Portraits from ATU
Ankara
Kemal Kabak
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Kemal Kabak What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? My airport experience started at Setur at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in 2018 as an Operations Team Leader. Then I continued my career at İstanbul Unifree in 2019. I worked as a team leader here for 5 years. On February 6, 2023, during the Kahramanmaraş earthquake, I went to the region to support the search and rescue teams. After what I experienced here and what I saw about life, I decided to be in Ankara with my family. This is where our paths crossed with the ATU family. In 2024, I started working as a Deputy Team Leader at ATU in Ankara. I am currently continuing in this position. The most important part of my job is that the motivation of the friends I work with is good. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I would like to live in Japan. I love societies that protect their values. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? I'm impatient. As I get older, I feel that this trait of mine is changing, and this change is making me a happier person. So I am working on various methods of suggestion and experiments to change it completely. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? To be able to empathize and be a sensitive person. What is your greatest fear in life? Something bad happens to my loved ones. Is there a talent you wish you had? Being in more than one place at the same time. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? Gazi Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK! What qualities do you most value in a friend? Being a real listener. Giving me the right idea, not what I want at that moment, and being able to tell me clearly when I am wrong. Being honest. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? In general, I have tried to change the things I think I need to change throughout my life. I think I have been successful in this regard. In this period, I feel the disadvantages of being a perfectionist and I am trying to change this characteristic. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? Spending time with my family and friends. What is your biggest regret in life? In primary school, my guidance teacher said on a subject I can't remember, “It is good to make mistakes, mistakes come from effort, and if you realize the mistake you made and learn from it, it will come back to you as a gain for the rest of your life.” That's when I learned not to regret. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? In the February 6 earthquakes in Antakya, I pulled one person alive from the rubble in the 72nd hour. The happiness on his and his family's faces was the best moment of my life. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? “Intention beats action”
|
Bodrum
Seray Cantürk
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Seray Cantürk What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I am a Cash Collection Specialist in Bodrum operation. In summary, we organize the revenue of the stores and transfer them to the bank. We also support POS devices by meeting all the store's deposit and coin needs. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Amsterdam, The Netherlands It was a city that fascinated me a lot. The architecture is beautiful and it's fun to ride a bike everywhere. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? I'm too well-intentioned. I'd like to tone it down a bit. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? My friends and family say that I have good taste and that I am resourceful. Producing, cooking are my favorite features. What is your greatest fear in life? Unfortunately, our children cannot be protected in our country lately. I am also very afraid that something will happen to my child. Is there a talent you wish you had? Vocal talent and singing. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? The world leader, our Commander-in-Chief, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. What qualities do you most value in a friend? To be with me in the most natural way. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? I wish I could say no when necessary. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? My hobbies are handicrafts. What is your biggest regret in life? Getting married. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? The place where I am happiest is my home and the time I spend with my family and loved ones. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? My biggest motivation is that my family is always with me. I don't have any motivational slogans because I am not an ambitious person.
|
Gazipaşa
Eren Kocabaş
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Eren Kocabaş What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I work as a Sales and Payment Consultant. I ensure that our guests reach the right product and then help them with the payment. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, may be my most desired place to live, but I can live anywhere with the woman I love and my family. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? I'm at peace with myself in everything, just a bad habit from childhood; nail biting. I would like to give that up completely, that's the only thing I would like to change. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? Where I am, I love to fight to change things that are uncomfortable for me or the community. What is your greatest fear in life? I'm afraid of failing, no matter how much failure increases the ambition to fight, and I'm afraid of losing someone I love, although it hasn't happened to me before. Is there a talent you wish you had? Speaking and understanding all languages is a utopian ability, but it is the ability I want the most. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? I focused on improving myself with many role models given by the desire to learn history since childhood. I studied a lot about our Founding Leader Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, then Mehmet the Conqueror and Muhammad Ali. I learned, but the person I admire the most throughout my life is my father. What qualities do you most value in a friend? Since I love to talk a lot, it is enough to have features such as conversation, general culture and to be happy with me when I am happy. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? I am happy and at peace with my physical features and character, but I wish I was a little taller. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? I enjoy watching movies, TV series and documentaries, and I often watch highlights of my favorite team's victories. What is your biggest regret in life? I was involved in shooting sports as a licensed shooter. Getting away from these sports may be my biggest regret. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? It is very difficult to pick just one time, but the moments I spend with the people I love have always been the happiest. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? No matter how incomplete I may be, in order to succeed, your passion for success must overcome your fear of failure.
