Sema Basol is a Turkish-American global marketing and public relations executive with over 25 years of experience both in the U.S. and in Turkey. She has worked with multi-billion dollar corporations like Mattel Inc. and Koc Holding, start-up ventures, non-profits such as educational and cultural institutions, business executives, government representatives and public figures in both countries.

Sema is the co-founder of Turkish-Women’s Initiative, a US-based non-profit, founded in 2008, that promotes the advancement of women through innovative community-based programs.

She is also the founder of Degisim Liderleri Dernegi (Change Leaders Association) based in Turkey that provides leadership skills training for educated young women in that country. Sema recently published in Turkey her first book “Sparks: Transformational stories of young women who dream of a better world”.

Throughout her career, Sema has taken active roles in Turkish-American affairs, Turkish community organizations, and Turkish arts. She is deeply committed to improving the status of Turkish women and brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to her work.

Sema has a B.A. degree from Bogazici University, Istanbul, an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson School and has been living in California, USA for the last 40 years.