I was born in İstanbul in 1962. In order not to follow in my father’s footsteps, I studied chemical engineering, even though we wanted to expand the small workshop that we owned. I always think that wisdom and intelligence matter a lot. But without enthusiasm and curiosity they wouldn’t work. That’s why I dream; I read a lot in different areas like philosophy, political sciences and administration, society, and so on. And most importantly, I personally prefer to do things that I never did in my social life. This curiosity makes me interested in outdoor sports like safaris.
Twitter: @adnandalgakiran
Linkedin: Adnan DALGAKIRAN
Education
After graduating from Kabataş Erkek High School, I studied at İstanbul University, in the Faculty of Chemistry Department.
Experience
In my school years, I started working in my family’s company, Dalgakıran Compressor, and after completing my military obligation, I entered the company, making it one of the leading companies in the sector all over the world by exporting to 102 different countries and having our own companies in six countries.
At present, besides being chairman of Dalgakıran Compressor, I continue in my activities as chairman of the Machinery Exporters Union, Turkish Machinery Group, vice chairman of İstanbul Chamber of Industry, an executive committee member of Turkish Exporters Assembly and a member of TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) science board.
Areas of Expertise
For more than 30 years, I have been somehow involved in the machinery sector, especially compressors. Besides my professional work, I carry on some non-governmental sectorial duties which gave me a new point of view to administration.
What have been the main lessons you have learned in your career and how do you implement them in your management?
Life is like a journey. In this journey, starting with family and school, people try to steer themselves according to their ideas. What they desire is to act in the circle in which they are. That is the point at which real danger starts for societies. I learned that to become a good person, a good leader should refuse the imposition. Instead of being in someone’s shadow, minds should be released to become creative. This is the only possible way to step forward in life.
Mentors
My father had a small workshop in İstanbul. When I was at high school, I started to work with him. But my father and I had lots of differences of opinion and I refused to become his shadow. Instead of living up to all the hype, I preferred to go my own way by reading a lot, searching a lot, and in the end by having my own ideas.
Quotes
Kant argued, “Even if there isn't an answer to the question of life's meaning, there is still the need to get through the day to day. Perhaps the question is not so much about the meaning of life, but about living it; answering the question ‘How should I live?’ and finding something beyond yourself to help discover an answer.” I myself trying to find my way by creating my own meaning.
