The meaning of the phrase “ezber bozmak” in the dictionary is ‘to make people think by behaving differently from the norm’.
I realized that some of my friends whom I met on the journey of life have inspired me by making unconventional choices that break the mold.
I always asked them questions like, “Let’s shake things up a bit and find ways to overcome obstacles more easily.” The answers were as interesting as the individuals themselves, if you ask me… 🙂 My guest this week is Defne Tokay, who entered the chocolate world with her brand @defnetokaychocolate after a career in Human Resources. 🍫🙌
How did you decide to enter the chocolate world?
Seden, in the midst of the pandemic, I ended up in the world of chocolate in my search to find what I wanted to do. When faced with the question of what I wanted to do in this life and not being able to find a heartfelt answer, with the support and guidance of Can, I found myself in front of a mirror with a marker in my hand, writing not about what I wanted to do, but about how I wanted to feel while doing the work I wanted to do. I think the key point here is that if you don’t know or can’t hear what you want to do, instead of constantly asking yourself this question and locking yourself up completely, focus on how you want to feel. Everything flowed from there like unraveling a sock. 🙂
Which experience from the HR world supported you in difficult times?
I don’t know anything other than difficult times, to be honest. 🙂 Starting a business in the midst of a pandemic, introducing yourself, building a team, doing tastings—all of these are challenging on their own. None of it has been easy, and it still isn’t.
My biggest realization in the HR field came when I realized how different HR is in the entrepreneurial world compared to a corporate and established institution. Moving away from a structure where job descriptions, responsibilities, salary scales, and performance criteria are clearly defined, I found myself in an entrepreneurial process where I knew what my dream was, but had countless questions, uncertainties, and financial responsibilities. I made many wrong decisions and stumbled along the way. Being able to interpret and adapt experience, being open to learning from scratch when necessary, requires flexibility. HR means dealing with people, and being a human requires being flexible, being a learner, and adapting. I’m trying to do that as well.
What advice do you have for those who switch fields and become entrepreneurs?
As entrepreneurs, we often get caught up in constraints: limited funds, limited time, and we make decisions accordingly. Some limitations trigger creativity, while others make the situation seemingly insurmountable. When you find yourself trapped, it’s valuable to have someone who can pull you out of it. Also, being as clear as possible is important. Where you want to take your venture, what kind of picture you see at the end of the road. If that is clear, or becomes clear, the path unfolds naturally.