Leyla Alaton, after graduation from Notre Dame de Sion French High School, completed her undergraduate studies in Fairleigh Dickinson University and her graduate education at New York University in social studies. She began her career exporting programs and spearheading sales of Turkish companies’ fashion goods in the U.S.A. In the following years, she assisted CEO of Alarko Group, in promoting, marketing and selling the ‘life style’ concept of Alkent and Alsit real estate development projects of Alarko. She founded ‘Megatrend’ public relations Consultancy Company, worked with multinationals like Aerospatiale, Alcatel, Teletas and various others. She was chosen as the ‘Business Woman of the Year’ by the National Productivity Center of Turkey in 1992 and as GLT ‘Global Leaders for Tomorrow’ in Davos World Economic Forum in 1993. Leyla Alaton is a board member of Alarko Holding. She has constantly been committed to fostering social entrepreneurship. A founding member of Kagider, the Turkish Association of Women entrepreneurs and Make a Wish-Turkey, and a former active member of the Young Presidents Association, she is an active speaker on women rights and the role of women in Modern Turkey. She actively supports contemporary art as a private collector and is an advisory board member of Contemporary Art Istanbul, Aksanat-Akbank’s Art center, and Garajistanbul a very popular contemporary visual arts venue. Leyla is a judge for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards.