What is your story? What is your super power?

Posted By Melek Pulatkonak

Just as everyone has a story, they also have a super power - however difficult it is to discover.

My story lies in my decision to launch the Turkish Women’s International Network (TurkishWIN). TurkishWIN is a global platform for women with cultural, family or professional ties to Turkey to invest, connect, empower and inspire each other.

I believe in the power that stories have to inspire. It is one of the reasons I am a fan of TED and TED talks. In just the span of 18-20 minutes, ideas are spread and superheroes are born. This is the effect TED speakers such as Elif Shafak and Karsu Sonmez have had.

But they are not the only ones with ideas and stories. Everyday I come across amazing Turkish women who inspire me. Women at the Turkish Philanthropy Funds, artists, amazing academics, business leaders and international students in New York. I want to share their inspiration with the world.

TurkishWIN, hopes to be a platform for these women, independent of geography, age and industry, to share ideas and tell their stories to emerging tribes and inspire others. You can watch some of the TurkishWIN talks online now.

I believe one person can make a difference. We all want to help someone with our networks, perhaps with as little as an email introduction. Yet, there is limited matchmaking mechanism to connect the dots.

At TurkishWIN, we aspire to become the platform for women to make a difference for others and build a bridge between the women in the Diaspora and Turkey who would like to collaborate.

Launched in November 2010 in New York, TurkishWIN’s talk series plans to expand TurkishWIN talks in Turkey and other cities. TurkishWIN initiatives in the works include a mentorship program, connecting a micro-lending organization targeting women in Turkey with a major online platform in the U.S. and a photo book/ online project, “A Day in the Life of the Turkish Woman,” the idea of our member Nilufer Durak Dogan.

Now you have heard my story. What is my super power? It is my unwavering belief in the strength and generosity of the Turkish woman.

I invite all amazing Turkish (Turkiyeli) women who have great stories to tell and would like to invest in the future of the community: Join the TurkishWIN!

Melek Pulatkonak is the Founder & Curator of the Turkish Women’s International Network. She is also the President& COO of hakia, a New York based semantic search engine.

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