TAYSAD Holds Its 9th Talent Management Conference Under the Theme “Repositioning the Human Element”
The Key to Competitiveness in the Automotive Supply Industry: Developing People Alongside Technology
As transformation accelerates in the automotive supply industry, the ability of people to create value is becoming increasingly important. New technologies are bringing new skills requirements and a new approach to leadership. This year’s 9th Talent Management Conference, organized by TAYSAD, focused on ways to unlock employees’ potential amid this transformation. In her opening speech, TAYSAD Board Member Nihan Sekirden Baraş emphasized that technological advancement and human development must progress together to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness. She noted that organizations that encourage learning, build trust, and make employees’ contributions visible will shape the future.
Hosted by the Association of Automotive Parts and Components Manufacturers (TAYSAD), the 9th Talent Management Conference was held under the theme “Repositioning the Human Element.” The conference addressed a wide range of topics, including people-centered corporate culture, new approaches to performance, resilience and leadership, and the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence. Edenred served as the gold sponsor, while Adisa was the bronze sponsor. The opening speech was delivered by TAYSAD Board Member Nihan Sekirden Baraş.
The Skills of the Future Are Being Developed Today
Emphasizing that artificial intelligence is reshaping the role of people in the business world and the ways in which they create value, Nihan Sekirden Baraş said:
“There is no guarantee that the technical skills that make someone successful today will ensure that the same person remains successful five years from now. We are all in a continuous cycle of relearning. We must be prepared to let go of what we know when necessary, learn again, and adapt quickly to changing conditions. Curiosity, learning agility, and the ability to adapt to change are becoming just as important as experience and technical expertise, and in some roles, even more important.”
The Rules of Competition in the Automotive Industry Are Being Reshaped
Nihan Sekirden Baraş stated that transformation in the automotive supply industry is increasing the need for new skills and a strong corporate culture.
“According to reports, 76% of European suppliers expect profitability below 5% by the end of 2026. Nearly one in four suppliers says it expects to make a loss. Across the European automotive supply industry, the loss of 18,900 jobs was announced in the first half of 2026 alone. During the same period, imports of automotive components from China into Europe increased by 23%.
“The situation we face is reshaping the rules of competition in the automotive industry. The future of Türkiye’s automotive industry depends not on producing more, but on creating greater value,” she said.
“We Must Not Forget to Invest in People While Investing in Technology”
Nihan Sekirden Baraş added that approaches to performance must also be reconsidered in light of this transformation.
“Artificial intelligence will increasingly provide us with better answers, but people will still decide which questions are worth asking. The leaders of the future will be those who ask the right questions and bring together the power of technology and human potential.
“While investing in technology, we must not forget to invest in people. If we do not equip our teams with new skills and give them the freedom to experiment and make mistakes, we will not be able to build the organization of the future, even if we have the best technology in the world. The companies that truly stand apart in the future will be those that bring together the power of technology and human potential in the most effective way.”
Sessions Exploring Everything from Wisdom Intelligence to People-Centered Culture
The conference continued with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Acar Baltaş titled “Wisdom Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Şule Yücebıyık, founder of Bilim Virüsü and a social entrepreneur, then addressed participants with a presentation titled “The Reality of 2026: The Redistribution of People, Artificial Intelligence, and Power.”
The final session before the afternoon break featured Tuna Arıncı, Country President of Valeo Türkiye and General Manager of its Bursa plants, and Hakan Konak, President and CEO of Toyota Boshoku Türkiye. Under the title “The Egg Cracks from Within: How Does a People-Centered Culture Begin?”, they discussed the development of people-centered corporate cultures.
The New Performance Equation Between People and Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage
The second part of the conference began with a presentation by Dr. Barış Sarıalioğlu, Co-Founder of Testeryou, titled “From Algorithms to People: Redesigning the Value-Creating Mindset in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
This was followed by a panel titled “Human + Artificial Intelligence = The New Performance Equation,” moderated by Mete Yurtsever, founder of Innolabz. The panel brought together Prof. Dr. Güncel Önkal, Head of the Philosophy Department at Maltepe University; management consultant and author İdil Türkmenoğlu; and strategic communications and leadership consultant Burcu Çalhan.
The conference continued with a session titled “The Future of Organizations and the Role of Leaders in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” featuring Beste Kaya Çilingir, Marketing and Growth Director at Edenred Türkiye, and Hüseyin Adanalı, Founding Consultant at Adisa.
The program concluded with a session titled “Repositioning the Human Element: Resilience, Meaning, and Leadership Beyond Boundaries,” featuring Ali Türkkan from Castrol Ford Team Türkiye and Murat Öztürk, Chairman of the Board of the Automotive Journalists Association.
About TAYSAD
The Association of Automotive Parts and Components Manufacturers (TAYSAD), Türkiye’s sole and most authoritative representative of the automotive supply industry, was founded in 1978 by 14 entrepreneurs.
Guided by its vision, “TAYSAD 5.0: Agile, Resilient, Competitive,” the association contributes to the national economy through its more than 540 members, which collectively represent a business volume of USD 30 billion, exports worth USD 15.8 billion, employment for more than 250,000 people, and 182 R&D and Design Centers.
TAYSAD members have more than 320 investments across 41 countries. The association is a member of the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) and holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013 certifications.
Website: www.taysad.org.tr
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