Ilknur Gur

Background

About Ilknur Gur

People and Diversity have been my passion for more than 20 years. When I was eighteen, I took a job as a part-time security agent at Istanbul Airport because I no longer wanted to be dependent on my family. This was very unusual for my family, as a female you didn’t look for independence and start working. I thought my parents would be proud. But when I told my father, he offered to pay me double my salary so that I would not have to work. I refused, of course. I remember thinking life would be tough going forward if even my father thought women shouldn’t work. However, I now realize he wasn't being conservative; he was just worried that I was too young to face the real world as a woman. Throughout my career, including my stint as an airport security agent, I have always been the voice of Diversity, standing up for those whose voice was not heard, especially women and minorities. I was always surprised that women or minorities were shy to share their opinion. Somebody had to be their voice. I had my first professional experience with Diversity when I joined the Women's Network at GE in The Women's Network established by Jack Welch in 1997, was a platform where GE's female employees could connect and exchange ideas and experiences to inspire and mentor each other. Jack did a great job. He knew Diversity was a major milestone for a company’s success and it was an important topic that needed to be led by the CEO and senior leaders. It was an incredible journey for me. It helped me understand what Diversity meant for a company and how its culture could be changed to positively impact its shareholders, employees, and the society at large. I truly believe companies will deliver better results when they have Diversity. Does that mean hiring more women automatically will improve performance? No. Along with Diversity, they need to create an inclusive environment where all voices can be heard. If the company culture doesn't allow people to "speak up," Diversity will not mean much. But companies that manage to create a diverse and inclusive workspace will attract and retain superior talent. Employees will know their voice matters; they will speak up, they will participate, and they will contribute. That is the key to success.