An event titled “Entrepreneurship and Personal Branding” was organized by Üsküdar University Center for Application and Research for Gifted Children (ÖYEMER) within the scope of the University Culture course. Ataman Özbay, the inventor of wet wipes, attended the event. Ataman, pointing out that phone addiction is very high in Turkey, said, “In the past, phones were fixed, and we were free. Now phones are free, and we are addicted.”
The opening speech of the event, held at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall of Üsküdar University Central Campus, was delivered by ÖYEMER Project Consultant Sena İlgar.
To be noticed, it is necessary to make a difference…
Sena İlgar, stating that it is necessary to make a difference to be noticed, said; “Everyone wants to be successful, everyone wants to do different things, wants to be noticed. When I thought about what I needed to do to be noticed, I realized I needed to make a difference. When I listened to success stories, all of them had a turning point. So I said to myself, I’d better listen to success stories and note down the turning points, only then can I also be successful. My entrepreneurship story began with a single word in the conference hall. That word was: ‘Young people, look around not with empty eyes, but with your talents. Because only then can you notice the gaps and employment opportunities around you. Only then can you create a place for yourselves in society.’ Now, the owner of that quote, the famous businessman, pharmacist, and also the inventor of wet wipes, Ataman Özbay, is with you.”
Ataman Özbay: “A smiling face, sweet talk is the greatest wealth…”
Özbay, emphasizing the great importance of relationships with people, said; “A smiling face, sweet talk is the greatest wealth. Relationships with people are very important. I had become an excellent printer. I was the managing editor of the printing house and the İzmit correspondent for Hürriyet Newspaper. My relationships with people were very good. This is the sole reason for my success today.”
“If you have a belief and a goal, everything is possible”
Özbay, stating that the new generation is not very active in reading, said; “Whatever you want to see in life, life shows it to you. Unfortunately, you don’t read. If you have a belief and a goal, everything is possible. I invented wet wipes. In 20 years, I made disinfectant wipes. I made the world’s first transparent soap. Rahmi Koç thanked me. On Mother’s Day, I had ‘Dear Mom’ written on the soaps. Because my grandson wasn’t washing his hands, I had a toy put inside. He doesn’t stop washing his hands now.”
“Now phones are free, we are addicted”
Özbay, emphasizing that phones are free while people are addicted to them, said; “Time is so precious. Turkey is addicted to phones. In the past, phones were fixed, and we were free. Now phones are free, and we are addicted.”
The event concluded after a group photo session.