Mehmet Cangoz

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Freelance International Consultant

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

To make a long story short, I’ll just mention some milestones: When I returned to my MBA sponsor, the Turkish Treasury, in 1996, I was transferred from the research department to the debt office as a specialist, and I did not initially realize that this was a major turning point in my career. I would see how my MBA education and thesis topic, risk management, would impact my professional career in the next few years. As a matter of fact, 2 years later, I was appointed as a Department Head and later served as Deputy Director General and Director General. During this period, I became part of a team that managed the deepest economic crisis in Turkey’s history, established the risk management unit, restructured debt management, and led the modernization of Treasury functions. I learned through personal experience how important teamwork and participatory leadership are when performing under stressful conditions and creating a state-of-the-art business on a global scale. Many things I learned from my professors and friends during my MBA years, contributed greatly to my success in the 14 years when I worked as a manager. Due to the outstanding performance we have achieved, I was invited to join World Bank and IMF missions to share our reforms and the successful transformation we made in the Turkish Treasury. Later, I became the manager of the World Bank debt management consultancy and technical assistance unit, with the knowledge I gained at the technical and managerial level in my own country, enriched by experiences in different countries. During my time at the World Bank, I managed a highly talented and world-class team for 5 years, providing technical support to more than 40 emerging and developing countries. Afterward, I decided to work as a consultant to share the experience that I gained in many different countries, to help debt management practitioners with on-site and hands-on practices. Besides, I returned to Turkey to use the culture I acquired at the World Bank and other international organizations and the experience I gained in other countries for the benefit of my people in my own country. Nowadays, while I have been working as a consultant with international organizations to build capacity in many countries, I also serve as a director in one of the country’s leading think tanks, teach at an elite university in Ankara, write articles, reports, and books, and serve as a board member in one of the country’s top financial companies.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

Actually, it wasn’t a very planned career. Since I had completed my MBA with a Treasury scholarship, I had compulsory service for 3 years. Taking my MBA studies into account, my managers transferred me to debt management, and the subsequent developments came about with hard work, self-improvement and effort to fulfill responsibilities, and a little bit with the development of circumstances. During my tenure at the Treasury, seeing the application of economic and finance theory in practice, being able to directly influence the process during crisis and reform periods, and taking a direct role in policy development and implementation always kept my professional satisfaction high. In the World Bank and consultancy services, contributing to the development of others, knowing that this contributes to the development efforts of those countries, and being able to contribute to the increase in the welfare of the people of those countries has always been the best part of the job.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

Our valuable professors, who enable us to understand the subjects with examples from different sectors, to establish direct contact with companies and understand their business, and learn from our classmates from different countries and cultures.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

Exeter is a great city to be a student, it is a city that provides a friendly and safe environment, especially for foreign students. It has a special place in my and my family’s hearts. The campus is great. I still remember the short walks that filled me with joy and joy every morning on my way to school. If I had to choose again, I would choose Exeter again. Definitely! I still keep my Exeter coffee cups and car stickers 🙂

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I heard about Exeter University for the first time at an education fair held in Ankara in 1994. In addition to the program being suitable for my long-term goals, I chose Exeter because of the interest and support shown by the international officer from the very beginning of the application process, and I have always been very pleased with my choice.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

For those who want to work in management, it would be the right choice to study MBA. In the General Management program, we learned many different subjects such as finance, marketing, and industrial sociology, and improved our presentation techniques, team working, and leadership skills. What we learned at Exeter was always useful at unexpected points in my career.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

To specialize in a few topics without losing your perspective on the big picture, to develop analytical skills, to learn the dynamics of corporate and organizational structures and the ability to do business within them, to be open to multiculturalism, to be open to change, to strengthen listening and reasoning skills

What are your plans for the future?

In addition to continuing international consultancy work, taking volunteer activities in non-governmental organizations to the next level and making an impact, especially on education, children’s protection and development, and animal rights.