We spoke with Deniz Çağatay, a Mechatronics Engineer at Orent Timber Drying and Heat Treatment Systems, about her career journey and the company’s aim to expand its service area both domestically and internationally with innovative and sustainable products. As a young manager, Deniz Çağatay shared her assessments regarding the industry, emphasizing the importance of environmentally friendly practices and energy efficiency: “The Turkish woodworking machinery sector offers great opportunities for companies that are open to innovations, closely follow technology, and adopt sustainability-focused approaches. As a young manager, I believe that leveraging these opportunities and embracing innovative practices in the industry will yield positive results for both companies and the sector,” she stated.

Deniz Çağatay is 25 years old and has been working as a Mechatronics Engineer at herfamily company, Orent Timber Drying and Heat Treatment Systems, since 2022. She began her career immediately after graduating from university. In our enjoyable conversation, we discussed various topics, including the advantages and disadvantages of working in a family business, the current state of the Turkish woodworking machinery sector, her career journey, and her goals.

  • Can we get to know you a bit first? How many years have you been in professional working life?

I was born in Istanbul in 1999. I graduated from Sabancı University with a degree in Mechatronics Engineering in 2022. After graduating, I started working at our family company, which has been operating in the wood sector since 1952 and has been manufacturing wood drying and heat treatment kilns since 1982. Being a family business, I have been eavesdropping on work conversations since childhood, which gave me the opportunity to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of being a manager and a business owner. Honestly, at first, I exaggerated the disadvantages, especially the stress, and planned to gain experience by working at other companies. Over time, I gained experience through internships at various firms, and with my youthful energy, I decided to return to my family business and apply my energy to the work that my family has dedicated years to. Although I joined the company as an engineer, I also strive to develop myself in areas such as finance, marketing, and customer relations, and I try to be present everywhere. I am still very new to the working life; I have a long road ahead of me, and I am very excited about it. I believe I will take the company, which my grandfather, uncle, mother, and father have brought to this point, to even greater heights.

“The woodworking machinery sector is quite dynamic and open to development”
  • As a young manager, what is your opinion on the current state of the woodworking machinery sector? What should be done to increase export figures and diversify markets?

I believe the current state of the woodworking machinery sector is quite dynamic and open to development. The sector is in constant transformation due to the influence of technology and innovation. Investments in digitalization, automation, and sustainability are enhancing the efficiency of the sector and reducing its environmental impact. Companies in the sector are optimizing production lines by using smarter and more integrated systems, allowing them to provide faster and more flexible solutions to customer demands. Furthermore, innovations such as remote control and monitoring systems are increasing customer satisfaction and improving service quality. Despite challenges like economic fluctuations and rising costs, maintaining quality and reliability standards across the sector is critical for companies to survive. In this context, continuous education and R&D investments have become essential for firms to maintain their competitive advantage. To be competitive in global markets, evaluating international collaborations and export opportunities is also of great importance for the sector. Companies that offer environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions are seeing increased demand in international markets. As a result, the Turkish woodworking machinery sector offers significant opportunities for firms that are open to innovation, closely follow technology, and adopt sustainability-focused approaches. As a young manager, I believe that capitalizing on these opportunities and embracing innovative practices in the sector will yield positive outcomes for both companies and the industry. To increase export figures and diversify markets, innovative and sustainable approaches can be adopted within the sector. By investing in R&D and innovation, innovative and environmentally friendly products can be developed, and access to global markets can be achieved through international collaborations and partnerships. Comprehensive market research can enable strategic targeting and the provision of products tailored to the dynamics of each market. I believe it is essential to maintain high production quality, utilize digital marketing strategies, and establish a strong online presence to reach wider audiences in global markets. Enhancing the competencies of employees in the sector could also be crucial for effectively managing export processes. By benefiting from state support and incentives, financial burdens can be reduced, enabling participation in international trade fairs, seminars, and conferences, as well as networking with business people connected to overseas markets.

  • As a young manager, what management strategies do you implement to motivate your team and enhance their performance?

