Our Team
DUYGU GÜN
From cultural connector to creative producer and curator, Duygu bridges tradition and technology to reimagine cultural expression, turning ideas into action through strategic partnerships. She leads our corporate and creative partnerships in North America.
Duygu is a creative producer, musician, artist, filmmaker, and curator dedicated to preserving folk culture and fostering intercultural connections through the universal language of the arts. She has led corporate partnerships at SFJAZZ, San Francisco Opera, and Gray Area, bridging the arts and technology to create innovative cultural experiences.
In 2019, she curated Sounds Like Home: Longing and Comfort Through Lullabies, an exhibition exploring the emotional power of lullabies across cultures. In 2022, she co-founded the Anatolian Arts Institute, introducing Anatolian arts and culture through participatory workshops. She served as a Media Grant Panelist for the San Francisco Arts Commission in 2021 and received a 2023 grant for her documentary Balkancisco, which highlights the vibrant Balkan music scene in the Bay Area.
As a performer, Duygu leads Duygu & Friends, a band reimagining Mediterranean folk traditions. In 2022, she was honored with Turkey's 10 Outstanding Young Persons' Cultural Achievement Award for her contributions to the arts and cultural preservation.
ÇİĞDEM ÖZTABAK
From strategic marketer to influential storyteller, Çiğdem bridges technology and communication with clarity and impact. Cigdem leads our brand, media relations, and communication.
Çiğdem (Chee-dem) is a marketing communications strategist, writer, and moderator with a focus on technology companies. She holds an MBA with a specialization in the priming marketing model and completed the Modern Journalism program at NYU, combining strategic marketing expertise with strong editorial skills.
She develops compelling content at the intersection of business and emerging technologies, translating complex trends into clear, impactful insights. Beyond her professional work, she actively mentors young women in STEM, helping them strengthen their communication skills and professional presence.
Çiğdem is the author of the IGI Global scientific publication AI-Generated Folklore for Culturally Resonant Storytelling in the Digital Age, the creator of the children’s STEM podcast Curiosity Minds, former Popular Science podcaster and producer, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She is frequently invited to moderate panels and speak at conferences on AI, media, and cultural innovation, covering stories for CNN Turk.
BENGÜ GÜN
From aspiring artist to influential curator, Bengu shapes the creative industry with empathy and innovation. Bengu leads our artist and creative industry leadership in EMEA.
Bengü is an arts professional specialising in organisational strategy within the creative industries, with over fifteen years of experience in managerial roles across leading arts institutions in Türkiye. In addition to her leadership experience, she has curated numerous international exhibitions and has provided strategic and content consultancy for major cultural institutions and projects in the UK, USA, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at esea contemporary.
Prior to her current role, Bengü was the co-founder and director of Mixer Art Gallery -www.mixerarts.com- in Istanbul, where she played a key role in shaping the gallery’s overall management and strategic direction, leading numerous successful projects and collaborations. During her time at Mixer, she initiated and oversaw major programmes such as ArtWriting Turkey, the Printed and Lens Exhibition series, and the Senkron Video Art Festival, supporting emerging talents, skill development and expanding audience engagement with contemporary art.
She also served as Membership Manager at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art and later directed the Gate 27 artist residency programme, where she facilitated international artist exchanges and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Bengü holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Boğaziçi University and an M.A. in Cultural Heritage Management from Koç University. She frequently lectures on gallery management, mentors emerging artists, serves as a jury member for prestigious arts programmes, and occasionally works as an independent curator.