Webinar: Empowering and Educating Rising Gen
In a powerful conversation hosted by Trusted Family and moderated by Arnaud de Coninck, Wingspan founder Christina Wing led a wide-ranging interview with Emine Sabancı Kamışlı, Co-Founder and Vice Chair of Esas Holding. Through Christina’s thoughtful questioning, Emine shared valuable insights on leadership, family dynamics, and the evolving role of family enterprises in today’s world. (Link to the full recording HERE.)
A Lifelong Rising Gen
From the outset, Emine made it clear: she still considers herself a Rising Gen. This mindset—of continual growth and responsibility—set the tone for a conversation that emphasized education, empowerment, and evolution over simple succession. As the mother of young adults herself, Emine now has her own Rising Gen—a next generation she’s actively preparing and mentoring.
Education as a Foundation
Responding to Christina’s early questions, Emine shared how being sent to boarding school in the UK at age 11, without speaking English, shaped her deeply. That experience taught her self-sufficiency, teamwork, and resilience. “Education,” she said, “is what took me out of my comfort zone and made room for failure and growth.”
Building Respect and Teamwork
Christina invited Emine to reflect on her early years in the family insurance business. Emine shared that she never felt being a woman was a drawback in her career—thanks in large part to the way her father raised her to see herself simply as a capable person, not a “businesswoman.” Instead, it was her status as a family member that led some colleagues to treat her too delicately.
She made it clear from the start that she expected to be challenged and evaluated like any other team member. “Team is critical in a family business,” she emphasized, and trust is built through honest feedback.
Founding Esas: A Strategic Pivot
In response to frustrations around meritocracy and governance in the legacy family business, Emine’s father, Şevket Sabancı, chose to separate from the original enterprise and founded Esas Holding with his children. As Christina pointed out, Esas began with something most families lack: a clear mission. Emine confirmed, “Esas was never about job creation for the family. It was about wealth creation.”
Esas started as a family office and later evolved into an institutional-grade investment platform that accepts third-party capital—a move that Emine explained was made to ensure the highest standards of governance and compliance. Today, Esas spans six continents, manages third-party capital, and treats philanthropy as a business line with KPIs and measurable impact. Its success reflects not just strong governance, but a willingness to evolve.
Sibling Dynamics and Leadership
Christina explored how Emine and her brother, Ali, have continued to build Esas together after their father’s passing. Emine noted that they were fortunate to grow up with a father who welcomed change and actively sought input from his children—a mindset that deeply shaped her own approach to leadership.
The key to their current success? Aligned risk appetite, frequent communication, and checked egos. When Ali became chairman, Emine supported the transition. “Whatever is good for the business will make the shareholders happy,” she said.
Educating the Third Generation
Christina and Emine spent much of the conversation on how to prepare Rising Gens. At Esas, education starts with the current gen—trusting what they’ve raised and creating space for the next gen to grow. Third-generation family members (G3) are expected to:
- Complete internships outside the family business
- Join on merit, not entitlement
- Begin receiving wealth updates at 18
- Help shape the family constitution—because, as Emine put it, “it’s for them.” Rather than dictating terms, the current generation invited the Rising Gen to lead the process, ensuring it reflected their needs, values, and future.
Some now serve on the board, some lead operating companies, and others run ventures with Esas as an LP.
Encouraging Risk and Accepting Failure
Christina raised a common challenge: many Rising Gens fear failure. Emine’s response was direct: “If you fail, you fail. But at least you learn.” She stressed the importance of giving Rising Gens the chance to try, make mistakes, and grow—all while knowing they are trusted and empowered.
Global Citizens, Connected Family
Not all G3 members work at Esas, and that’s intentional. Christina asked how the family stays connected. Emine explained that regular communication and basic information sharing keeps everyone informed and aligned. They don’t need to work together to stay together.
She also emphasized global exposure. Whether through programs like Wingspan Forum or external conferences, Emine believes the Rising Gen must be global citizens—ambassadors of the family and the business.
Structuring Philanthropy for Impact
When Christina asked how to sustain ties to Türkiye through philanthropy, Emine shared that Esas Social is a business line. It has its own metrics, funding, and team. “Social return on investment is as important to us as financial return,” she said, noting that youth unemployment programs have delivered measurable success.
Succession Planning: Still a Work in Progress
On the topic of succession, Emine was honest: “We’re working on it.” But the family has already taken key steps, including appointing non-family leaders to major roles and accepting that leadership may evolve. Today, Esas handles capital from over 70 global investors—a level of accountability that demands professionalism.
Final Advice to the Current Generation
In response to Christina’s closing question, Emine offered heartfelt guidance:
“Trust what you raised. It’s 50% of yourself. Don’t be scared of them. Give them the chance to try.”
She called on senior family members to share more of their stories—not just successes, but mistakes and lessons learned. Empower the next generation not just intellectually or emotionally, but financially too.
This webinar, brought to life by Christina’s thoughtful facilitation and Emine’s honesty, offered a masterclass in what Rising Gen education can look like when done with humility, strategy, and trust. As Christina put it: “Let’s empower them and collaborate with them. That’s how families continue to succeed.”
🎧 Listen to Christina’s and Emine’s conversation with Trusted Family by clicking HERE.
To learn more about Wingspan’s community and education platform for Rising Gen, check out Wingspan Forum.
