Department of Public Relations and Advertising

Alumni Profiles

Our graduate: Öner Tankul

Graduation year: 2020

Who is he? What is he doing now?

While continuing his education in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising at Izmir University of Economics, Öner drew attention through competitions where he tested his creativity. Winning awards in every competition he participated in, he both reinforced his passion for advertising and made a strong entry into the industry. Through one of these competitions, he had the opportunity to intern at Tribal Worldwide Istanbul. After graduation, Öner joined the agency’s creative team as a copywriter. He took part in the communication efforts of many powerful brands such as Aksigorta, Şok, Turkcell, TV+, Turkish Airlines (THY), Anadolu Jet, Turkish Cargo, Miles&Smiles, Lezita, Algida, Bilyoner.com, LC Waikiki, BtcTurk, and Boyner with his creative writing. He has been continuing to work at Tribal Worldwide Istanbul with the same passion for five years.

Our graduate: Ezgim Avkaroğulları

Graduation year: 2022

Who is she? What is she doing now?

Until the summer of 2022, when she graduated from the Public Relations and Advertising department, Ezgim Avkaroğulları completed various internships both on the corporate and agency sides. She then entered the industry as an "advertiser" in Istanbul. Ezgim began her career as a Strategic Planner at Happy People Project, which was selected as Independent Agency of the Year in the 2024 CatReport, and for nearly three years, she has been working in the Strategic Planning team in the field of "Advertising." During this time, she took part in the strategic development processes of campaigns that received prestigious industry awards such as Effie, Kristal Elma, and Felis. She played an active role in the creative processes of communication campaigns for brands from various sectors, including Intel, Ford Trucks, Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), Oppo, Calgon, and Paşabahçe, specifically in writing briefs, developing insights, and conducting market and category analyses. What makes the advertising profession special to her is its fast pace, dynamic structure, and the analytical side blended with creativity, with each brief representing a new learning phase. She balances the intense pace of agency life with sports, which has long been part of her life. The consistency, focus, and endurance she has gained through sports also positively influence her career in advertising.

Our graduate: Cennet Sude Akgül

Graduation year: 2024

Who is she? What is she doing now?

Sude started participating in voluntary internships from her second year onward to enhance her industry experience alongside her education and to develop herself in her field. Her first internship was at Thaat’s It!, the agency of Haluk Sicimoğlu, who taught the Consumer Insight course — one of her favorite courses and the first in which she encountered the concept of strategy. There, she took her first step into the industry as a junior creative strategist. During this time, she strengthened her strategic skills with what she learned both academically and through her internship. At the end of this year-long internship, she began another internship with the strategy team at Universal McCann Turkey. This time, she worked on strategic planning for media planning and buying. After a year, and just two months after graduation, she officially joined the team as an executive strategist. She has been continuing her work with great enthusiasm for about a year.