An interview with Mustafa Uçak, Provincial Director at Turksat Uydu Haberleşme Kablo TV ve İşletme A.Ş.( Türkiye).
– What kind of family were you born into? Who are your parents?
I was a fortunate child. Thanks to my father’s occupation, I had the opportunity to get acquainted with computers at an early age (1988). Apart from that, I also had popular gaming consoles of that time, such as Commodore 64 and Sega. My father was involved in business, and my mother was a homemaker.
– What were you like in school?
During my school years, I was a curious, disciplined, and hardworking student. I cannot say that I was very social until high school, but I can say that I became more social during my high school and university years.
I mentioned that I was a fortunate child, and this also applies to the schools I attended. I received my education in private colleges, and I believe I received a good education. I completed my middle school and high school years with scholarships. Later, I chose to attend a public university instead of a private one.
Especially during middle school and high school, I participated in various scientific research, competitions, and events. I can say that it was through these activities that I was influenced to choose the engineering profession.
– What university did you choose?
The choice of university was primarily influenced by the profession I wanted to pursue. When I was in the second year of high school, I set my mind on becoming an Electronics and Telecommunications engineer. As a result, I made my selection among the 4 universities in Turkey offering this program. In Turkey, university admissions are based on a system where you take an exam, and based on your score, you can choose the university and program you desire. Following this process, I chose the Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering program at Kocaeli University. It was a field of study that I truly enjoyed throughout the 4 years of my education.
– When did you start to be interested in technics?
My interest in technical subjects began during my childhood. My father had a technical profession, and as a child, I would visit his company and observe how the devices were repaired. I used to play with the tools and equipment in the workshop. Disassembling and reassembling toys, working on small projects, and being fascinated with computers would excite me. This curiosity gradually nurtured my passion for technology.
– What was your first job?
Actually, my first job where I started earning money was doing small repair jobs at my father’s company. Later, during my middle school years, I started learning how commercial contracts were written. While in university, I engaged in importing and selling products from abroad, getting involved in e-commerce. In an official capacity, my first work experience was an internship at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, where I gained insights into the flight and communication systems of airplanes. For my next internship, I worked at a communication operator called TELSIM, which was later acquired by Vodafone. There, I got to see how a communication company operated and the technical aspects of their work.
After graduation, I worked as a software test engineer in the communication software company founded by my former manager at TELSIM.
– How did your career develop?
I have worked in various fields and sectors throughout my career. In fact, I have never worked in a job that I did not enjoy. As a result, I have changed companies quite a few times. Whether this is right or wrong is a debatable topic. However, it is difficult to be successful in a job that you do not enjoy. A job you don’t like will not contribute to you or the company you work for. Therefore, no matter what you do, choose a job that you love.
After my experience as a test engineer, I briefly dabbled in advertising design while pursuing my master’s degree. Subsequently, I served as an officer in the military for 12 months due to my military service obligation. After completing my military service, I started working as an innovation team member and project manager in a well-known company in the communication sector, particularly in the area of SIM card production. However, I left this job as I didn’t find it professionally satisfying.
Then, I joined ISBAK, a company affiliated with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, where I had the pleasure of working for many years. This was my first experience working in the public sector. The best part of working in a public company is that everything you do is for the benefit of the city you live in, and you serve the citizens. I held various positions and roles at ISBAK. I found it enjoyable to develop solutions for traffic problems in a large metropolis like Istanbul. As a Project Manager, I participated in projects related to traffic electronic surveillance systems, license plate recognition systems, and camera security systems, among others. Later, I was appointed as the manager of the Istanbul Traffic Control Center. Managing a center that operates 24/7 in a city that never sleeps requires a strong nervous system. After this role, I became the head of the CCTV, monitoring, and communication systems unit for Istanbul. Here, I had the opportunity to test and implement the latest technologies used worldwide.
Subsequently, I was selected as one of the founders of Turkey’s first Smart Cities Office. We worked on developing Istanbul’s smart city strategy, vision, and projects. As part of this, I had the chance to visit many countries and cities worldwide to examine good practice examples. In 2019, I left the public sector and moved to a private smart city company as the Marketing and Sales Manager. After a period of time there, I changed direction and worked as a Director responsible for Startup investments in a Venture Capital firm. I progressed investment processes by holding meetings with various startups.
Later, I took on the role of CTO in a software company. I was involved in setting up the company, and once the company’s processes were established, I returned to the public sector. Currently, I work as a manager for a city within TURKSAT Satellite Communications and Cable TV Operations Company, one of Turkey’s most significant companies.
– What is your life like outside of work?
I enjoy spending my free time with my family and close friends. Traveling, spending time in nature, and savoring delicious food are important hobbies for me. I also love reading books and being interested in personal development, which is a significant part of my life. I find it enjoyable to explore new places whenever I get the chance. Additionally, I am an amateur photographer and a drone pilot.
– What do you see as your greatest accomplishments?
Throughout my career, I have achieved many successes, but among my greatest accomplishments are successfully completing important projects, leading teams, and working in harmony with technological advancements. Additionally, being recognized as a respected expert in the industry and mentoring to increase the younger generation’s interest in technology can also be counted as significant achievements. Moreover, I take great pride in the activities we carried out at the Turkey Technology Team Foundation.
Career
Sept. 2022-present – Provincial Director at Turksat Uydu Haberleşme Kablo TV ve İşletme A.Ş.
June 2019 – present – Founder at UCK Yönetim Danışmanlık
Nov. 2021 – June 2022 – Chief Technology Officer – CTO at Arma Group Holding
Feb. 2020 – Nov. 2021 – Business Development Manager at Arz Portfoy
July 2019 – Feb. 2020 – Director Of Sales And Business Development at Asis Elektronik ve Bilişim Sistemleri A.Ş.
Aug. 2018 – June 2019 – Zemin Istanbul Innovation Center Program Coordinator at Zemin İstanbul
May 2016 – June 2019 – Istanbul Smart City, Coordinator at İSBAK A.Ş
Apr. 2015 – May 2016 – Chief of Telecommunications and Vision Systems at İSBAK A.Ş
Feb. 2014 – Apr. 2015 – Coordinator of Istanbul Traffic Control Center at İSBAK A.Ş
Feb. 2011 – Feb. 2014 – Project Manager at İSBAK A.Ş
July 2009 – Jan. 2010 – Project Manager / Innovation Team Member at Hobim Bilgi İşlem Hizmetleri A.Ş.
Jan. 2006 – July 2006 – TTG International at Software Test Engineer
July 2002 – Aug. 2002 – Intern Engineer at Vodafone.
