Selim Akın, vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Akfen Holding, spoke at the TKYD‘s Corporate Governance Summit titled ‘Learn from mistakes, It Happens’. “You have to share success with people around you. At the end of the day, it’s very important for me to provide job to one more person” he said.

THE 11TH Corporate Governance Summit which was organized by Corporate Governance Association of Turkey (TKYD) every year was held in Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel on January 17, 2018. Within the scope of the Summit, the session named Learning from mistakes-it happens was moderated by journalist and author Ozlem Gurses Tatar and the Chairman of Akfen Holding, Selim Akin, Ceo of Turcas Petrol, Batu Aksoy and Gurallar Vice Chairman Esin Gural Argat took part and Selim Akin answered the questions directed at him sincerely.

Why do you work?

I graduated and worked in our own company starting at the very lowest levels. I enjoy what I do very much. I work at this job that I enjoy so much to be able to protect and transfer what I received as a second generation to the upcoming generations.

Who says the last word

I could easily say that we are very lucky when it comes to our family because we are only 3 people with last name Akin in the management. Pelin got married and we are left only 2 people. There aren‘t many people at decision making. We are the ones that decide and take responsibility for it. We have different fields with my sibling, therefore, we don‘t interrupt with each other. Even though my father has a dominant character, he never interferes. We work with great professionals and it is our luck. I am not the smartest. I collect information when it comes to decision making and do the talking. If I can not persuade them, I ask my father.

Why doesn‘t Mr. Hamdi Akın interfere?

We haven‘t really experienced money loss due to mistake makings.However, my dad says “ you’ve made this decision so stick by it. It happened so never mind.”

Around 5-6 years ago, we lost a very important auction that was extremely critical due to my mistake. My father looked at me, smiled and said: “you are going to learn”. Even if you are a family company, there is a border in between at all times. There is a border between family and professionalism and this border is in between. No matter what you do, this is the case. From the professionals‘ point of view, they always want to position themselves in a key position. And this brings certain issues along. When I first started at the company, I had some trouble positioning myself in the company. I am in my 11th year now. It’s not so easy to say “this is how you are supposed to do this” to people that know me since my childhood.

My father says “ you are known as Hamdi Akin’s son wherever you go. Whenever they say Hamdi Akin is Selim Akin’s father, you will be then. When I first started at the company, I was the son of the boss. Then I became Hamdi Akin’s son. Now we are at “Selim is going to handle it” stage. I think it will happen after that.

At the end of the day, what’s important?

To succeed is important. But I find extremely important to include those around you to that success. At the end of the day, if I can provide employment for one more person, I find that important.