|
Georgia
Salome Margvelashvili
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? My name is Salome Margvelashvili. What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I have been working in ATU Duty Free since 2024 as a Sales and Payment Consultant. I am trying to do my best. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Honestly, I haven't thought about living in another county. No doubt, I have a few favorite country I want to visit but for me Georgia is the only country to live in. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? Generally like all people, I also would like to change one my characteristic- sometimes I am very stubborn but anyway I always try not to make harm anyone with my stubbornness. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? About my favorite feature I can definitely say that I am very responsible and very reliable. What is your greatest fear in life? In this case, I will be different and say that greatest fear in life is losing my loved ones. Is there a talent you wish you had? This is my favorite question all of time, I would have talent of singing. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? My favorite historical hero is our King David the builder. He actually established Georgia. What qualities do you most value in a friend? In friend I most value if she/he is reliable and to be by friend's side in every occasion. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? Nothing, because whenever I don't like something, I fix it right away. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? My free time I always try to be with my children and family. To my mind collecting good memories with loved peoples is priceless. What is your biggest regret in life? I love my life, I always do what I want and what is correct for me. I don’t regret anything. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? To be honest, I can’t remember the specific place and time, but there are many happy moments in my life. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? Everything is possible, the main thing is to have the desire.
|
Istanbul
Tayfun Köse
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Tayfun Köse What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I work as Operation Assistant Manager. I provide planning and support services to ensure that our company's operational and sales targets are realized, service quality is improved, and affiliated units and teams work in a healthy and coordinated manner. I supervise these processes and report to our senior management team. In addition, I can say that another of our main duties is to create long-term career plans with our employees and to build relationships on healthy and permanent foundations. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Florence. The capital of the Renaissance. Wonderful stone streets, enormous historical buildings, a unique view of the city from Michelangelo Hill, from the fragrant olive groves... A wonderful climate, delicious food and warm people... What else do we need : ) Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? In fact, I don't want to give up any of the qualities that make me who I am. Because I always think that a person is the work of their experiences. But if I had to give an answer, I would want to put aside my mindset that everything has to be kept under control. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? I have always prided myself on being hardworking, fair and success-oriented. The feedback I have received from my environment has also been in this direction. What is your greatest fear in life? Like many people, I have always been afraid of hurting my loved ones and being misunderstood. I also have a very real claustrophobia that I am working hard to overcome : ) Is there a talent you wish you had? I wish I could play clarinet and qanun, both instruments have a wonderful timbre that soothes my soul. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? Mehmet the Conqueror. A great figure ahead of his time. The very definition of the word intellectual. I have always been fascinated by his brilliant intellect, endless innovation and sharp determination. What qualities do you most value in a friend? Confidence, loyalty and speaking the truth in all circumstances. Even when you are doing wrong, they can warn you and bring you back on track. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? If I could go back to my school years, I would like to study abroad, so that a global perspective and an early foundation for personal cultural enrichment can be established during development. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? I'm a domestic character. If I don't have any plans to go out, I enjoy listening to something from my record collection, which I have been working on for a long time, at home with a coffee in my hand. I have also been working on synopsis writing since high school. What is your biggest regret in life? I was very upset when I missed my dream, the Air Force Academy, by three questions. In order to take the military exam again, it was necessary to take a one-year break from education and not start regular high school. I did, and it is my biggest regret. My biggest dream is to fly a fighter jet one day. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? I feel very happy and safe when I am with my family and friends whom I love as much as my family. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? Per aspera ad astra.. It's an old Latin expression. “Through suffering to the stars...”
