Defne Gürkan
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About Me
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about

Defne Gürkan

Originally from Istanbul and now based in Madrid, I study Digital Media and Communication at IE University. Alongside my work in media and social initiatives, I enjoy working on ideas and turning them into something tangible.

After years of collaborating with different teams in production, both on and off camera, I've found myself drawn to the space between digital media and startups.

I believe creativity should bring people together, and communication should be used to create impact.

A peek into my mind, some of my favorite recent reads…

my
experience

Building from scratch

Entrepreneurship

Co-founding an educational initiative and building a media enterprise "Young Founders Collective"

Stay on Set

Creative

Acting, film-making, and festivals

Part of something bigger

Organisations

Part of something bigger

Entrepreneurship

Back in 2020, during my volunteering and tutoring work in villages, I saw firsthand how limited access to environmental education was. That experience led me to co-found Yeşil Dünyamız, a social initiative focused on raising awareness. By building partnerships with TEMA and Yuvam Dünya, we've reached over 6,000 children so far.

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Yeşil Dünyamız

Rooted in my love for learning and curiosity, I started and host a podcast on entrepreneurship. In each episode, I sit down with a young founder to go beyond their ventures and get into what really matters — the values and defining moments that shaped them.

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Young Founders Collective

Creative

Acting

Stepping into other lives, understanding people more deeply, and seeing the world through different windows. Through acting and commercial work, I explore creativity, challenges, and perspective.

Production

As an award-winning filmmaker, I'm drawn to how different talents come together with a shared vision. I've created short films and participated in film festivals, receiving over six awards.

Festivals

In 2021, I attended the Cannes Film Festival — an inspiring immersion into the latest in cinema, filled with days of watching films and connecting with cinephiles from around the world.

Acting

Acting has been a passion of mine since a young age — a way of stepping into other lives, understanding people more deeply and seeing the world through different windows.

Production

Ouvre la Porte

"Ouvre la Porte" is a short film exploring violence within family relationships.

Slice of Life →
Studio

The Loop was born from a desire to capture the lives of students during COVID-19. It gained international recognition, selected for more than 20 film festivals and garnering several awards.

Cannes

Festivals

Joining the 77th Edition of the Festival de Cannes was an experience I will look back on for years.

Beyond glamour and flashy atmosphere, the biggest takeaway for me was being in the heart of cinema, discovering films by directors I had never heard of — yet these films transported me to beautiful, complex worlds.

Some of the films I admired most: "L'Histoire de Souleymane" by Boris Lojkine, "Spectateurs!" by Arnaud Desplechin, "Flow" by Gints Zilbalodis, and "On the Way" by Samir Karahoda.

"Flow" used "Blender" — a 3D creation platform I believe will become increasingly common in the industry.

I also joined the world premiere of "She's Got No Name" by Peter Chan: "There is no small role. Everyone is a lead in their own characters."

Organisations

Clubs, initiatives, and institutions I've been part of…

IE Arts & Business ClubIE Arts & Business Club
IE Entrepreneurship ClubIE Entrepreneurship Club
IE FoundationIE Foundation
NOVANOVA
IE Arts & Business ClubIE Arts & Business Club
IE Entrepreneurship ClubIE Entrepreneurship Club
IE FoundationIE Foundation
NOVANOVA
IE Arts & Business ClubIE Arts & Business Club
IE Entrepreneurship ClubIE Entrepreneurship Club
IE FoundationIE Foundation
NOVANOVA

student creative projects

Scandal Shuffle

Alongside my team, I played a key role from ideation to designing Scandal Shuffle — a board game blending strategic gameplay with captivating visuals using Adobe Illustrator.

EuroExplore

Inspired by friends coming to me for travel recommendations, I created EuroExplore — a playful, 30-page personal magazine filled with travel tips and photos from my adventures across Europe.

6 Levels of Pasta

As part of my Graphic Design course, I translated the process of making pasta — its types, recipes, and sauces — into an infographic simplifying a complex yet delicious cooking process.

let's
connect

Whether it's hitting some tennis balls, exchanging ideas, or having a coffee or tea — I'm always up for it.

Thank you! I'll be in touch soon ✦