy business hence flexible with home office environment. Small warm up exercises followed by a breakfast, into the emails, social media and / or meetings usually until 4 pm. There is 3 times per week a small sports session during the day and then I am more focusing into the family , supporting activities of my children. Around 20.000 I usually play padel tennis 3 times a week otherwise I also use the same thing for social activities. If at home during the evening time for information gathering , some focused time on client mandates or alternatively movies either at home or in theathers
4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?
Coming out of a comfort zone yourself and being on your own for success required another deviation. I have worked over 30 years as a professional and in large and industrial leader companies . To make this decision was a lesson and put everything into it after years of leadership for others required reminder and critics of trust people to achieve
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
The Seven Habits of Effective People by Covey.
It was revolutionary for me how to achieve peace of mind by seeking the roots of human behavior and by learning the ground principles rather than just practices
6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?
They should have focus a lot on communication, having Confidence and Power in dealing with peopled and how to interact with others as they really are, not as you would like them to be. The goal is to get what you want from them successfully – be it cooperation, goodwill, love or security.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?
One of the best session I had about leadership was with a French Healer, a person that has trained his mind well advanced beyond average. We had a session with him where without any background history or questions at all he made me aware by brining poi's of childhood about my capabilities as influencer used not the best way. As defined I was using my power on people but changed a lot ot make it happen with them which brought the all good things later on. So even today it is mystery to me how he as achieved top find things about my childhood with no knowledge and only looking to me for 5-6 minutes