Growing Together with my Interns

They were my interns.

Or maybe the better word is: my project partners.

Over the past two weeks, they came to the office to visit me, and we ended up sitting at the same cafeteria table with the same relaxed conversations. Nothing formal - just genuine connection.

But after I sat there with them, it was my personal reflection time.

Most of our work together happened through screens - Teams calls, shared screens, digital problem‑solving. Seeing them in person reminded me how much they’ve shaped my own journey in these past two years as well.

Not just with the work they delivered.

But with the way they helped me grow.

Arda: Building Our Digital Hub (Summer 2024)

Arda was the one who helped us turn digital chaos into something organized and useful.

He built our Finance SharePoint hub from scratch - bringing order to scattered files, links, and documents. The system he created is still the place the whole team relies on.

He also helped us fight against the parked‑invoice issues and made our follow‑ups clearer and more structured.

But what impressed me most was his attitude:

• curious
• open
• willing to try without fear

Working with him pushed me to look at my own digital habits. I realized how easy it is to fall into routines - and how refreshing it is when someone younger shows you a simpler, better way.

Emre: Bringing the Spark of Automation and AI (2025–2026)

A year later, Emre joined with a different kind of energy - one driven by automation and AI.

He built the first version of our Tax Intelligence Monitor, created Python scripts that automated websearches, and explored new AI tools with zero hesitation.

Our conversations often became small learning exchanges.

Sometimes he taught me something new.

Sometimes I shared context from tax, treasury or something what we call soft-skill.

But the bigger lesson was this:

Staying up-to-date is not a one‑time task.

It’s a habit. A muscle. A mindset.

Why These Moments Matter

We talk about simplification and digital transformation as if it’s only about systems, dashboards, or technology.

But it really starts with people.

With fresh eyes. With honest questions. With energy that makes you rethink your “normal.”

Arda and Emre delivered great work.

But they also gave me something just as valuable:

I didn’t only share my know‑how with them, I learned from them too.

Their reverse mentoring - intentional or not - helped me stay up‑to‑date, stay open, and stay curious. They reminded me that progress doesn’t always come from big projects. Sometimes it comes from a simple conversation at the cafeteria table.

And for that, I’m grateful.