I was born on November 23, 1986, in Izmir, Turkey. Since childhood, I've always felt an irresistible urge to explore the world. I've been told it's a trait of my Sagittarius nature, though I don't know much about astrology.

My family is Sephardic Jewish on both sides, with possible Ashkenazi and Mizrahi roots in earlier generations. We are woven with different languages and cultural layers. Turkish is my mother tongue, but as I grew up, English became our common language. It’s a bit ironic—I'm the youngest of eight cousins, yet none of them speaks Turkish. English became practical for us. Before that, it was Ladino and French that tied us to our older generations. This background pulled me naturally toward languages, cultures, and the stories people carry.

I started school early—nursery at 1.5 years old, even taking the school bus before I really knew what school was. Over the years, I went through a mix of schools: one primary, two middle schools, three high schools, and five universities. There's almost a pattern here, like a Fibonacci sequence, right? From minority schools to public and private ones, each left its own mark on me. Along the way, roles often blurred. Who was the teacher, the student, the admin, or the parent? It felt like we were all just acting out parts in a scene that hardly changed.

At some point, I shifted from being obedient to questioning the process. Law didn’t feel right, so I changed direction. I leaned into learning and non-formal education, mixed with my love for digital tools and a DIY mindset. This shift took me to cities like Oxford, Mardin, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kigali, and Berlin. Each experience added new layers to my perspective.

For the past 15 years, I have been deeply involved in civil society, youth programs, and non-formal education. I see myself as both a “professional volunteer” and a “volunteer professional.” Two sides of the same coin, showing my commitment and passion for this work.

Now, I focus on researching contemporary diaspora Jewish communities and their institutions. I also work in digital transformation and coaching. These roles let me blend my love for cultural exploration with my skills in helping others navigate change.

I am passionate about supporting meaningful change in communities through education and technology. As an educator and digital transformation consultant,
I help non-profits adapt to the digital age with practical, people-centered solutions.
I design and lead programmes, such as digital literacy workshops and community engagement initiatives, that help individuals grow and achieve their goals. Through digital coaching, I guide people in using AI tools to improve their soft skills and literacies, sharing real-world strategies to help them navigate their paths with clarity and purpose.

For the past six years, I have been deeply involved with the Izmir Jewish community. I have managed an EU-funded community development project, overseen the community's digital presence, and worked to preserve our heritage. Academically, I focus on contemporary European Jewish communities, particularly the Izmir community, from anthropological and social perspectives, exploring how identities evolve within small and aging groups like ours.