Sibel Boner has been Acting Regional Director EMEA & CIS BBC Global News since 2019. With this she supports the subsidiary of the BBC in Germany, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe. How did she end up in this career field and what are her thoughts on equality? We asked around.
With 2.5 million unique browsers on the international news website per month and 40 million households only in Germany that receive the broadcaster BBC World News, the enormous relevance of the market became evident. At this point, Sibel Boner brings her 20 years of experience in sales & marketing, which companies such as Gruner + Jahr Ltd (part of Bertelsmann) & International Media Sales had previously benefited from.
Which steps in your career were decisive for your current position? To be courageous and gain experience. Experience abroad and internships are an absolute must for me. At least for everyone who wants to advance professionally. But also to remain relaxed and flexible, because things won’t always go straight ahead. Neither in professional nor in private life. For me, networks were also crucial. You helped me to set goals and to pursue them. Those who then have a mentor can consider themselves lucky.
What skills do you need most in your current job? I would say flexibility, empathy, specialist knowledge and self-confidence. In fact, these skills help me the most in dealing with daily challenges.
To what extent do you promote equality in your professional environment? I am a fan of diversity management, as inclusion for me means that everyone naturally belongs to it.
I am convinced that with equality we increase team spirit, increase motivation and improve creativity. Thus, the productivity is increased and the profit increases.
A broader range of skills also offers many advantages, including less employee turnover and a positive corporate image. So yes, I am a fan of equality in the professional environment and will therefore always support it.
The BBC media group is also shifting not only to messaging, but also to promoting equality. On the basis of their initiative „50:50 The Equality Project“ , founded in 2016, they try to develop the diversity within their own company that can be seen in the world. More about the initiative here .
(c) BBC Global News