I am a results-driven professional with over 20 years of experience across diverse sectors and six countries, specializing in Business Management, Project Cycle Management, and EU-funded initiatives. I help foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and SME growth by building ecosystems, incubators, and business development centers. I have led strategic development, capacity building, and cross-sector collaborations to deliver measurable impact. I thrive in leadership roles, coordinating teams and stakeholders, and turning strategies into actionable programs. I am fluent in Turkish and English and enjoy mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting regional development.

Buğra Barlas

I am a results-driven professional with over 20 years of experience across diverse sectors and six countries, specializing in Business Management, Project Cycle Management, and EU-funded initiatives. I help foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and SME growth by building ecosystems, incubators, and business development centers. I have led strategic development, capacity building, and cross-sector collaborations to deliver measurable impact. I thrive in leadership roles, coordinating teams and stakeholders, and turning strategies into actionable programs. I am fluent in Turkish and English and enjoy mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting regional development.

Available to hire

I am a results-driven professional with over 20 years of experience across diverse sectors and six countries, specializing in Business Management, Project Cycle Management, and EU-funded initiatives. I help foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and SME growth by building ecosystems, incubators, and business development centers. I have led strategic development, capacity building, and cross-sector collaborations to deliver measurable impact.

I thrive in leadership roles, coordinating teams and stakeholders, and turning strategies into actionable programs. I am fluent in Turkish and English and enjoy mentoring entrepreneurs and supporting regional development.

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Language

Turkish
Fluent
English
Advanced

Work Experience

Key Expert 2 / Design and Innovation Expert at DAI Global Austria GmbH & Co KG
July 1, 2024 - December 31, 2025
Lead design and innovation work packages for CREATE IN Izmir: Entrepreneurial Hub of Cultural and Creative Industries; establish Digital Creative Entrepreneurship Hub; map ecosystem actors (Creative Industries Atlas); develop Creativity Readiness Level metric; manage hub platform and digital tools; design and deliver Training of Trainers; coordinate multi-stakeholder meetings, webinars, ideathons, creathons, and hackathons; oversee strategic communications and international design contest activities.
SNKE for Hub business process design at DAI Global Austria GmbH & Co KG
May 1, 2024 - July 31, 2024
Design and coordinate online informative seminars, promote cross-sector collaborations, ideathons/creathons/hackathons, entrepreneurship training and mentoring, content development and event management; coordinate the project’s digital presence and redesign the Center’s business model.
Senior Financial and Administrative Expert at WYG TURKEY
April 1, 2024 - May 31, 2024
Develop Financial Plan for the Centre; contribute to the Business Plan and Operational Plan; support project budgeting and governance.
Strategy and Insight Expert at GIZ GMBH - TEKSIS
February 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024
Design and implement project methodology; lead analytical framework development; coordinate multi-disciplinary analyses; draft final project reports including regulatory and market analyses.
Senior Non-Key Expert - Analyst/Researcher for Sectoral and Consolidated Report at DAI Global Austria GmbH & Co KG
November 1, 2003 - January 31, 2024
OE/sectoral diagnostics and consolidated reporting for EU projects; lead data collection, sectoral scoring, and report compilation.
Senior Non-Key Competitiveness Analysis Expert at EPTISA
September 1, 2023 - October 30, 2023
Competitiveness analysis in support of regional development; stakeholder engagement and analytical reporting.
Senior Non-key Expert: Market Analysis Expert at INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IRELAND (IDI)
June 21, 2023 - July 31, 2023
Market analysis for Izmir Network and Innovation Centre (NIC); develop market data and recommendations for commercialization.
Long-Term Senior Expert - Strategy and Competitiveness Expert at DAI Global Austria GmbH & Co KG / Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
December 21, 2020 - March 22, 2023
Value chain analysis, industry mapping, capability assessment, benchmarking, domestic and international market analysis; development of core industry strategy and action plans; governance and implementation planning.
Key Expert / Lead Expert at IKADA CONSULTING / UNDP
April 16, 2019 - October 25, 2019
Services for Preparation of Sectoral Road Maps and One-on-One Consultancy to SMEs; prepared strategic road maps, market studies, and mentoring/advisory support.
Senior Expert / TNA & Training Expert at FORMAPER
March 1, 2018 - July 20, 2018
Technical Assistance for My Bee, My Honey, My Honeycomb project; delivery of business development services, training, and mentoring to SMEs in the apiculture sector.
Expert / Business Planning Consultancy and Mentoring at PLANET S.A / TECHNICAL Assistance For Gümüşhane Traditional And Organic Products Business Development Center (IŞGEM)
August 12, 2018 - November 25, 2018
Development of business plans, market research, value chain analyses, and capacity building for regional SMEs.
Co-Founder / Founder at UMAY FILM (Self-Employed)
September 6, 2012 - March 19, 2014
Domestic and international short film production, consulting on communication and marketing for SMEs; concept design and training development.
Finance and Accounting Manager – Deputy General Manager at GOLDMEISTER GMBH
October 18, 2010 - June 15, 2011
Oversee finance, accounting, purchasing, and logistics; expand operations; manage bank relationships and staff development; lead vocational training initiatives.
Customer Representative - Credit Officer at Türkiye İş Bankası (ISBANK)
August 20, 1999 - April 22, 2005
Branch and district office roles in commercial credit, underwriting, and client services for SMEs.

Education

Master’s in Industrial Policies and Technology Management at İstanbul Commerce University
October 1, 2020 - February 18, 2022
Executive Master of Business Administration in English at Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir
May 1, 2012 - August 13, 2015
Bachelor of Economics at Anadolu University, Eskişehir
September 10, 1999 - June 7, 2004
Textile Technician Degree at Ege University Emel Akin Vocational School
September 1, 1997 - July 10, 1999

Qualifications

EBCL – European Business Competence Licence Holder
January 11, 2030 - February 18, 2026
TÜBİTAK Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mentor
January 11, 2030 - February 18, 2026
Project Management Professional (PMP) Seminar
January 11, 2030 - February 18, 2026
Innovation Management Training Certificate
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Erasmus University Rotterdam – Online
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Lean Management for All sectors
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Six Sigma Academy – Online
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Inclusive Design for Online Education
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Social Impact Strategy: Tools for Entrepreneurs and Innovators
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Building Social Enterprise
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Training of Trainers (Kuyap Ankara)
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Entrepreneurship Certificate
January 1, 2012 - January 1, 2012
International Business Certificate
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Public Relations Certificate
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Marketing Certificate
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Sales Management Certificate
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2009
Import/Export Training
January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2003

Industry Experience

Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Education, Energy & Utilities, Non-Profit Organization