Beşir Kemal Ustaoğlu

Born in Antakya in 1963, Beşir Kemal Ustaoğlu began his global journey in London in 1980 with a government scholarship. Continuing his education at Mitchell College and the University of Rhode Island in the United States, Ustaoğlu graduated from the Department of Economics at Boğaziçi University upon his return to Türkiye. He strengthened his strategic leadership competencies through senior executive development programs at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, The New School, and Galatasaray University.

Throughout a career spanning more than thirty years, he pioneered different sectors across three continents. As the second-generation representative of the 67-year-old Ustaoğlu Mining company, he took part in the mining and construction sectors; he also launched the Turkish-American initiative that laid the foundations of modern parking management in Istanbul and inspired the İSPARK model. He became the person who introduced the flexible cable barrier system, which increases highway safety, to Türkiye. During his years in the United States, Ustaoğlu served as the Country Manager of Goldaş America and also carried out the first import of Turkish cigars (TEKEL) into the United States through the cigar stores and cigar lounge he opened in Seattle.

Upon returning to Türkiye, he assumed the role of Founding Country Manager of REAG (KROLL) Türkiye, providing real estate consultancy services to multinational companies. He established multifaceted business models through ventures in international trade, real estate development, logistics, transportation, and warehousing. He initiated the import and distribution of corrugated cardboard boxes from Türkiye to the United States.

Currently serving as Vice President responsible for the Eurasia and Eastern Europe region at New York-based SKF Global Holding and as an Independent Board Member within Cinema Pink, Ustaoğlu is also an educator. He initiated academic programs within BÜYEM and today provides training to institutions on “Leadership in the VUCA World” and “Strategic Agility.” In the media field, he brings inspiring stories from the business world to audiences through projects such as “Benim Hikayem,” which he produces on Ekotürk TV, and “The Entrepreneur’s Mind Map” on YouTube.

A member of the Istanbul Rotary Club, Ustaoğlu has served as President of TABA-AmCham and AGÜB, and as Vice President of BÜMED. He has taken part as a founder and member in many associations both domestically and internationally; he is currently a member of the TABA-AmCham High Advisory Board, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Foundation for Establishment and Sustainability, YÜD, TKYD, and the Futurists Association. Ustaoğlu compiled his experiences in his book “Failure Success Happiness”; he is also a licensed diver, has received awards in motor sports, and has run international marathons.

He is married and has two children.