Jennifer Miel
Executive Director, U.S.-Türkiye Business Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Vice President, Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Published
October 30, 2026
As the United States and Türkiye approach a century of formal ties, their commercial relationship has never been stronger: bilateral trade now nears $50 billion annually, the U.S. stands as Türkiye's second-largest export market, more than 2,000 U.S.-capitalized companies operate on Turkish soil, and Turkish investment in the U.S. keeps climbing. But as cooperation deepens across aviation, technology, manufacturing, energy, and defense, one resource matters more than any other: the people who will carry this partnership forward.
Fellowship Launch
That conviction gave rise to the U.S. Chamber's U.S.-Türkiye Business Council Next Generation Fellowship, a new network dedicated to developing a focused, sustainable network to link students and young professionals to U.S. and Turkish businesses to empower the next generation of business successes bridging both countries. At the Fellowship’s inaugural forum on October 26 in New York City, nearly 200 university students and young professionals gathered to consider how they might shape the next chapter of growth between the two countries. As Khush Choksy, Senior Vice President for International Member Relations and for Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye at the U.S. Chamber, put it in his welcoming remarks: “The Next Generation Fellowship connects young talent with corporate opportunity to help serve as the engine of economic growth and investment across both countries.”
Corporate Leadership
The day began with a fireside chat between Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani and chair of the U.S.-Türkiye Business Council, and Diane Brady, Executive Editorial Director at Fortune. Ulukaya reflected on his entrepreneurial journey, leadership philosophy, the importance of staying connected to one’s roots, and the lessons he has learned from building Chobani.
Navigating Immigration: Practical Pathways for Future Leaders
Charting a path from education to employment takes careful planning, and the forum tackled it head-on. A panel moderated by Michelle Hackman, Immigration Reporter at the Wall Street Journal, walked participants through Optional Practical Training, work permits, and other key pathways, with Parisa Karaahmet and Bahadir Ekiz, Partner and Senior Associate Attorney, respectively, at Fragomen Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, and Patrick Shen, Vice President of Immigration Policy at the U.S. Chamber, demystifying what can be a daunting process for recent graduates.
Finding the Path Back Home: Employment in Türkiye for U.S. Graduates
For many Turkish students, an American degree is a powerful asset to bring back home. The "Finding Your Path Back Home" session, moderated by Ayşe Guçlu Onur, Partner at Egon Zehnder, explored that journey, with industry leaders Valentina Gara, Global Engineer Girls Coordinator at Limak Holding; and Beril Karan, Senior Human Resources Manager at Procter & Gamble Türkiye; and Burcu Özdemir, CEO of TBWA Istanbul; breaking down Türkiye's hiring landscape, exploring which skills are in demand, and how returning graduates can turn international experience into a competitive edge.
American Professionals in Türkiye: Experiences That Shape Global Careers
Sitting at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Türkiye offers a powerful launchpad for international careers. In a session moderated by Jennifer Miel, Vice President for the Middle East, Central Asia and Türkiye at the U.S. Chamber, American professionals Mickey Ashmore, CEO and Founder of Sabah Shoes; Liz Clark, Global Policy Director at Bristol Myers Squibb; and Hailey Autumn Hesseltine, a Fulbright Türkiye Alumna and English language instructor, shared how their time in Türkiye sharpened marketable skills, sparked entrepreneurial ventures, and deepened cultural diplomacy.
Building Bridges Between the United States and Türkiye
The forum closed with a capstone panel of professionals who have built careers working across United States and Türkiye. Moderated by Ümran Beba, Americas President at Eti and Founder of the Beba Innovation & Entrepreneurship Foundation, the panel featured Hande Aksoy, Managing Director, Global Partnerships at Meta; Koray Duman, Founder and Principal of Büro Koray Duman; Yiğit Canay Advisor to the Türkiye-U.S. Business Council; and Zeynep Güven, Government Affairs Director at Microsoft Türkiye; who shared candid stories of building cross-border careers, a vivid reminder of what's possible when ambition meets opportunity.
A Network for the Future
The inaugural Next Generation Fellowship Forum left participants with a sharper understanding of both markets — and a new generation better equipped to build careers at the intersection of the United States and Türkiye. Follow us here for future engagements and career resources, including our Next Generation Fellowship forum on December 2, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
About the authors
Jennifer Miel
Jennifer Miel is Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Middle East, Türkiye and Central Asia Department. Jennifer draws upon 15 years of service to the U.S. business community to advance commercial cooperation between the public and private sectors in the U.S. and this critical region.
E. Janset Batibay
E. Janset Batibay leads the US-Türkiye Business Council’s Next Generation Fellowship, a new initiative connecting talented Turkish students and young professionals in the United States with American companies—fostering career development and deeper economic ties between the two countries.
