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Ussal Sahbaz
Advising top innovators on government and corporate affairs
Ussal Sahbaz is the Managing Partner of Ussal Consultancy, a government affairs firm specializing in business diplomacy for technology companies operating in the Turkish market.13 He has a diverse career spanning government, business, and research sectors.1
Professional Background
Ussal founded Ussal Consultancy in August 2018, providing government affairs services to technology businesses in Turkey.1 The firm offers high-level access, political and economic intelligence, and business model analysis for clients such as Apple, Netflix, Coinbase, and others.1
Prior to founding his consultancy, Ussal held several notable positions:
- Innovation Leader for GE in Turkey (2016-2018)1
- Director of G20 Studies Center at TEPAV (2014-2016)1
- Program Manager at TEPAV (2011-2014)1
- Expert at the President's Office, Republic of Turkey (2010-2011)1
- Consultant at IFC - International Finance Corporation (2009-2010)1
Education and Expertise
Ussal holds multiple degrees:
- Master of Public Administration in Development Economics and International Development from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government1
- MA in Economics from Bilkent University1
- BS in Economics from Middle East Technical University1
He is known for his expertise in technology policy, government affairs, and innovation ecosystems.3
Media and Thought Leadership
Ussal is active in media and thought leadership:
- Writes weekly columns for Ekonomi, Turkey's business daily newspaper1
- Publishes an influential weekly e-mail bulletin and hosts a podcast on tech, society, and policy1
- His work has been featured in publications such as Techcrunch, Foreign Affairs, and Forbes (USA)1
As of February 2025, Ussal Consultancy reported a 33% revenue growth for the year 2024, with a focus on long-term client relationships.2
Highlights
Geçen hafta sonu Münih Güvenlik Konferansı’ndaydım. Malum, Münih artık yeni Davos oldu.
Bu senenin sloganı: Egemenlik
Egemenlik derken politik ve askeri egemenlikten değil, egemenliğin iktisadi alana sirayet etmesinden bahsediyorum: Teknoloji egemenliği, enerji egemenliği…
Münih lisanıyla konuşursak “teknoloji güvenliği”, “enerji güvenliği”… Bu başlıklar artık ekonomi sayfalarından çıkıp güvenlik dosyalarının içine taşındı.
Bir konuyu “ulusal güvenlik” dosyasına koyduğunuz anda tartışma değişiyor. Çünkü o andan itibaren masadaki biri “Sizin bilmediğiniz şeyler var!” diyerek konuyu kapatabiliyor.
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