Cansen Basaran Symes
Cansen Basaran-Symes is a prominent figure in the business and finance sector, known for her extensive experience and leadership roles in various organizations. She graduated from Istanbul University's Faculty of Business Administration and joined Price Waterhouse (PW) Turkey in 1981, where she served for 32 years until 2013.
Throughout her career, Cansen heldseveral notable positionswithin PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). She worked at the PW Copenhagen office in 1983 and the PW London office in 1989. In 1990, she became a partner at PW European Firm. On July 1st, 1998, she was appointed as the leader and senior partner in charge of country operations at PwC Turkey. During her tenure, she also served on the board of directors of PwC - Central and Eastern Europe Region from 1998 to 2005 and as a board member of PwC Eurofirm from 2005 to 2008.
Cansen's contributions extend beyond her work at PwC. In 2015 and 2016, she served as the President of the Turkish Industry & Business Association (TUSIAD). Additionally, she held various board positions in organizations such as Allianz Sigorta A.S., Allianz Hayat ve Emeklilik A.?., Nokia, Alcatel Lucent Teletas Telekomünikasyon A.S., and the Harvard Business School MENA and Central Asia Advisory Board.
Cansen Basaran-Symes actively participates in numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and holds memberships in prestigious institutions. She isa member of the Turkish Industry & Business Association (TUSIAD), Council of Presidents, and a founder member and board member of Endeavor Turkey. She also serves as the chairperson of the Advisory Board at the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Association (FODER) and a senior advisory board member at the British Chamber of Commerce Turkey (BCCT), among others.
Her achievements have been recognized and celebrated internationally. Cansen was honoured as a "Global Leader of Tomorrow" at the 2000 World Economic Forum and received several awards, including the "Executive of the Year" by Istanbul University/Dunya newspaper in 1999 and the "Honour Management Prize" at the EDU Plus Management Summit in 2014. She has been featured in prestigious rankings, such as Business Life magazine's "30 Top Businesswomen that Drive the Business World" and Fortune magazine's "Most Powerful 30 Businesswomen," where she ranked 3rd in 2016. Her exceptional leadership and contributions to civil society were also acknowledged by the "Leader of the Civil Society" recognition in the "Business People of the Year" research conducted by the Weekly Economist in 2016 and 2017.
Cansen Basaran-Symes continues to inspire and make a significant impact on the business landscape through her expertise, leadership, and dedication to various organizations and causes.