We ensure that everyone works in a department that suits their skills and talents. We provide opportunities for them to enhance their resumes through training and certifications. Financial support is given on special occasions and based on performance. We strive to stay in dialogue and solve any issues together.

“My father’s determination and resilience are my most important guide and source of motivation in my professional life”
  • Is there a leader from whom you draw inspiration in your professional life? What have you learned from this leader?

Certainly, there are many leaders both in our country and around the world from whom one can draw inspiration, especially Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. However, for me, the greatest source of inspiration is my father, whom I witness working tirelessly every day. He entered this field after the age of 38 while working in an entirely different sector and has always strived to do his best. His deep understanding of his work, his technical knowledge, and his mastery over wood and the drying process have taught me that I must always be open to learning. I take great pride in how he observes the business quietly at times, makes calm decisions, and overcomes challenging times with determination to bring our company to where it is today. This approach has taught me to remain calm and analytical in every situation. When I entered the business world, I realized that producing a product without compromising quality and maintaining stability in business is much more challenging than it appears. My father’s determination and resilience will always be my most important guide and source of motivation in my professional life.

“I try not to bring work home”
  • What approach do you adopt to maintain a balance between your career and personal life within a busy work schedule?

I believe that efficiently utilizing working hours is crucial for achieving a balance between career and personal life. During work hours, I try to be as active as possible, handling my tasks and making an effort not to take work home. Since I live in a small city, I don’t waste any time in traffic, allowing me to have plenty of time for myself, my family, and friends after work hours. I play tennis twice a week and, depending on the weather, I make an effort to swim and go for walks on the remaining days. To stay connected with the arts, I visit Istanbul every two to three weeks on weekends to engage in hobbies such as watching theater performances, attending concerts, and visiting exhibitions.

  • What networking advice do you have for young professionals?

I believe that establishing relationships with business people is essential to succeed in the business world. It’s important to connect not only with professionals in your own sector but also with those from other sectors. During conversations, you might come up with an idea that can be adapted to your own business or even discover a completely different business opportunity. Trade fairs, seminars, conferences, and meetings of associations like AIMSAD play a significant role in creating new business connections. Actively participating in these events, meeting people, and making yourself memorable is key. This allows you to meet experienced business leaders as well as young professionals like us who are just entering the sector. When you introduce your company, you also get the chance to familiarize yourself with other firms, products, and people in the industry. Online platforms can also be beneficial for establishing business connections. By keeping your company’s social media and website active, you can attract the interest of other firms and encourage them to follow you. Over time, this helps them recognize your company more easily at the events you attend.

5 goals in 5 years
  • What are your top five goals for the next five years related to your professional life?
  1. To make our company more active in international fairs.
  2. To increase our company’s export percentage.
  1. To ensure our company receives the value it deserves.
  2. To gain more knowledge in finance and to have a complete grasp of the company’s expenses and revenues.
  3. To increase our company’s R&D activities.
“Developing remote-controlled automation systems significantly contributes to the company’s competitive strength”
  • Can you share information about the efforts you have implemented to adapt to new technologies in both company management and production to stand out with a competitive advantage?

One of our top priorities in maintaining our competitive advantage is to uphold our quality and reliability. Despite challenging economic conditions and rising costs, we work diligently to provide the best service without compromising our quality. This approach strengthens our commitment to our customers and enhances our reputation in the industry. By choosing the highest quality materials in the sector, we produce products that meet global standards. As a result of our R&D efforts, we have developed our kilns to be remotely controlled. Over time, we have also kept pace with technological advancements by implementing software updates. The ability to control our kilns remotely provides great convenience for both us and our customers. Kilns can be monitored and controlled via mobile phones, tablets, or computer screens, allowing various parameters to be observed in real time. This feature enables us to provide remote support to our customers, particularly allowing for immediate intervention for those who are new to using our kilns. Customers can easily observe whether their products are drying properly inside the kiln or if there is any abnormal situation. After the process is completed, we can review all the details and graphs of the entire operation through the system. In today’s world, developing remote-controlled automation systems significantly enhances a company’s competitive edge. Additionally, actively utilizing social media and designing a more engaging company website also help to distinguish your firm.