“What got you here won’t get you there”

The quote “What got you here won’t get you there” comes from a TED Talk we discussed during a leadership workshop at the John S. Knight Fellowship. My vision of building Germany’s first media platform, owned by people of color and for people of color, had brought me to Stanford as a 2025 JSK Fellow. But to truly realize it, I had to undergo a metamorphosis — into an entrepreneur.

My metamorphosis felt inevitable: If I want to make independent journalism for my community — especially in today’s political climate — I need to be financially independent. So through the fellowship, I was able to immerse myself almost exclusively in courses at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). “Entrepreneurship: Formation of New Ventures” and “Managing Growing Enterprises” were just some of the seminars on my schedule.

Had someone told me five years ago that I’d voluntarily attend a marketing course “Customer Acquisition for New Ventures” and learn to calculate CACs (Customer Acquisition Costs), I would’ve laughed. But here I am — and surprisingly, I enjoy it!

Eureka (εὕρηκα)!

With my startup MedyaN, I want to create the media outlet of the “new Germany.”

MedyaN makes video content that inspires, empowers, and connects.

It is a huge advantage to be the “first mover” which is defined in business as being the first company to enter a new market or the first to offer a new product or service. But how do I make it financially sustainable?

Just a few weeks ago, an inner voice whispered: Eureka (εὕρηκα)!

How do you build a great, scalable product in journalism?

Here’s MedyaN’s new info-tainment video product:

Start with a generous dose of curiosity and empathy. Stir in a hefty amount of joy. Carefully fold in radical candor and love — let it rest for an hour. Place the mixture in the oven and bake it for no more than an hour. Once it’s done, cut the format into bite-sized, digestible pieces and serve it on a transparent plate. Best enjoyed with your community.

Pro tip: Use only top-quality ingredients — the kind you’d recommend to your family and friends — and ones that want to reach your community.

Watch to see. Cuz everyone wants to be seen.

Sounds abstract, right? That’s OK for now — it should remain a surprise. But here’s what I can tell you: it’s going to be a video format, either on YouTube or television. I talked to my JSK Fellows about the concept and asked if they’d ever seen anything like it. Their answer? Nope.

The only show that came close was Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown on CNN. And since food plays an important role in Turkish culture, it will also be a recurring element in the new format.

Just a last hint: Here are 3 slogans of the show to give you an idea about the info-tainment show:

Watch to understand. Cuz everyone wants to be understood.

Watch to see. Cuz everyone wants to be seen.

Watch to have fun. Cuz everyone wants to have fun.

Business = Innovation + Marketing

“The business enterprise has two basic functions: marketing and innovation.”

This quote by Peter Drucker, scribbled in a corner of the whiteboard in a GSB seminar by TikTok-famous professor Graham Weaver, might seem insignificant — but it stuck with me.

Be bold. Be excellent.

Innovation is my strength. I’ve developed, hosted, and produced journalism in multiple formats — both for public broadcasters and my YouTube channel. As a fruit of my tasty time at Stanford, I have a new format. With this article, I’m kicking off the marketing campaign for MedyaN’s newest creation — an “info-tainment” video format. If you’re interested in investing in, supporting, or acquiring a format that not only centers People of Color in Germany (and potentially beyond), but also connects with underserved communities while building a bridge to the white majority, let’s talk.

Be bold. Be excellent.

Andrea Jung, one of the members of Apple’s Board of Directors, once visited our class at the GSB and was asked to share the secret behind Apple’s success. She said: “Apple receives new pitches and ideas every day, but they’re very good at saying no.” That, she explained, is what enables them to focus on creating an excellent product. And to her, that is Apple’s most important quality.

I have many goals for MedyaN — some short-term, some medium-term, and others long-term. MedyaN is just 17 months old, and I’ve spent 8 of those months at Stanford, unable to produce content. But like Apple, I want to launch and position MedyaN with an excellent product.

In Turkish, Bon Appétit translates to “Afiyet olsun” — literally: “May this meal bring you health.” May MedyaNs new video format spark a bold, delicious revolution in the media landscape.

Bon Appétit. Afiyet olsun :)