Sema BASOL: Sema is a global marketing and public relations executive with over 25 years of experience both in the U.S. and Turkey. She has been involved with a variety of organizations including multi-billion dollar corporations, small businesses, start-up ventures, and nonprofits with educational and cultural focuses.

During the last five years, in her own consulting business, Sema has developed marketing and public relations programs for a variety of clients. She set up the California based non-profit organization Global Friendship Through Space Education and launched an innovative distance learning program connecting American and Turkish educators and their students as well as organized annual events that brought together young people, educators and dignitaries from different countries at Space Camp Turkey.

Prior to her consulting practice, Sema worked close to 19 years at Mattel Inc. where, as Director of Consumer Products, she built Mattel brands into new businesses that generated annual sales of $300 million in international markets.

Over the years, Sema has taken an active role in Turkish-American affairs, community organizations and arts. She has served as the Chairman of the Association of Turkish-Americans of Southern California, has organized numerous events and fundraisers for U.S. government representatives and has also hosted Turkish diplomats, visiting Turkish business executives and government representatives.

Sema has a B.A. degree from Bogazici University and an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Sema is married to Dr. Bulent Basol and has two sons. They divide their time between their homes in Los Angeles and San Jose, California.

Until recently, Sema was an advisor for Friends of Anatolia and currently serves on the Board of Directors.