FILE / STRATEGIC GROWTH STATUS / ACTIVE SINCE 2012

Işıl
Özden

Strategic Growth Executive
Cybersecurity Aerospace Defense

14+ years scaling technology-driven organizations across IT, defense, aerospace, energy, logistics, industrial, and public sectors — aligning corporate strategy, international partnerships, and cybersecurity governance with operational execution.

140 international partnerships tracked
01 / Briefing

Professional Summary

Strategic growth executive with 14+ years of leadership experience scaling technology-driven organizations across IT, defense, aerospace, energy, logistics, industrial, and public sectors. Expertise spans corporate strategy, sales management, international partnerships, cybersecurity governance and risk management, business development, and mission-critical defense programs. Proven track record of working with senior stakeholders, OEMs, and international partners to align innovation with operational excellence and sustainable value creation. Experienced in leading global operations, cross-regional teams, and strategic partnerships, with a focus on helping organizations navigate complexity, accelerate transformation, and achieve long-term competitive advantage.

02 / Service Record

Professional Experience

FEB 2024 — MAR 2026 · ISTANBUL, TR

Vice President (VP)

Pavelsis Avionics
  • Led strategic growth, sales, international partnerships, and business development in the defense and aerospace sectors.
  • Managed global relations, partnership development, sales, finance, marketing, and business development activities.
  • Expanded market penetration, investment opportunities, and sustainable value creation through manufacturing and R&D programs.
JUL 2022 — FEB 2024 · ISTANBUL, TR

Business Development Director

Pavelsis Avionics
  • Led business development initiatives across the defense and aerospace sectors, driving strategic partnerships, global relations, sales growth, and market expansion.
  • Managed partnerships supporting manufacturing and R&D investments, marketing activities, customer acquisition, and incentive programs.
  • Strengthened collaboration with industry stakeholders and international partners.
JAN 2017 — MAY 2022 · ISTANBUL, TR

Deputy Director & Secretary General

ISSA Türkiye Chapter — Nonprofit
  • A professional association focused on information systems security.
  • Led strategic initiatives, governance activities, international partnerships, and community engagement to raise cybersecurity awareness across global networks, support professional development, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration.
DEC 2019 — MAR 2022 · ISTANBUL, TR

Project Consultant

DEİK – Foreign Economic Relations Board — Nonprofit
  • Advised on international business development and economic relations projects led by DEİK. Played an active role in project planning, coordination, and implementation, contributing to international collaboration, strategic partnerships, and stronger stakeholder relationships.
  • Supported cooperation between public- and private-sector representatives and international organizations.
JAN 2021 — MAY 2022 · ISTANBUL, TR

CEO & Partner

UITSEC Security Technologies Group
  • Defined and implemented the company’s vision, growth strategy, and business objectives.
  • Led operations, finance, corporate communications, sales, and business development initiatives.
  • Drove market expansion, strategic partnerships, operational performance, and long-term value creation.
DEC 2018 — JAN 2021 · ISTANBUL, TR

Board Member & Deputy CEO

UITSEC Security Technologies Group
  • Provided executive leadership across operations, business strategy, finance, corporate communications, sales, and business development.
  • Set strategic direction, improved operational efficiency, and strengthened corporate governance.
  • Identified new growth and partnership opportunities.
DEC 2018 — DEC 2020 · ANKARA, TR

Vice President (VP) | Concurrent Role

InterProbe Information Technologies
  • Led strategic initiatives in cybersecurity, intelligence and analytics, compliance management, global relations, business development, and sales.
  • Managed security strategy, risk management, threat intelligence, and compliance programs, supporting international partnerships and business growth.
  • Collaborated with senior management, public institutions and global stakeholders to strengthen organizational resilience and support digital transformation.
  • Lead corporate activities within the media for marketing.
OCT 2017 — DEC 2018 · ISTANBUL, TR

Director of Compliance Management

UITSEC Security Technologies Group
  • Led compliance management, information security, cybersecurity, business continuity, and risk management initiatives to ensure regulatory compliance and organizational resilience.
  • Oversaw GRC programs, GDPR and KVKK compliance, and security governance frameworks.
  • Collaborated with senior management and international stakeholders to strengthen the organization’s risk posture and operational excellence.
NOV 2015 — OCT 2017 · ISTANBUL, TR

Executive Assistant to the CEO

UITSEC Security Technologies Group
  • Provided strategic support to the Chairman and CEO across cybersecurity, information security, R&D, GRC, project management, business development, marketing, and global relations.
  • Contributed to strategic planning, business model development, and stakeholder management.
  • Coordinated cross-functional projects supporting executive decision-making.
JUN 2013 — NOV 2015 · ISTANBUL, TR

Project Manager

UITSEC Security Technologies Group
  • Managed end-to-end cybersecurity, information security, and R&D projects, delivering successful outcomes within scope, schedule, and budget.
  • Coordinated cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and technical specialists to design, implement, and optimize security-focused solutions.
  • Lead corporate relations for projects.
JUN 2012 — NOV 2012 · MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

Vulnerability Research Intern

NCC Group
  • Completed a training program in vulnerability research and ethical hacking.
JUN 2010 — SEP 2010 · ISTANBUL, TR

Engineering Intern

Turkish Airlines
  • Supported information systems software development and content management processes.
JAN 2009 — DEC 2009 · ISTANBUL, TR

Deputy Student Branch Chair

IEEE – Kadir Has University Student Branch
  • Provided organizational support for event management, public relations, global relations, student relations, and social media activities.
03 / Results
Key Achievements
+40%
Annual growth in strategic business unit
−25%
Compliance audit time via ISO 27001
£2M
Funding secured for cybersecurity project
140
International partnerships developed
+70%
Growth in international client base
04 / Systems

