İstanbul
Batu Sarıan
Can you introduce yourself? What is your name and surname? Batu Sarıan What is your role at ATU Duty Free and what do you do in this role? I am involved in managing logistics operations and related processes at ATU Duty Free. Basically, I deal with the planning, tracking, and coordination of the logistics flow of products from supply points to operation centers and stores. A significant part of my role involves planning international and domestic shipments, coordinating customs and warehouse processes, developing warehouse operations, and monitoring logistics costs and performance. Besides this, I try to contribute to making the processes more efficient and sustainable by working in coordination with operations in different countries, suppliers, and different departments within the company. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Probably Japan. The way traditional culture and modern life coexist so strongly, along with the sense of order and attention to detail, really appeals to me. Is there a characteristic you would like to change about yourself? Why? I would like to reduce my tendency to overthink everything a bit. Thinking through too many alternatives can sometimes be an advantage, but other times it just opens more tabs in my mind than necessary. What is your favorite feature of yourself that you are most proud of? What I am most proud of is that I keep looking for solutions in difficult situations. When something doesn’t work on the first try, rather than saying ‘it’s not working,’ I think, ‘How else can we make this work?’ I’ve found this especially valuable in my professional life. What is your greatest fear in life? Things I cannot control. We love making plans, but life doesn’t have much respect for them. Is there a talent you wish you had? Definitely mastering time management. Being able to use 24 hours like 30 wouldn’t be bad. Who is your favorite historical hero, from the past or present? Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. I especially admire his leadership, strategic thinking, ability to set long-term goals and drive change, particularly under circumstances that seemed almost impossible. What qualities do you most value in a friend? Reliability, frankness and a sense of humor. Also, someone sincere enough to tell me, ‘I think you’re wrong about this,’ when necessary. Thinking we’re always right would be pretty boring. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why? I would stop second-guessing some of the decisions I’ve made in the past. After a certain point, rather than wondering, ‘What if I had done things differently?’ I think it’s more useful to focus on where I am now and what the next step should be. What is your favorite activity to do in your free time? Spending time in nature and hiking. I particularly enjoy hiking on long-distance trails such as the Lycian Way. Being away from the city and the pace of daily life for a few days and being in nature is one of the best ways for me both to discover new places and to completely clear my mind. Besides this, I also love traveling and discovering different places. What is your biggest regret in life? It is hard to name a single event. More generally, I regret putting certain things off by saying, ‘I’ll do it later.’ You learn a little too late that time really is the one resource you can never get back. Can you share with us the place and time where you felt the happiest? The moments on a trip when I go out early in the morning while everyone is sleeping and discover a new place on my own. Especially when I am in nature. Rather than grand or spectacular moments, I value those few quiet hours when no one needs anything from me and my mind is completely clear Do you have a slogan or motto that has motivated you throughout your life? “Not just good enough, but as good as it should be.” I value this especially in my professional life, as it reminds me of the difference between simply completing a task and doing it really well.
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