The "Executive Education Forum" was organized by CEEMAN (Central and East European Management Development Association), headquartered in Bled, Slovenia, at Izmir University of Economics on November 5-6, 2015. The forum discussed "Current and Future Labor Needs of Southeast Europe and Senior Executive Education Pursuits."

At the meeting organized by IEDC-Bled School of Management and Izmir Chamber of Commerce, Müjgan Suver, Chairperson of the Marmara Group Foundation EU and Human Rights Platform, delivered a speech titled "Rising Value: Women Talents" on Friday, November 6, 2015.

'Diversity Increases Companies' Productivity Power'

In her speech at the conference, Müjgan Suver, Chairperson of the Marmara Group Foundation EU and Human Rights Platform, emphasized that science and technology are advancing at a dizzying pace today, stating, “Naturally, alongside this, societal, cultural, and individual life expectations bring global competition in business life and strategic management in companies to the forefront. In the future, different generations and different emotions will work and live together. We will have a culture of work that embraces diversity and responsibility. We are obliged to do so. Otherwise, we cannot run this business.”

Noting that diversity increases companies' competitive power, Suver continued: “Diversity will also strengthen companies' economic performance. Companies that ensure ethnic diversity and gender balance in management indicate an increase in operating profits. A new era begins in responsibilities; sustainability. It remains a matter that companies must carefully protect in their vision. Besides profitability in the economy, we now need to consider contributions to society and the environment. We cannot allow an economy that destroys the environment to survive. We do not call an economy that does not develop society and does not distribute prosperity equally social development.”

Suver conveyed that companies will be restructured in the coming years, saying, “When we look at the long-term global trends shaping the business world, we see many possibilities again. But among these, I think the increasing number of consumers in emerging economies, the aging world population, and global competition for talented labor are the most important. In line with all these changes, companies will be restructured in the coming years. To remain permanent in the competitive environment, they will seek talented personnel. With technological development, companies' social responsibilities will increase. Human qualities will gain importance. Many jobs traditionally done by men will begin to be done by women. The number of women in senior management will increase.”

Academics from Turkey and managers from the business world attended the meeting, along with academics and managers from Albania, Austria, Estonia, Slovenia, and Russia.