About Başak Büyükçelen
People Leader, CEO of Pressbooks, Startup Coach and Non-Profit Advisor.
Başak Büyükçelen is a global executive who blends operational excellence with mission-driven leadership. Her passion for inclusive work cultures and equitable access to education has driven transformational change across tech, nonprofit, and educational sectors. She currently leads Pressbooks, empowering educators through open-source publishing platforms.
Leading Through Global Lenses
Başak Büyükçelen’s leadership is rooted in her international experience—having lived and worked across diverse cultures. She brings empathy and cultural fluency to every role, empowering teams while scaling impact-driven innovation. At Pressbooks, she drives the company’s educational publishing strategy with a focus on equity and access.
Building Inclusive and High-Performing Teams
From introducing a 4-day workweek to reshaping onboarding strategies, Başak Büyükçelen has redefined how organizations can operate more thoughtfully. Her operational expertise is grounded in agile methodology, customer success, and process improvement. She has transformed tech and nonprofit teams alike, always with the same goal—human-first performance.
Başak Büyükçelen’s Story
Born in Turkey, Başak Büyükçelen moved to Canada facing language barriers and job market obstacles. Her journey—marked by resilience and reinvention—inspired the founding of The Supper Society, a community initiative that connects newcomers with local allies. From producing films in Turkey to becoming a tech CEO in Canada, her story is one of transformation, tenacity, and purpose.