We have seen great leaders throughout history, who are mostly portrayed as passionate visionaries, exceptional communicators, and risk-takers. However, in the evolving landscape of leadership, the definition of greatness is expanding. It’s time to explore a new chapter where diverse voices, styles, and approaches redefine what it means to lead with impact and inspire positive change. Amidst this global shift, we encounter leaders who not only break molds and challenge the status quo but, above all, strive to make the world a better place. They are the engineers of positive transformation, fostering inclusive environments ( at work or home) and extending a helping hand to uplift others.
In our pursuit of finding such leaders who make such a positive impact, our path crossed with Şakir Yavuz, President of Perfect Timing Holding, whose leadership journey redefines greatness beyond norms, emphasizing the transformative impact leaders can have for the betterment of all.
He strongly believes in offering better growth opportunities and environments to those around him, for them to succeed and propel themselves. “One of my holistic approaches involves creating a living and working environment where hard work, respect, honesty, justice, love, and happiness prevail. Perfect Timing Holding represents a modern social environment that embraces inclusivity, free from distinctions based on nationality, religion, skin color, or culture,” Şakir Yavuz comments on how he promotes inclusivity at his company.
Before delving into the intricacies of Perfect Timing Holding, let’s first explore the leadership journey of Şakir Yavuz. Understanding his path, sets the stage for a deeper appreciation of the company’s vision and values.
A Leader By Birth
To understand his journey, let’s delve into the early days, unraveling the formative experiences and foundational moments that laid the groundwork for Şakir Yavuz’s remarkable leadership voyage.
“From childhood, I had a powerful urge to be independent, which meant that over time I increasingly took on the role of a leader and a trailblazer,” says Şakir Yavuz when asked about his goals as a child. However, he knew that this wasn’t easy and had to be worked towards it. He further adds, “ My goals, which I set myself from childhood, were: being a good human being, a good athlete, a good merchant, a good businessman, a good teacher and a good leader. They have always been my guiding light in all phases of my life.”
A Leader In Making
Having established Şakir Yavuz’s visionary nature and how he shaped his childhood for success, let’s now uncover the unfolding events that paved the way for his remarkable journey. These key moments not only showcase his resilience but also reveal the strategic decisions that propelled him towards greater success in his professional endeavors.
“So far, as a native Turk, I have had the opportunity to travel to over 100 countries, live for long periods of time in more than 30 countries and make two countries my home: Türkiye and Germany. Only 4 years after moving from my home in Türkiye to the once completely foreign country of Germany, I continued to pursue my goals without hesitation and without stopping and was able to familiarize myself with the German language and culture as an assistant trainer,” asserts Şakir Yavuz when asked about his journey further.
“Only 1 year later, I was able to open my own first sports school, without any outside support, not even from my parents (I didn’t want any support from family or/and any third parties). During this time I created a good, trustworthy name for myself that was worth more than money.
That’s why my name was my capital and that’s why I was able to successfully continue on the path, always achieving my goals, without stopping and without delay. At the age of 17, the opening and tremendous success of my first sports school brought me recognition not only in my new home, Germany but also in my native Türkiye and on the international stage,” he further added.
Guiding With Experience
In the above paragraphs, we have traced the events that propelled Şakir Yavuz to his current stature. Yet, a leader’s responsibilities never cease; they evolve, echoing the enduring commitment to inspire, innovate, and navigate the path toward collective success.
The fact that Şakir Yavuz’s outstanding achievements in martial arts have thrust him into the limelight is indisputable. In total, Şakir Yavuz has won over 150 medals, trophies and awards in the active years of his Kickboxing career, including several German, European and world champion awards in various martial arts such as Taekwondo, Kung Fu and Kickboxing.
His personal commitment to martial arts has earned him the position of the president of the International All Style Kick-Boxing Federation in 1992. Unlike any other athlete of his time, Şakir Yavuz consistently shared his experiences, knowledge, and skills with over 21,000 students and followers, leading to the emergence of several leaders. As a public figure, he orchestrated numerous events across various countries and cultures, with a focus on fostering cultural integration through sports.
However, Şakir Yavuz’s ambitions extend beyond excelling as an athlete; they encompass diverse aspects of his identity. Here’s a concise overview of the outcomes tied to his broader goals:
- Founding and Establishment of his sports schools and sports centers
- Development of his martial arts style as Innovation,
- Founding his own sporting goods brand,
- Establishment of several sports clubs and sports associations,
- Founding and Establishment of an international university,
- Founding and Establishment of several GmbHs, stock corporations, holding companies (over 100),
- Driving forward technical progress through his own international IT companies, which operate in several countries,
- Establishment of a family foundation to support the education and development of the children of the world; and much more.
Navigating the success of Perfect Timing Holding, founded over 140 years ago
Having charted a remarkable journey of personal achievements, Şakir Yavuz took over the leadership of Perfect Timing Holding, a Multinational and Multidomain Group of Companies, as President and contributed his innovative ideas for the further diverse and global orientation of the American-German-Turkish group of companies with a history spanning over 140 years.
