Harvard Student Agencies Business Summer School
Program Outcomes
This program teaches high school students the foundations of business; it also guides them to think and act like genuine entrepreneurs.
This summer school, combined with Harvard’s worldwide prestige, equips students with both knowledge and skills that can be applied in real-life settings. Participants gain not just an academic course, but an experience that can become a defining milestone in their lives.
A holistic learning experience where entrepreneurship, finance, and strategy come together.
Our Educational Leaders
Emmalee Manigat
Harvard University
Undergraduate Student
Economics and Music Business
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Emmalee Manigat is a third-year undergraduate student at Harvard University, majoring in Music and pursuing a secondary field in Economics.
She is also a dual-degree program student pursuing a master’s degree in Music Business at Berklee College of Music. A proud member of the Harvard LowKeys, Manigat previously served as a Business Manager and currently works as an Undergraduate Pedagogy Assistant at the Derek Bok Center.
Esteban Medina
Harvard University
Undergraduate Student
Finance
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Esteban is a third-year undergraduate student at Harvard University, studying Statistics with a particular focus on quantitative finance.
On campus, he is actively involved in the Economics Review, the College Consulting Group, and the Alternative Investments Club.
Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin
Istanbul Topkapi University
Economist / Academic
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Prof. Dr. Emre Alkin, who has academic work in the fields of business administration and finance, focuses on strategy, management, and financial analysis.
Prof. Dr. Can Bilgili
Media and Communication
Scholar
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Prof. Dr. Can Bilgili was born in İzmir in 1968. After completing his Ph.D. in the Department of Journalism at the Institute of Social Sciences of Istanbul University, he served as a faculty member at the communication faculties of Istanbul, Galatasaray, Yeditepe, Istanbul Commerce, and Hasan Kalyoncu universities, where he also held various administrative positions. Bilgili has provided consultancy to many public and private sector institutions in the field of media. He has taught courses and produced publications in areas such as the media industry and economics, cultural industries, global communication, new media, the new economy and competitive strategies, marketing communication, entrepreneurship, brand management, media literacy, and social media. He is the founder of the World Experience Campus / Dünya Deneyim Okulu, an initiative dedicated to promoting the dissemination of experiential knowledge.
Tal Garih
Strategic Planning Director
Business Professional / Strategy and Management Expert
Alarko Holding
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Tal Garih is a business professional working in the fields of corporate strategy and management. As Strategic Planning Director at Alarko Holding, he plays a role in defining the long-term strategic goals of the group companies, conducting corporate performance analyses, and developing sustainable growth plans. He has experience in strategic decision-making processes, organizational structuring, and business development. His work focuses on aligning corporate vision with operational objectives and strengthening competitive positioning.
Prof. Dr. Bülent Güloğlu
Istanbul Technical University (ITU)
Economist / Academic
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Prof. Dr. Bülent Güloğlu specializes in econometrics and quantitative analysis and conducts academic research on data-driven economic analysis and financial modeling.
Okan Karadağ
Head of IT Planning and Governance
Halkbank
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Okan Karadağ is an executive working in the field of information technology management in the banking sector. As the Head of IT Planning and Governance at Halkbank, he is responsible for the development of the institution’s IT strategy, the planning of technology investments, and the management of governance processes. He conducts work in areas such as the sustainability of corporate IT infrastructure, regulatory compliance, risk management, and the planning of digital transformation processes. He has experience in strategic technology management and organizational IT structuring.
Yavuz Ölken
CEO
AXA Insurance
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Mr. Yavuz Ölken, born in İzmir in 1966, graduated from the Civil Engineering Department of Istanbul Technical University in 1989. He began his career in 1991 as a Risk Engineer at Halk Sigorta (Yapı Kredi Sigorta). He later held positions as Technical Department Manager and Technical Department Group Manager at Inter Sigorta and Aviva Sigorta. In 2002, Mr. Ölken joined AXA Sigorta as Deputy CEO responsible for Corporate and Commercial Technical operations. Over time, he also took responsibility for IT & Operational Excellence, Commercial and Corporate Risks Sales, Reinsurance, Risk Engineering, Individual Technical, and Health departments. As of April 1, 2018, Yavuz Ölken was appointed CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of AXA Sigorta. He also serves as Chair of the TÜSİAD Insurance and Private Pension Working Group and the France Working Group, as a member of the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB) Non-Life Executive Committee, and as a Board Member of the Special Risks Management Center. Effective February 1, 2025, in addition to his roles and responsibilities at AXA Türkiye, he has been appointed Data and Artificial Intelligence Leader for AXA International Markets (IMa).
Program Schedule
| DAY | TIME | PROGRAM DETAILS | EVENING PROGRAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAY 1 |
09:00 - 12:30 | Welcome (Arrival at Campus + Check-in) |
Networking Activities |
| 13:30 - 17:00 | Opening Day Orientation |
||
| DAY 2 |
09:00 - 12:30 |
Full-Day Historical Peninsula Tour
|
Bosphorus Cruise Welcome Party |
| 13:30 - 17:00 |
Full-Day Historical Peninsula Tour
|
||
| DAY 3 |
09:00 - 12:30 | Classes | Zorlu Center Visit |
| 13:30 - 17:00 | Workshop | ||
| DAY 4 |
09:00 - 12:30 | Classes | Talk with Industry Leaders |
| 13:30 - 17:00 | Workshop | ||
| DAY 5 |
09:00 - 12:30 | Classes | Film Workshop |
| 13:30 - 17:00 | Industry Visit | ||
| DAY 6 |
09:00 - 12:30 | Classes | Istinye Park Mall Visit |
| 13:30 - 17:00 | Panel (Guest Speakers) | ||
| DAY 7 |
09:00 - 12:30 | Classes | Music Night |
| 13:30 - 17:00 | Harvard University Admission Requirements Seminar |
||
| DAY 8 |
09:00 - 12:30 | Summit Event Certificate Ceremony |
|
| 13:30 - 17:00 | Departure from Campus |
Services Included in the Program
- 40 hours of instruction from Harvard students
- Training Materials
- Workshops
- Industry Visits
- Activities and Excursions
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Accommodation in triple dormitory rooms
- Health Insurance
- Program Participation Certificate (Harvard Student Agencies)
Services Not Included in the Program
- Transportation
- Personal Expenses
