Cisem Dincer is working as a sales manager responsible for retail banking branches at a public bank. She also has more than fourteen years of experience in internal control, audit and financial analysis.
Cisem Dincer participated in the U.S. Department of State’s Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program at Boston University, studying “finance” during 2011 and 2012 academic year. While taking some classes at School of Law of Boston University and working as an associate at Center for Finance, Law & Policy, she was involved in financial inclusion research mainly focusing on the impact of microfinance in women’s empowerment. She published an article entitled “Credit Due Turkish, US Women”.
Ms. Dincer’s shared her US exchange experience with these remarks: “Exchange program which is designed for both professional and personal growth in first place boosts self confidence as well. By developing your leadership skills and encouraging you to be very open minded, the program shapes fellows to become leaders for a global society. I had a good knowledge of the USA and American culture and the program facilitated a deeper understanding about foreign cultures, respecting differences and tolerating the beliefs of others. I discovered new aspects of myself while exploring and learning about the lives of others.
…I was thrilled to see how philanthropic acts are highly appreciated in the American culture. Charitable giving is a part of everyday life. I worked as a volunteer at my daughter’s school several times and during these occasions I got a chance to have an insight how Americans build wonderful local communities. There are many NGOs working with a mission to help people in need and combat poverty. It is interesting to experience that whether or not a country is developed or underdeveloped they need fundraisers, volunteers, youngsters who would work for a good cause.”
Upon her return to Turkey, she started to think about how she could implement what she learned through the program. She started to develop a new network composed of social entrepreneurs and people who work for NGO’s. Her awareness was highly increased in terms of social projects which could create social impact in the society. Afterwards, she received a certificate of a program entitled “Women Movement in Technology”, a local version of ‘mWomen’ project run by Vodafone Turkey with the cooperation of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER) and Turkish Informatics Association (TBV). As a part of the program, Vodafone ran a competition among Turkish women to find women entrepreneurs who have bright ideas on building successful small businesses to support their projects. Ms. Cisem’s project as she named it “Gelecegimiz Genclerimiz” (youngsters are our future) was in the final among the first ten out of 312. The project was screened on TV8 in a program named Bir fikrin Mi Var? (Do you have an idea?) which is designed to seek for entrepreneurial initiatives to invest. Most recently, it is also selected to “Sosyal Değişim Lab” (Social Change Lab) which is founded by Ozyegin University in collaboration with TOG (Community Volunteers Foundation) and JP Morgan.
She thinks Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program does not only change your views and perception of life, it also enhances your professional development.
For more information: http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us/program/hubert-h-humphrey-fellowship-program
