Cem Yazicioglu ’98 MBA is a man of many talents, and an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word, having started a variety of companies and restaurants since earning his M.B.A. in international business at JWU.
A native of Turkey, Cem developed a passion for cooking while studying in the U.S. Upon returning to Turkey, he collaborated with friends and opened Imatti, an Italian restaurant in Ankara. An immediate success, Cam acted quickly and opened Tike, a traditional Turkish-style kebab restaurant, shortly after.
Not satisfied to rest on his culinary success, Cem took on a new professional challenge when he established NORBO Defense Industry and Foreign Trade, a strategic research project company which represents foreign defense industry companies in Turkey. Industry giants such as Giat NBC SYS France, Steiner Optics Germany, and Taser International United States, are among NORBO's extensive roster of clients.
In 2003, Cem continued to prosper in the defense industry, and established another company, ESAS Integrated Defense Systems, Ltd. He now serves as the director of both companies, working closely with various contractors and the Turkish Ministry of Defense on strategic research, concept development and project creation.
Though Cem is years removed from his days as a culinarian, he still enjoys cooking with friends and family, saying, “Sometimes I slip into the kitchen and cook myself roasted eggplant and grilled tomatoes. I find that to be so relaxing. It takes me away from the stress of the business world.”