Engelleri Avantaja Cevirin: Betul Mardin at TEDxAnkaraCitadel

Summary

Betûl Mardin shares her inspiring life story, from overcoming speech impediments and domestic abuse to building a successful career in public relations. At 85, she emphasizes the importance of perseverance, the significance of work in women's lives, and her contributions to establishing public relations in Turkey and internationally. She concludes with a heartfelt message for her country and profession.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Betûl Mardin is a charismatic and energetic individual who left a lasting impression on the interviewer.
• 🏡 Betûl comes from a diverse family background, with roots in Mardin, Arab, Kurdish, and Egyptian heritage.
• 👶 Born as the second daughter, Betûl faced initial hardships in life due to being born mute and the societal expectations of her family.
• 🗣️ Despite being mute until the age of five, Betûl overcame her speech impediment after a personal vow and persistent practice.
• 👵 Betûl's father was abusive, which led to her suffering physical injuries that affected her ability to use machines, including computers and phones.
• 💼 Betûl has had a dynamic career, starting from secretarial work to journalism, radio, and eventually television.
• 📺 She was part of the pioneering team that established television broadcasting in Turkey and trained with the BBC.
• 🌐 Betûl transitioned into public relations, a field she was initially unfamiliar with, but she quickly excelled and became a pioneer in Turkey.
• 🏆 She is a strong advocate for the importance of public relations in international relations and has made significant contributions to the field.
• 🌍 Betûl's work in public relations has been recognized internationally, earning her the nickname 'Mother' in the industry.
• 💪 Despite facing numerous challenges, Betûl's resilience and determination have been key to her success and the development of public relations in Turkey.

Q & A

Who is the guest speaker mentioned in the transcript?

The guest speaker mentioned in the transcript is Betûl Mardin.

What is the significance of the name 'Betûl' as mentioned by Betûl Mardin?

Betûl explains that her name means 'attribute given to the Virgin Mary' in Arabic, but in Turkish, it is pronounced as 'Betül' which means 'goat'. She humorously points out the importance of careful naming as it can be misunderstood in different languages.

What was the impact of Betûl Mardin's childhood speech impediment on her family?

Betûl Mardin was born unable to speak until the age of five, which caused her mother great sorrow and distress.

How did Betûl Mardin overcome her speech impediment?

Betûl Mardin overcame her speech impediment by making a vow at the age of ten on top of a mountain that no one would mock her anymore, and she started practicing speaking by putting stones in her mouth in front of a mirror.

What physical issues did Betûl Mardin face later in life due to childhood beatings?

Betûl Mardin faced physical issues such as not being able to drive a car due to a 'strangeness' as pointed out by a driver, which was later diagnosed as a broken center in her brain from the beatings, making her unable to play with machines like computers and learning to use a phone with difficulty.

What advice does Betûl Mardin give to parents regarding their children?

Betûl Mardin advises parents not to beat their children and instead to win their hearts with a piece of candy and talk to them.

Why did Betûl Mardin decide to work despite being 85 years old?

Betûl Mardin emphasizes that working keeps her standing and her brain working better.

What significant economic hardship did Betûl Mardin face in her life?

Betûl Mardin faced significant economic hardship when her large properties in Egypt were taken away from her overnight.

How did Betûl Mardin's career evolve from working in a newspaper to public relations?

Betûl Mardin's career evolved from working in a newspaper as a translator to being a secretary and then discovering her role in public relations after learning about the profession from a library at the American Embassy.

What was the biggest offer Betûl Mardin received in her public relations career?

The biggest offer Betûl Mardin received was from Ibrahim Doğukan Bey, who asked her to bring him the names and phone numbers of 5,000 people eating in Tarabya Village every day so they could be invited to his establishments.

How did Betûl Mardin's approach to international public relations help elevate Turkey's standing?

Betûl Mardin realized the importance of international public relations for Turkey after inviting the president of a similar association from England and organizing an international seminar on the importance of public relations in neighborly relations between countries.

What was the outcome of Betûl Mardin's efforts in international public relations?

Betûl Mardin's efforts led to her being recognized as 'Mother' in international seminars, becoming the chair of international events, and helping Istanbul and Ankara understand the importance of public relations.