Arzu Tekir

Business strategist, Arzu Tekir, is an expert in smart cities and is utilising her knowledge to help other startups and urban technology companies to grow and develop. A powerful woman in business, Arzu has given numerous keynote speeches and lead panel discussions on urbanisation, smart cities and sustainability to business leaders and corporate audiences. As an entrepreneurial leader with over twenty years of experience in business development and strategic planning, Arzu founded Urbanite Venture, an independent advisor to companies wanting to be pioneers in creating smart cities.

The company aims to better relations between businesses and city administrators in order to increase market opportunities for innovative city planning. Partnering forward-thinking businesses with urban planners improve the success rate of smart city techniques. Prior to establishing her own consultancy, Arzu Tekir accumulated experience in the IT sector, market research, investment planning and as a lecturer at Kadir University, Istanbul. For six years she was the Executive Director for the World Resources Institute in Turkey, responsible for planning and implementing sustainable transport solutions countrywide and developing urban development solutions.

Additionally, Arzu implemented an online course for students of the School for the Future of Innovation at Arizona State University to improve their knowledge of the methods and opportunities available in the industry. Recognised as one of the most educated authorities on sustainability topics, Arzu Tekir has been invited to speak across the world as a keynote speaker, panel expert, and moderator. Her engagements are insightful, offer practical solutions and give effective examples of where her ideas have been used with great success.

In 2017 she discussed the future of smart cities at the World Cities Expo and Hello Tomorrow Turkey conference. Arzu moderated the Smart Cities Connect conference in the USA in 2018 and the spoke on Women in Entrepreneurship at the Google Start-Up Grind later the same year. Named ‘One of the Top 19 Women in Environment’, Arzu Tekir is the ideal choice of expert for your conference or keynote speech. Covering a range of topics with first-hand experience and modern advice, she will inspire change in your business and give solutions to encourage you to be more sustainable. One of the ‘Women of Courage Turkey’ Arzu will impress audiences with her powerful speeches.