February 2016
Teaching Note
HBS Case Collection

Akın Öngör's Journey

By: Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Ai-Ling Jamila Malone

Format:Print
| Language:English
| Pages:10

Abstract

The case of Akın Öngör's Journey describes a highly successful former CEO with stellar leadership skills, who transformed a bank in Turkey into one of the world's best, steered it to contribute to his country's social agenda, influenced business practices of other companies, and became one of Turkey's most admired people. As part of his post-career activities, he has introduced new crops to a rural area where he also established a girls' industrial school (at his wife's urging). But Öngör has struggled with realizing a bigger dream: forming an international leadership institute for the Eastern Mediterranean that would help bring peace and prosperity to a conflict-ridden region. The institute idea seems a simple way to contribute to peace via educational workshops and relationship-building for a new generation of emerging leaders from many countries. But despite Öngör's impressive "social capital" (reputation and significant connections), he hits roadblocks and setbacks in the middle of the planning, for institutional as well as individual reasons. This case may be used for courses on leadership, social enterprise, and change management.