Core Skills

Information Security Cybersecurity Business Strategy Management Business Development Stakeholder Management Strategic Growth International Business Management Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Program Management Channel Management Organizational Management Corporate Communications Sales and Marketing Finance and Operations Management Business Planning M&A Budget Planning

Technical Skills

C/C++ ChatGPT Claude Cloudflare GitHub Google Gemini IFS JavaScript Jira Kali Linux Metasploit MITRE ATT&CK Microsoft Office Programs NIST Cybersecurity Framework Nmap OWASP Framework Power BI Python Snort SQL Wireshark
05 / Projects

Selected Projects

2020 — 2026

Defense Industry Projects

Business development and sales

Business development and sales with domestic and international clients; delivered successful project outcomes.

JAN 2017 — DEC 2019

ITEA 3 Cybersecurity Project

Project Support

Coordinated with EU partners.

SEP 2017 — APR 2018

BOTAŞ, EÜAŞ, TEİAŞ, TETAŞ — ISO 27001 Implementation (Ministry of Energy)

Project Director, Coordinator & SPOC

Coordinated with public institutions.

JAN 2016 — SEP 2017

Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology R&D Center Project

R&D Center Lead

Held responsibility for R&D projects with public institutions.

JAN 2016 — APR 2017

UK R&D Project — GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance)

Project Manager

Managed EU project partners.

JAN — APR 2017

EU Project — Risk-Based Screening at Border Crossings

Project Support

Contributed to the EU project and coordinated partners.

APR — DEC 2016

EU Project — Addressing Advanced Cybersecurity Threats and Threat Actors

Project Support & Communications

Prepared project proposals and liaised with EU partners.

APR 2014 — APR 2015

Doğa College ISO 27001 Implementation Project

Project Management & Consulting

Delivered ISMS implementation and consulting services.

JAN 2013 — MAY 2014

TÜBİTAK 1507 R&D Project — Cybersecurity

Project Manager

Managed the project’s technical and financial outcomes.

APR 2013 — FEB 2014

Energy Sector ISO 22301 Implementation Project

Project Management & Consulting

Delivered business continuity management and consulting services.

06 / Credentials

Education & Certifications

Education

MBA
SAHA Academy — TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE, 2022
MSc in Cybersecurity Engineering (100% English)
Sabancı University, 2019
BSc in Computer Engineering (100% English)
Kadir Has University, 2013
Business Strategy and Planning, Summer School in England
Wimbledon College London, 2012
High School
Istek Bilge Kağan Science High School, 2007

Certifications & Courses

Budget Preparation Training
Sistem Global Consulting Inc.
Building Productivity with Artificial Intelligence
Sabancı University
Company Valuation
Sistem Global Consulting Inc.
Diction and Effective Speaking Training
Mehpare Çelik
English
Galatasaray University
EU GDPR Data Protection Officer (DPO) Certificate
The CPD Certification Service
Financial Management and Strategic Planning Micro-MBA
Istanbul Business School
German
Goethe Institute
ISO 22301 BCMS Implementation
BSI
ISO 22301 BCMS Lead Auditor (LA)
Vericert Certification Services Ltd.
ISO 31000 Risk Management
ISACA
ISO/IEC 20000 IT Service Management
ISACA
ISO/IEC 27001 ISMS Implementation
BSI
ISO/IEC 27001 ISMS Lead Auditor (LA)
BSI
ITIL; COBIT; CGEIT; CISSP; CISA; CRISC; PCI-DSS
ISACA
Legal Aspects of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Sistem Global Consulting Inc.
Network and Mobile Services Management
Vodafone Global
Prospect Identification and Outreach Techniques
Sistem Global Consulting Inc.
Target Market Analysis
Sistem Global Consulting Inc.
TOEFL
Istanbul Commerce University
07 / Network

Affiliations & Volunteering

  • SAHA Istanbul — Executive Alumni Member, 2021–Present
  • Sabancı University Alumni Association — Executive Alumni Member, 2019–Present
  • ECSO — Member, Women4Cyber Supporter, 2015–Present
  • ISSA — Member, Türkiye Chapter Supporter, 2013–Present
  • Kadir Has University Alumni Association — Executive Alumni Member, 2012–Present
  • IEEE — Organizational Management, Student Relations, 2009–Present
08 / Bulletin

Writings

OCTOBER 27, 2026

Critical PHP Vulnerabilities: Act Now

CRITICAL // RCE

Two critical PHP vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619) could enable remote code execution, potentially putting sensitive data and systems at risk.

Read more
JULY 21, 2026

The EU AI Act and Compliance: Why It Matters for Turkish Companies

AI ACT // COMPLIANCE

AI regulation is no longer a topic for the future. With the EU AI Act, a new era has begun for organizations developing or deploying AI systems.

Read more
JUNE 20, 2026

International Cybersecurity Thermometer inches higher in 2026

GLOBAL RISK INDEX

Major advances in AI are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape: boosting defenders' capability to detect and respond, while also amplifying concerns about AI-enabled cyber risk. The capabilities expected from major foundation models within six to nine months mark a watershed moment requiring a step change in international cybersecurity cooperation.

Read more
MAY 18, 2026

The Evolution of Phishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

AI // PHISHING

A look at how AI is reshaping phishing and social engineering tactics, and what security leaders need to rethink in response.

Read more
JANUARY 2, 2019

Blockchain

DISTRIBUTED LEDGER

An overview of blockchain technology and its implications for security, trust, and business operations.

Read more