|
Izmir
Asuman Tokgöz
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Hello, I am Asuman Tokgöz. I have been working at ATÜ İzmir Operation since June 2023. What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I work as a Sales Specialist in the Perfume - Cosmetics category. To make sales by supporting our guests to make the right choices in line with their needs in accordance with the ATÜ style and to send our guests away from our store happy, contributing to the realization of our operation target. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I would like to live in a house with a garden by the sea in a small seaside town where blue and green are intertwined. I dream of living a peaceful life with my family away from the stress, traffic and noise of the city. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? I wish I could say “No” more often. Sometimes this can be very tiring and exhausting. Thinking that the other person is always like me can lead to disappointments. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? I feel that being responsible and friendly puts me one step ahead in every aspect of my life and this makes me happy. What is your greatest fear in life? Losing my loved ones. Is there a talent you wish you had? Playing an instrument and singing professionally. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK. What qualities do you most value in a friend? Trust, honesty and sincerity are important to me. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? I would like to prevent my perfectionism from putting extra stress on me in some situations. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? Spending time with my family and enjoying a peaceful coffee at the end is indispensable. What is your biggest regret in life? I have no regrets but there were times when I thought I could have done better. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? The happiest moment I felt was when I became a mother and held my son in my arms. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? No pain, no gain.
|
Kazakhstan
Vladimir Kim
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Vladimir Kim, a man in his prime of life. What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I work as a Deputy Team Leader. I manage a team of cashiers and sales assistants in order to achieve sales targets by providing best-in-class customer service, increasing level of customers’ satisfaction, resolving issues with passengers and providing continuous shops operations. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Definitely in a big city with rich history and superior cultural life. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? I wouldn’t change anything, otherwise it wouldn’t be about myself, but about another person and another life story. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? Stamina no matter what and sense of humor helped me to survive when life gave me tough times. What is your greatest fear in life? Fear of war. Is there a talent you wish you had? Creating perfumes and composing the music. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? Estee Lauder - a founder of great beauty empire, retail marketing genius and a brilliant sales person. What qualities do you most value in a friend? Taking me for what and who I am, loyalty and honesty. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? I wish I could speak many languages, because that would let me dive into many cultures. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? Volunteering for stray pets’ shelter. What is your biggest regret in life? I didn’t tell my parents every day how much I loved them. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? Celebrating birthdays as a kid at my parents’ place with all my grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins and friends. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? “Believe and you are halfway there” by Theodore Roosevelt
|
North Macedonia
Dejana Stanishikj
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? First of all I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself to ATU colleagues. My name is Dejana Stanishikj, I am 27 years old, I am from Skopje Macedonia, I have completed my graduation in 2016. What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? My role at ATU Duty Free is Sales Assistant and Cashier. In this role I provide exceptional customer service and overall care of our duty free shops. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? While I am happy with the place I live right now ( Macedonia ), if I was given a chance I would most likely choose a city like Antalya or Bodrum because I really enjoy the warm weather and the see. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? If I had to choose to change one of my characteristic, that would be overly trusting people. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? My sense of humor. I love seeing people laugh at what I say or do. It’s a powerful feeling. What is your greatest fear in life? I am really afraid of natural disasters such as earthquakes or flood. Is there a talent you wish you had? I always wanted to be musical. I cannot sing, dance, or play a musical instrument. Any one of those would make my life more rewarding. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? I’ve written about him before, but I will gladly repeat his name Alexander the Great. For numerous reasons. One thing I truly admire about the man is his willingness to personally lead his men into battle and fight side-by-side with them. He was always in the thick of it, putting his own life in danger. And that’s something incredibly rare, and refreshing for a leader. What qualities do you most value in a friend? Honest, honest is a requirement for a strong and successful friendship. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? If I could change one thing about myself, it would be to be more confident. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? In my free time I like to read. I enjoy reading articles, usually anything, but especially about politics, crime, unsolved mysteries, food, makeup and fashion, and history. What is your biggest regret in life? I wish I started learning so many things earlier in my life. Even though I started now, (better late than never), that pain and regret of doing things much earlier in life always stays. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? I’ve had a lot of happy moments of my life. Usually time with family, time with friends. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? Yes I made a note of it during my reading. (We have tomorrows for a reason)
|
Latvia
Agnese Samuilova
