Enerjisa Üretim and WHU CCT Bring Global Leaders Together in Istanbul: A Roadmap to Success in a Multipolar World
Enerjisa Üretim hosted the first Turkish edition of WHU – Campus for Corporate Transformation (CCT), bringing together business leaders and academics from around the world. Held in Istanbul under the theme “Sustaining Success in a Multipolar World,” WHU CCT 2026 featured prominent business figures, including Kıvanç Zaimler, CEO of Sabancı Holding; Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines; and Engin Aksoy, CEO of Vodafone Türkiye. Discussions covered a wide range of topics, from shifting global dynamics and leadership to corporate transformation and the future of organizations.
The ninth edition of WHU – Campus for Corporate Transformation (CCT), which brings business and academia together on a shared platform, took place at The Seed, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, hosted by Enerjisa Üretim. Founded and moderated by Prof. Dr. Serden Özcan, the conference examined how the emerging economic balances, geopolitical developments, and technological transformation associated with a multipolar world are affecting corporate strategies. Leadership, corporate resilience, and the future of organizations were explored through experiences and perspectives from different industries and regions.
Global Transformation Takes Center Stage in Istanbul
WHU CCT 2026 brought together a distinguished lineup of speakers from Türkiye and around the world. International figures, including Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel, former Federal Chancellor of Austria; Prof. Dr. Simon Thelen, Member of the Supervisory Board of the Merck Group and Deputy Chairman of its Family Board; Ali J. Siddiqui, former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States; and Elisabetta Falcetti, EBRD Managing Director for Türkiye and the Caucasus, assessed changing global dynamics from different perspectives.
Representing the Turkish business community, Kıvanç Zaimler, CEO of Sabancı Holding; Engin Aksoy, CEO of Vodafone Türkiye; Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines; Elchin Ibadov, CEO of SOCAR Türkiye; Emre Erciyas, General Manager of Erciyas Holding; and Ali Fuat Orhonoğlu, President of Unilever Türkiye, shared their views on the transformation of the business world through keynote speeches and panel discussions throughout the day.
Artificial Intelligence Emerges as a Key Corporate Transformation Priority
The conference explored artificial intelligence not only as a driver of productivity gains but also as a source of new business models, innovation, and competitive advantage. Speakers emphasized the importance of supporting this transformation through effective leadership, corporate culture, and organizational capabilities.
Bringing together leaders from diverse sectors, including finance, energy, technology, and industry, the conference addressed the new dynamics shaping a multipolar world and the strategic approaches companies can adopt to prepare for the future.
“We Will Build the Future of the Electric Era Through Flexibility, Technology, and Strong Partnerships”
İhsan Erbil Bayçöl, Head of Strategic Investments and Operations at Sabancı Holding and CEO of Enerjisa Üretim, expressed his satisfaction at hosting the first Turkish edition of WHU CCT and said:
“Hosting the first Turkish edition of WHU CCT is extremely valuable to us, as it allows us to assess the direction of global transformation together with leaders from different industries and geographies. Today, technology, geopolitical developments, shifting economic balances, and new competitive dynamics are transforming the business world simultaneously. In this environment, the success of organizations will depend on their ability to anticipate change, seize new opportunities, develop strong partnerships, and lead transformation. Turning the opportunities offered by a multipolar world into sustainable growth requires combining a long-term vision with agile decision-making mechanisms and a strong corporate culture.
“From artificial intelligence and the energy transition to digitalization and new business models, these changes are redefining the boundaries between industries. Energy is one of the most strategic areas of this transformation. The world is entering the electric era. Artificial intelligence, data centers, electric vehicles, and changing lifestyles will drive electricity demand to significantly higher levels. Energy is becoming increasingly strategic for national independence and economic resilience.
“That is why we approach the energy systems of the future through an integrated model that brings together generation capacity, flexibility, technology, and digitalization. At Enerjisa Üretim, we have expanded our ability to generate electricity from different energy sources. We are now focusing on supporting this strength with battery technologies and digitalization to make our energy system more flexible. While continuing to invest in new capacity, we are also exploring the opportunities created by electrification across industry, transportation, everyday life, and emerging technologies.
“We are building the world of 2050 through the decisions we make, the investments we undertake, and the partnerships we establish today. Throughout this journey, we believe in the transformative power of international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and collective intelligence. Platforms such as WHU CCT bring together the experiences of leaders from different industries, helping foster new ideas and stronger partnerships.
“With this understanding, we believe COP31 will serve as an important platform for accelerating practical implementation, innovative solutions, and international partnerships. We believe it is important for Türkiye to bring its considerable potential in the energy transition to the global stage and play a leading role in building a sustainable future.”
“The Successful Companies of the Future Will Be Those That Turn Strategy into Culture and Technology into New Value”
Prof. Dr. Serden Özcan, Chair of Innovation and Corporate Transformation at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management and Founder of WHU CCT, said:
“Corporate transformation is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of leadership today. The key to success lies in developing a strong strategy, adapting business models to changing conditions, and embedding the culture needed to implement that strategy into the organization’s DNA. Genuine transformation becomes possible when strategy and the organization move toward the same objectives.
“Organizations that shape the future will be those that combine agility, strategic discipline, and a culture of continuous learning. Artificial intelligence is also one of the most powerful catalysts for this transformation. Today, companies are using the opportunities offered by AI to accelerate processes, increase efficiency, and develop new capabilities. Over the next five to six years, we expect AI to play a much more decisive role in the development of new products, business models, and innovation. During this period, competitive advantage will belong to companies that can turn technology into strategic value and develop their organizations accordingly.
“One of the greatest strengths of WHU CCT is its ability to turn transformation into a shared learning journey. We create an environment where senior executives from different industries can openly share their experiences, the challenges they face, the critical decisions they make, and the lessons they learn along the way.
“Through WHU CCT, we aim to establish a strong platform for dialogue where leaders can think together, learn from one another, and develop ideas that will help shape the future of the business world.”
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