The Huseby family business was founded in Chicago in 1880 by the Huseby family and has continued to develop successfully ever since. The name Perfect Timing Holding was created through the merger in 2000 with the Turkish family company Yavuz, founded in 1925. Under the leadership of President Şakir Yavuz, Perfect Timing Holding became a global brand with locations worldwide.
The extensive portfolio includes activities in various industries such as construction, education, finance, energy and mining, healthcare, manufacturing, art and design, entertainment, media and communications, leisure and travel, retail, and last but not least software and IT services , development of AI solutions and operation of data centers. This broad scope underlines the company’s commitment to diversification and innovation and enables its navigation the complexities in the global business landscape. With a strong focus on excellence and a penchant for transformative ventures, Perfect Timing Holding is evolving into a dynamic Group of Companies that is shaping the future in multiple areas.
Organization of The Success Of Perfect Timing Holding
In his role as President of Perfect Timing Holding, he shoulders the responsibility of leading, guiding and managing Perfect Timing Holding’s various companies worldwide. Serving as a visionary, motivator, decision-maker, and consultant in diverse specialist areas and international locations, Şakir Yavuz works diligently to ensure the company’s continued successful development, aligning it with prevailing economic and social conditions.
Şakir Yavuz succinctly summarized his approach with these words:
“For me, day in and day out, for more than 50 years now, it has been about helping to shape the future and doing so in a responsible manner. Being responsible for something and/or for someone was, is and will always be a part of me. A true leader is passionate about making transformations future-proof in this era of intensifying competition for resources and technologies between North America, Europe, and Asia. It’s about progress and seizing development potential to gain independence and catch up with world leaders in technology. That’s the one side. Every leader should always keep such global and constant dynamic developments in mind.
The other side is to create something that not only impacts generations, but also lasts and transcends generations, leaving a lasting.”
Pioneering Inclusivity in Education
As a visionary leader, Şakir Yavuz’s transformative impact extends far beyond the corporate realms. With an unwavering commitment to inclusive and accessible education globally, Şakir Yavuz takes the helm in pioneering the future of education.
To bring this paradigm shift, Şakir Yavuz set out to establish ATAFOM University International, dedicated to providing inclusive and accessible education worldwide. This transformative endeavor aimed to break down barriers of origin, status, skin color, gender, religious affiliation, culture, and location. Founded under the motto ‘Education for Integration,’ ATAFOM University International implemented a comprehensive educational concept, fostering a quasi-familial atmosphere known as the ‘ATAFOM family.’
Spanning 5 continents and operating in over 20 countries, the ATAFOM family lives, studies, and works collaboratively, utilizing the latest communication technology, including AI-supported tools. Şakir Yavuz’s commitment is reflected in his continual efforts to ensure high-quality education for every child globally. Ultimately, the goal is achieved that everyone on earth benefits from it. The ATAFOM University International team, comprising renowned professionals and experts, strives to surpass expectations and meet educational goals, utilizing ConiaSoft Online Campus software package, developed by ConiaSoft Software Technologies Ltd., a subsidiary of the Perfect Timing Holding. This software solution embodies the realization of Şakir Yavuz’s vision, of making limitless education accessible to every child worldwide, regardless of place, time, and conditions.
Once A Leader, Always A Leader
In his relentless pursuit of excellence, Şakir Yavuz envisions shaping the future with innovative technology developments. His current development focus revolves around creating an international, barrier-free education concept, harnessing the potential of modern software development, including AI support. Additionally, he is committed to the development and operation of the required technical infrastructure through the establishment, setting up, implementation and use of proprietary IT data centers. The aim is to ensure the sustainability and global reach of these international, barrier-free educational and development concepts.
“In this way, we create the foundations to actively shape the future with the new future technology developments,” Şakir Yavuz asserts.
By keeping pace with the times, Şakir Yavuz and his Head and Department Teams strive to dictate and prescribe the goals of the era, ultimately ensuring that technology benefits every individual on earth, making lives easier. “This is the narrative every leader must closely follow—a narrative of global, continuous, and dynamic developments,” Şakir Yavuz comments.
Defining Success
As we observe Şakir Yavuz’s multifaceted roles and impactful contributions, it prompts a natural curiosity — what does success mean to this visionary leader?
“The success of every action begins in the head. This is my motto, which I have not only invented and comprehended deeply but also personally experienced and embraced,” Şakir Yavuz comments.
However, for Şakir Yavuz leadership is not all about success. According to him, a leader’s identity transcends mere triumphs or setbacks. Genuine leadership emerges from recognizing successes and failures as interconnected milestones in one’s journey of personal and professional growth. Such a leader attains a social and professional standing where qualities like intelligence, justice, humanity, continuous development, and hard work converge to not only set an example but also become a collaborative guide for their team in addressing challenges and objectives.
“Being a leader entails continuous improvement and exemplifying superior performance each day. Leading often also means showing the way. A leader’s strength also depends on physical health and a stable family environment. A person is not born a leader, he has to earn leadership through his performance.” Şakir Yavuz concludes.