Interview with Serkan Celikay, Technical Sales Manager at Harmonic, Istanbul, Turkey.

– What kind of family were you born into? Who are your parents?

I was born into a straightforward and loving family. My father was an electrical engineer, and my mother was a housewife. I also have an older brother.

– What were you like in school?

I wasn’t consistently a straight-A student, but I never received an F either. I always focused on the subjects that mattered to me.

– What university did you choose?

I studied computer engineering at the University of Missouri Rolla.

– When did you start to be interested in media?

To be honest, it was pure destiny how I began in the broadcast industry. In my early 30s, after being away from my hometown, Istanbul, Turkey, for 13 years, I was job hunting. I had a friend working for a local system integrator. One day, I visited him, met the owner, and was offered a sales manager position on the spot. That was 12 years ago, and I’ve enjoyed every day since.

– What was your first job?

I attended a technical high school in Istanbul. While studying, I also bought PC parts like HDDs, modems, RAM, etc., and sold them. Sometimes, I even built entire PCs for friends or acquaintances. I was adept at both the technical and commercial aspects of the business. That was my first job.

– How did your career develop?

I began as a sales manager at a local system integrator, later adding the title of project manager at the same company, where I worked for over eight years. During that time, I was involved in some high-end projects in Turkey. Later, I was offered a position as Sales & Business Development Manager at another system integrator in Munich, Germany, overseeing the EMEA and CIS regions. About two years ago, Harmonic approached me with an offer for the position of Technical Sales Manager for the same region, and I’ve been with them ever since.

– What is your life like outside of work?

I lead a simple life, savoring a fine bottle of wine paired with exquisite cuisine, in the delightful company of friends. I’m always on the lookout for uncharted destinations, places where I can dive into new experiences and forge lasting memories.

– What do you see as your greatest accomplishments?

My greatest joy and accomplishment is my little princess, Zeynep!

Professional Experience:

Sept. 2021 – Present: Technical Sales Manager at Harmonic, Istanbul, Turkey

March 2019 – Sept. 2021: Sales & Business Development Manager at x-dream-distribution GmbH, Munich Area, Germany

Aug. 2015 – March 2019: Project Manager at Baran Bilisim Teknolojileri

Oct. 2013 – May 2016: Business Owner at SSÇ Gıda, İstanbul

March 2012 – Aug. 2013: Sales Manager at Baran Bilisim Teknolojileri, İstanbul

Feb. 2007 – Sept. 2011: Company Owner at Görsel İthalat İhracat Ldt Sti, Damascus, Syria

Oct. 2005 – Feb. 2007: Operations Manager at Sel Automaten GmbH, Viernheim, Hessen, Germany.

Education:

1999 – 2005: Missouri University of Science and Technology, Bachelor of Engineering – BE, Computer Engineering.