Aiming for the Stars, Özge Çırıka Landed in the Skies

As a child, every time Özge Çırıka looked up at the sky she had the same dream: to be an astronaut. With time, she realized her natural interests leaned more toward social sciences than physics, yet she never lost her sense of wonder for exploration of the skies. 

When she was 16, Çırıka traveled from Türkiye to The Hague to participate in a model United Nations program, where students from dozens of countries took on roles as diplomats representing different UN member countries. She quickly realized that diplomacy and international relations were her passion. After earning a business degree at Hacettepe University, in Ankara, and putting that degree to work at a major Turkish bank, she learned about a job opportunity at the United States embassy in Türkiye. “I got very lucky,” she says. “It was the perfect definition of a multinational work environment and a good match for my skill set, knowledge base, experience, and interests.”

A New Chapter at GE Aerospace

After 16 years at the U.S. embassy, where she worked in the Commercial section focused on defense and aerospace, she moved to GE and then GE Aerospace to take on a position as government engagement director for Türkiye and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, just as the company was launching as an independent entity. In this role, she supports the different GE Aerospace verticals, including Commercial Engines, Defense and Systems, and Software, by providing timely market information, giving them “the lay of the land, and helping them establish contacts with key stakeholders and customers.”

Because of the overlap with her former role, she is in familiar territory. “But on a higher level,” she says. “I have more autonomy and decision-making authority, which allows me to grow further professionally.” Çırıka also enjoys the variety of work she handles. “No day is the same as the previous one. I have to think strategically, see the big picture, understand where the opportunities are, and develop a game plan accordingly for the company.” She also appreciates the challenge of being the first government engagement director for GE Aerospace in Türkiye and CIS. “Being able to create something from scratch, to be able to establish new procedures and systems, it’s really exciting and motivating,” she says.

Beyond her work at GE Aerospace, Çırıka serves on the board of directors of AmCham Türkiye, a business association made up of American companies in Türkiye, where she has the chance to meet new people from different organizations and to represent the company at some of the highest levels of government and business, with both Turkish and foreign entities. 

Leading with Compassion and Vision

Reflecting on the leadership lessons she has learned, Çırıka identifies good leaders as those who are fair, rational, objective, and open-minded. They know themselves — both their capabilities and their shortcomings — and know how to stay authentic and consistent. “A good leader should garner credibility,” she says. “Your team should have faith in you. You should exhibit humility and should not be scared to empower your subordinates. Rather, bring out the best in people. Develop their skills and talents. Create a positive and motivational workplace.”

And, she adds, a good leader should have “a bias for action.”

As a leader herself now, Çırıka looks back to lessons she’s learned from others, including to “never ignore the human element.” By that she means never forget, no matter how automated a business might become or how well established its operating structures, that human beings can make mistakes and bad decisions, as well as come up with creative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking. As a leader, “you must consider both,” she says. “That’s why positive psychology, which helps you bring out the best in people, is better than putting them under pressure or unnecessary workloads.”

What’s more, “leaders are human beings too,” she says, so they also must be humble enough to look for support and mentorship, to help them be emotionally resilient in tough times. “Leaders with a higher emotional intelligence, a calm nature, and a flexible mindset are the most successful,” she says, because they know how to keep their calm and be there for their team. 

Empowering the Next Generation

Beyond her roles in government affairs and at AmCham Türkiye, Çırıka is also co-leader of the GE Aerospace Women’s Network for the Middle East, Türkiye, and CIS region. Through workshops and mentorship programs, the network encourages students, especially young women, to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and find alignment between their personal strengths and professional aspirations.

“I was once a young student trying to figure out my future, seeking guidance, mentoring, and support from others about my career,” Çırıka says. “These events provide exactly this kind of opportunity to students who are trying to understand what is the best fit for their skill sets and affinities and how they can make a difference for themselves and their country.

“This inspires me,” she adds. “Working to motivate young talent and give them an opportunity to understand what career or studies are best for their skill sets and for what inspires them.”

Özge Çırıka’s journey is far from over, but it already offers a powerful takeaway: When passion meets purpose, the possibilities are endless.