This month, TurkNetwork Magazine proudly features Filiz Odabaș-Geldiay as our Community Star, an extraordinary advocate for women and children, human values, and breath-based techniques for health and well-being that bridge cultures. Filiz has left an indelible mark on Turkish communities and international platforms, from promoting the recognition of Türkiye’s April 23 Children’s Day at the United Nations to working alongside global humanitarian leaders. As one of the founders of the Atatürk Society of America, her work spans continents, inspiring countless individuals. In this interview, she shares her journey, from her formative years to her profound impact on the world stage.
By Oya Bain
Filiz Odabaș-Geldiay has led a life marked by resilience, leadership, and a profound sense of service. From her early years in Istanbul to her international work in conflict management and human values, Filiz has left an undeniable mark on the world stage. A journalist by training, she later founded the World Children’s Day Foundation and dedicated herself to promoting empowerment of women, children, and global peace. In her multifaceted career, she has collaborated with international organizations, led initiatives to alleviate stress and foster leadership, and played a significant role in humanitarian efforts. In this interview, she opens up about her personal journey, the challenges she has overcome, and the values that have guided her work.
Can you tell us about your early beginnings? Your childhood, birthplace, parents, and siblings?
I was born and raised in Istanbul, where I lived until finishing high school. My childhood took a dramatic turn when my father, who was the Secretary-General of the National Productivity Center of the Turkish State, tragically passed away in a car accident when I was in first grade. His commitment to improving underprivileged regions in Türkiye left a lasting impression on me. After his death, my mother, Nermin, became the sole provider for my younger sister, Serap, and me. We faced significant challenges, but my mother’s determination kept us going.
What factors influenced you most during your formative years?
My father’s devotion to public service and my mother’s unwavering strength and resilience shaped my worldview. Instead of seeking a stable job, my mother created an organization in my father’s name and championed the causes he cared about. She thrived in a male-dominated industry, organizing global seminars on labor-state relations, and even acted as a mediator during labor strikes. Watching her stand as the only woman in rooms full of men left a deep impact on me. Her remarkable journey was so influential that it became the subject of a Turkish TV documentary and a novel.
One of the values my mother emphasized was preserving our family name. Because of that, I kept my maiden name after marriage, and my husband, Vedat, supported this by hyphenating his own surname.
Where did you pursue your higher education, and what did you study?
Due to the political instability in Türkiye at the time, I moved abroad for my studies after high school. My sister Serap soon joined me, and I was overjoyed to reunite with her. I began my studies at St. Aldates College in Oxford, UK, and later relocated to the United States. In 1981, I earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a Master of Arts in Communications and Conflict Management from American University in Washington, DC.
How did you choose your career path?
From a young age, I dreamed of becoming a journalist. I had the opportunity to work as a correspondent for the USA edition of Hürriyet, and some of my articles were published in The Washington Post and Nation’s Business.
In 1987, I saw an opportunity to create the World Children’s Day Foundation, inspired by Türkiye’s April 23 Children’s Day. The vision was to empower elementary school students to take responsibility for shaping the future. I collaborated with UNICEF and the United Nations, creating a platform where children from all over the world could serve as symbolic leaders for a day. Global media outlets, including Good Morning America, CNN, ABC, and The New York Times covered the event. Celebrities like Roger Moore, Harry Belafonte, Marlo Thomas, and Ahmet Ertegun were part of my advisory board and attended the event. I paused my work in 1993.
What led to the pause in your career, and how how did you become involved with your current position?
I paused my work to focus on raising my two daughters. During this period, I was involved in a car accident that triggered a chronic condition called fibromyalgia. Despite undergoing extensive physical therapy and receiving cortisone injections, I continued to experience significant pain and eventually fell into depression. However, there was a silver lining to this experience.
My life changed when I met Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a renowned spiritual leader. Through practicing his SKY breathing techniques, I was able to fully recover from fibromyalgia. Grateful for this healing, I began volunteering for his organization, eventually becoming an Art of Living teacher in India. Later, I was appointed Executive Director of the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), an organization founded by Gurudev. For the past 20 years, I have worked to alleviate stress, foster leadership, and promote human values in communities worldwide.
Could you tell us more about Art of Living?
The Art of Living is one of the largest volunteer-based organizations, operating in 186 countries. It offers simple, accessible techniques to improve mental well-being, and I am always amazed by how quickly people experience transformations. Those who come to our courses stressed or burdened often leave feeling lighter and more capable of handling life’s challenges. Our techniques have been extensively researched by top universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and UCLA.
Some readers may have attended the Fourth World Culture Festival in Washington, DC, in September 2023. The event coincided with the 40th anniversary of Art of Living and was attended by 1.1 million people. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chaired the reception, and many heads of state, as well as members of the US Congress, participated.
Can you share some of your projects from our region?
I am particularly proud of our projects in Türkiye, where our teachers have been providing trauma relief courses to earthquake survivors in Hatay, Antakya, and Kahramanmaras. They have been doing this for over a year and a half under incredibly challenging circumstances. Additionally, we have received federal grants for our women’s empowerment projects in Iraq. To meet the grant requirements, I traveled to Baghdad during a period of intense violence, staying in the Red Zone to find sustainable ways to support our programs.
What were some memorable experiences as a leader of the Atatürk Society of America (ASA)?
I was raised with a deep appreciation for Türkiye’s secular values and Atatürk’s progressive reforms, particularly those that advanced women’s rights. Supporting Hudai and Mirat Yavalar’s efforts to establish the ASA in 1995 was a natural fit for me. As a founder and board member, I have had the opportunity to discuss Atatürk’s reforms at institutions like the US Department of State, George Washington University, and the Harvard Club of Washington. Some of my most memorable experiences include assisting both in the installation of Atatürk’s statue in Washington, DC, and securing ASA’s affiliation with the United Nations.
Can you tell us a little about your family?
My husband, Vedat, recently retired from his position as a senior engineer at Northrop Grumman and has been my greatest supporter throughout my career. We are blessed with two wonderful daughters. Selin, a product manager, lives in California with her husband, Jack, while Melis, a veterinarian, resides in Texas and is engaged to her fiancé Austin. The loss of my sister Serap three years ago was the hardest experience of my life. I remain close with her children, Sibel and Meric, as well as other extended family members in both the US and Türkiye.
What does your daily routine look like?
My mornings always start with meditation and breathing exercises—just as essential to me as brushing my teeth. Afterward, I manage overseas calls, answer emails, and attend virtual meetings. In the afternoons, I often go to the Sri Sri Center for Peace and Meditation in downtown DC, where I work and teach SKY meditation courses. Some weekends, I lead Silent Retreats.
What is your proudest moment?
I am proud of many things, especially involving my daughters. Professionally, I am honored to have received awards such as the Vishalakshi Service Award from the Art of Living Foundation, the Nation’s Top 90 Women Mentoring Leaders recognition, and the Students’ Capitol Hero Award from American University. However, my most touching moment was when my mother’s doctor at Georgetown Hospital told me, “You took magnificent care of your mother.” That continues to give me comfort.
Who has been the most influential person in your life?
In the past 30 years, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been my greatest source of inspiration. His timeless wisdom, insights on current topics, and tireless mission to create a stress-free, violence-free world, have profoundly impacted me. I also appreciate that women hold key positions within his organizations, which has always been important to me.
What might TurkNetwork readers be surprised to learn about you?
Many may be surprised to know that I hold an international certificate in parachute jumping from Türk Kușu. I was passionate about parachuting as a child and took advantage of the State’s free classes for aviation enthusiasts. Though it was terrifying at first, jumping into the unknown became a metaphor for how I approach life.