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Agnese Samuilova What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I am a Sales Assistant. My duties include serving customers in the store, helping them find what they are looking for, recommending new products, educating them about various items, and providing an unforgettable shopping experience. In addition to customer service, I also maintain the store and its warehouse in order, receive deliveries, and stock them in the store. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? I would definitely choose to stay and live in Latvia. There are many opportunities for growth, wonderful nature, culture, and most importantly – very delicious food! Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? I consider myself a patient person, but if there’s one trait I’d like to improve, it would be to become even more patient. I believe that having a little more patience would allow me to handle challenging situations with greater calm and understanding, and help me grow both personally and professionally. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? My favourite feature that I’m most proud of is my communication skills. I’m a very sociable person, and I can easily adapt to different conversations and topics, no matter how diverse they are. What is your greatest fear in life? My greatest fear in life would be not growing or developing as a person, not becoming a better version of myself. Growth, self-improvement, and personal development are some of the most important aspects of life for me. I believe that continually evolving is essential to becoming the best version of ourselves, and the idea of stagnating or not reaching my full potential is something that I would find truly frightening. Is there a talent you wish you had? It’s not so much a talent, more like a superpower, but if I could, I’d love to be able to talk and understand animals. They have their own unique way of seeing the world, but since they can’t tell us directly how they feel or what they need, it would be incredible to bridge that gap. I think it would lead to a deeper connection with them and a better understanding of the natural world around us. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? My favourite historical hero would have to be Leonardo da Vinci. He wasn’t just an artist, but also an inventor, scientist, and thinker who constantly pushed the boundaries of what was possible in his time. I admire his curiosity and the way he combined art with science to create incredible works and ideas that were far ahead of his era. What qualities do you most value in a friend? The qualities I value most in a friend are honesty, loyalty, and a good sense of humor. I believe honesty is the foundation of any strong relationship, and loyalty shows that someone will stand by your side no matter what. A sense of humor is equally important because it makes even the toughest moments easier to handle and keeps the friendship fun. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? Honestly, if I had to choose, I wouldn't really change anything about myself. I believe that all of my strengths and flaws make me who I am, and part of the beauty of life is constantly learning and growing. Instead of wishing to change something, I’d rather focus on becoming a better version of myself every day. What is your favourite activity to do in your free time? In my free time, which I don’t have a lot of, I really enjoy staying at home and watching Netflix. However, I also love outdoor activities when I can. Exploring new places I haven’t seen before and creating great memories is something I find really fulfilling. What is your biggest regret in life? I try not to dwell on regrets because I believe that every experience, even the mistakes, has shaped who I am today. Instead of focusing on regrets, I see them as lessons that helped me grow. If I had to choose, maybe it would be not taking certain opportunities sooner, but at the same time, I trust that everything happens for a reason and in its own time. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? I don’t have one specific place where I’ve felt the happiest, because for me, it’s not so much about the location but the people I’m with. When I’m surrounded by loved ones, any place can feel like the happiest. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? Just keep going!!!!
|
Oman
Lucy Eusebio Silos
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? My Name is Lucy Eusebio Silos, happily married for six years. I joined ATU since September 2018, started as a Sales Assistant become a BA in year 2020 and luckily chosen as a Deputy Team Leader year 2021. What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I am a Deputy Team Leader in ATU Salalah. My role is to supervise the shop operation and the staff. We also support the Management by giving feedbacks and inputs related to our operation. Be a role model to my colleagues. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Definitely is my Hometown, it is called "City of Smile" Catanduanes, Luzon Philippines, it is the 12th largest Island in the Philippines, where my parents lived. I would love to create more memories and I would choose to stay for the rest of my life. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? If there is one characteristic I would like to change is not to be so kind and sensitive person, I would to love to be a strong woman. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? Being an independent woman, since I am working and get my pay, I am able to support my family and myself. What is your greatest fear in life? The thought that one day I will lose my Parents, I can’t even imagine my life, how to live knowing that my parents are gone. Is there a talent you wish you had? The talent I wish I had is, since Filipinos love music, I wish I had a good singing voice so that I can sing my favorite songs beautifully. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? Gat Doctor Jose Protacio Rizal is my favorite Filipino hero. He wrote the two Famous Novels called Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. This 2 novels talks about the colonization of Spaniard to Filipino people up to the present is my Father. What qualities do you most value in a friend? The quality I most value in a friend is Honesty. I don’t treat them as a friend, I treat them as a family. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? If I could change one thing about myself is being so generous. If people seek help or support, definitely, I would not say NO, I would find ways whichever and however it is even it is difficult for me. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? In my free time, I mostly cook and watch TV series. What is your biggest regret in life? My life’s biggest regret is when I got married late. If I could bring back the time atleast 20yrs ago, I will choose to marry the man of my life earlier. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? The moment I visit my Family. Family is home. Home is the best and happiest place for me. Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? “IF OTHERS CAN, WHY CAN'T I”
|
|
