Furkan Karayel

Furkan Karayel is a pioneer of diversity and inclusion, who has become renowned for her passions in leveraging women-in-tech leadership, empowering female leaders and achieving female equality in STEM. With a decorated history as a former software engineer, Furkan knows first-hand the inequalities that continue to face women in the technology industry – having formerly worked with companies such as Microsoft, Ericsson and HubSpot. Now hired as an authoritative DEI speaker for corporate events, Furkan is revered for the practical steps that she provides to her clients that help them to achieve diversity, inclusion and equality in the workplace.

Qualified with a BE in Computer Engineering from Bahcesehir University and an MSc in Software Engineering from Athlone Institute of Technology, Furkan began her illustrious career working as a System Test Engineer for Ericsson. Developing knowledge that encompassed all aspects of testing software, Furkan later went on to become the Founder and CEO of Giftoven and Dublin Tercume. In 2013, Furkan became a Senior Software Engineer for Openet, once again testing her avid knowledge of computing, engineering and technology. After working for five years with Openet, Furkan decided to leave the world of software engineering behind, becoming the Founder of Diversein.com – an authoritative inclusive leadership consultancy with whom she helps to pioneer DEI in the workplace and shares her experiences as a woman in the technology industry.

Now specialising as a multi-award-winning diversity and inclusion speaker and consultant, Furkan is highly acclaimed for her expertise on how to achieve diversity, inclusion and equality in workplaces of all shapes, sizes and industries. To spread her detailed expertise of DEI, Furkan authored Inclusive Intelligence: How to be a Role Model for Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace – a bestselling book that encourages leaders to use inclusive intelligence and implement it into their everyday tasks. Alongside her role as a DEI consultant, Furkan is also working as a Lecturer of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Master’s Program at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, as a Contributor to Thrive Global, a Contributing Writer to the Irish Independent, an Associate of the Irish Management Institute, and a Board Member for Women For Election.

As an expert on inclusive leadership, Furkan is hired by the world’s leading organisations to help them become industry leaders in diversity and inclusion. Having formerly worked with clients such as Microsoft, Verizon Media, Indeed.com and Pfizer, Furkan is renowned for inspiring corporate clients with the power of diversity and inclusion in the workplace – backed by her personal stories that prove the true importance of DEI. Making recommendations for an inclusive workplace, Furkan is also known to speak on building a leadership profile as a woman in tech, building engaging teams, the power of belonging, female entrepreneurship and how to engage a diverse team. Developing the Inclusive Intelligence concept, Furkan Karayel is an authoritative speaker whose expertise on diversity, equality, inclusion and female empowerment in tech should not be missed.