Episode #7: Building the right team – Zehra Cataltepe

Feb 15, 2021 . Zehra Cataltepe . 30 min

Summary

Zehra Cataltepe is the CEO and co-founder of Tazi AI Systems which provides SaaS automated Machine Learning solutions for insurance, finance, retail, and telecoms industries.

Zehra holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, has 18 patents, and over 100 publications on the theory of machine learning and its applications in finance, health, energy, and transportation. Zehra has been recognized 3 times as the ‘Woman Entrepreneur of the year” and was listed as the top 10 women in AI in 2020.

Finding the right fit

Other than looking into the necessary qualifications and experience required for the job, we give them small assignments. This not only helps us understand their caliber but we look if they ask questions about it if they can provide us with different perspectives and go beyond the obvious. Experience and knowledge come with time and exposure but the quality traits of an individual are very crucial aspects that one has to look into while hiring.

Making your employees feel like a part of the family is yet another important thing to keep in mind. It makes a huge difference showing your employees that you care about them.

Being a good leader and CEO

Loving what you created with your teammates and appreciating their work is an important part of being a good leader and CEO. Being a leader does not mean that you cannot ask for help. At times, what you consider a problem would not necessarily be one and your team would be able to address the problem from a completely different perspective than you ever thought of. It’s completely okay to ask for help. Trust your team to deliver and take responsibility. Learn something new, challenge yourself every day. There might be instances when you may be asking the impossible from your team, but remember that it is okay if they can’t succeed. Even if you can’t achieve 100% perfection, the current state would be so much better than the previous state. It is continuous improvement that has to be focussed upon and not being successful every single time. You will fail and you will not be able to have 100% perfection, but that’s okay, it’s these challenges that build and push you to deliver much better results.

Humbleness is yet another important quality a leader should possess. It keeps you grounded at your roots, and at the same time, extend and spread out your branches.

Of course, you can do it!

Zehra says “Tell your children ‘You can do it! Of course, you can do it! And even if you can’t; it’s all about the journey.’ What counts is the relationships that you form, the skill sets that you build which would prepare you for the next thing in life.”

Most of the fairytales that we have read since our childhood depict women as passive individuals waiting for someone to come and rescue them. These stories should be re-written. Do not wait for someone to rescue but take action and react.
“The future generation should be taught not to be paralyzed by fear of failing. They should always think of what they can do and not what the world can do for them so that they do whatever that needs to be done.” Encourage others to do things, it’s okay to fail. Nevertheless, try.