Sertaç Yerlikaya

Sertaç Yerlikaya is an accomplished technology strategist, digital transformation expert, and recognized leader in fostering academia–industry collaboration. She currently teaches AI and Sustainable Business Transformation at universities, inspiring future leaders while advancing initiatives that bridge the skills gap and empower diverse communities with digital capabilities. Her leadership also extends to advising organizations on building ecosystems that foster innovation, sustainability, and experimentation. Through her teaching, consultancy, and policy work, Sertaç continues to shape inclusive and future-ready approaches to digital transformation. Previously, Sertaç was recognized as an AI Fellow at the Atlantic Council, where she championed the equitable adoption of emerging technologies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. She also served as country coordinator for the Closing the Skills Gap Accelerator and as a Steering Committee Member of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Türkiye. As Adviser to the Minister of Technology, she led the development of national strategies and frameworks, including the National AI Strategy, a Digital Transformation Assessment Model, and a regulatory sandbox to foster innovation. Her academic leadership has also focused on redesigning higher education for a technology-driven future. At Boğaziçi University, she led the transformation of the Executive MBA program, introducing more modular and practice-oriented learning and integrating industry expertise more deeply into the curriculum. While serving as Adviser to the Minister of Industry and Technology, she led the establishment of two École 42 schools in Türkiye (42 İstanbul and 42 Kocaeli), gaining first-hand experience in peer-to-peer, project-based and agile learning models designed to focus on core competency and adaptation skills. She later applied these experiences to the design of Kapadokya University’s new Faculty of Technology, contributing to a modular, competency-based curriculum aligned with industry expectations and emerging skills. Her journey combines policy leadership, academic depth, and strategic vision, making her a powerful example for professionals committed to driving meaningful transformation and promoting inclusivity in the technology ecosystem.