Buse Ozer
January 2023
Could you tell us a little bit about your background and why you signed up for the mentoring program?
I am Buse, working as an Applied Scientist at Amazon, Luxembourg. I studied computer and industrial engineering at Izmir University of Economics. I signed up for the mentorship program during my bachelor's degree to understand possible career paths.
If you had to tell us one thing you learned during these months of mentoring, what would it be?
I realized the importance of having a mentor/role model in the same industry and their valuable feedback and guidance toward the unknown.
What are your expectations/what do you want to achieve by the end of the program?
Understanding possible career paths, how to get ready for interviews and communicate with key people.
What is the best advice you have received from your Mentor?
Melda taught me the importance of consistency. When my mood is low and the small daily tasks feel like too much, not setting myself extreme goals that feel out of reach, picking one small change that I know I can action every day. Then make a promise to myself that I will make it happen. Those small changes didn't reward me with instant, drastic results. But they did something much more important. They laid down the pathways for a new habit that I integrate into my everyday life and build upon over time as it becomes second nature. So keep it small. Keep it consistent.
What would you tell someone who is considering applying to be a Mentee in the future?
Mentorship programs are one of the key resources for personal/professional goals. I highly recommend them apply for the program because a mentor will support you, cheer you on, provide feedback, advice, and help you define and reach your goals. They have the vision and source of knowledge to share with you. Most of the time, you won't have the same vision as them but overtime, you understand their decision-making process and integrate into your life what works for you.
What actions or practices would you like to see in the Technology sector to help you reach your goals?
I would like to see more events that help us build more connections, more events on sharing stories to make an impact. I would like to have a platform where we bring mentors with successful careers in tech and mentees together and have as much interaction as possible. The current struggle is how to reach out to someone to be your mentor if it is not in our connections and most of the time not knowing who to reach out to.
