Vuslat Doğan Sabancı is a business leader, a philanthropist and a leading voice on human rights, gender equality and freedom of expression both in Turkey and globally. In her 22 years at Hürriyet Publishing, the leading newspaper in Turkey, Ms. Doğan Sabancı served as the CEO between 2004-2008 and as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the following ten years. She left her position in May 2018 when the Doğan family divested from all of their major media assets. Under Ms. Doğan Sabancı’s leadership, Hürriyet not only succeeded to be the largest and most influential newspaper in Turkey, but also became the country’s largest digital content company, reaching one of every two internet user in Turkey.

While leading this digital transformation, she also spearheaded an editorial policy for promoting gender equality and minority rights and played a major role in the improvement of such rights in the public perception as well as in the legal system. The "No! To Domestic Violence" initiative, which she established in 2004 to advance the social empowerment of women, was the first example of her efforts to use media in order to create major positive social change. Through this initiative, which now continues under the umbrella of the Aydın Doğan Foundation, a major taboo was broken in Turkey through widespread educational programs geared at the general public, including everyone from imams to policemen. Launched as part of the initiative, Turkey's first ever 24/7 domestic violence hotline remains in operation today, and is also accessible to Turkish speaking communities around the world.

In 2020, Ms. Doğan Sabancı established Vuslat Foundation (https://www.vuslatfoundation.org/en), Turkey’s first and only global philanthropic initiative. The foundation aims to put the skill of generous listening— hearing beyond words— to oneself, others and nature at the center of all our connections by 2030. In line with this mission, the foundation supports academic research regarding listening, creates awareness through work with artists and storytellers and develops generous listening practices for youth and civil society. The foundation was invited as a special project partner to the 17th Architecture Biennale which took place between May - November 2021, and presented a monumental installation 'The Listener' by globally acclaimed artist Giuseppe Penone. The artwork intended to draw attention to listening as a significant thread within the exhibition's theme, 'How Will We Live Together?'

With the collaboration of Vuslat Foundation, a Generous Listening and Dialogue (GLAD) Center was launched at Tufts University. Housed at the Tisch College of Civic Life, the GLAD Center will collaborate with schools and departments across the entire university, building on the expertise of Tufts’ faculty, research centers and civic engagement programs. Its programming and interdisciplinary initiatives will help students, staff and faculty develop skills and awareness, address hard issues, and generate new knowledge. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a ‘Vuslat Foundation Fellowship for Generous Listening’ was launched at The Transmedia Storytelling Initiative in the School of Architecture and Planning. 

Vuslat Doğan Sabancı holds a BA degree in Economics from Bilkent University and completed her graduate studies in International Relations and Media at Columbia University, in New York. Currently, she is a Member of the Board of Directors of Doğan Group, Hepsi Emlak and Hepsiburada. She is the Vice President of Aydın Doğan Foundation which promotes girls education and women empowerment in Turkey. She serves as a member of the Columbia Global Centers Advisory Board and the Columbia University Global Leadership Council. She is a member of the Board of Leaders at the Leaders for Peace. She is a Founding Board Member of Endeavor Turkey, an NGO cultivating high-impact entrepreneurship, a founding member of Turkish Businesswomen Association (TIKAD) and an active member of the Ashoka Support Network in Turkey. She is also a Board Member of Global Relations Forum (GIF/GRF), and a member of the Global Philanthropy Circle Members of Synergos.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.