Eye on ELEMENT: Beril Adikutlu

At ELEMENT, we empower MGAs across Europe by accessing insurance capacity and finding the best risk management solutions. As of now, we are active in seven European countries and will grow into further markets with our global mindset. Our “Eye on ELEMENT” series dives into the amazing people dedicated to making this a reality. We aim to explore what they do, their passion and what drives them to succeed. 

In this edition, our guest is Beril Adikutlu who is a Senior Product Owner in our Moneymasters Team.

Hello Beril! Tell us what you do at ELEMENT and how your typical day looks like.

I work as a Senior Product Owner at ELEMENT. My day is usually filled with meetings, interactions and collaborations with people. Working closely with the Development and Business teams gives me the opportunity to get involved in both the technical and business aspects. While my primary focus resides within the financial part, I have recently broadened my scope to include the operations and customer service. Operating within an agile methodology my day typically starts with a daily stand-up meeting with my team. During the session, we share the progress updates from the day before, discuss any obstacles encountered, and communicate any need for assistance from others,, ensuring alignment before we start our daily tasks.

My daily responsibilities mainly involve managing the team, addressing daily inquiries and also catering to the Business needs.

What did you do before joining ELEMENT?

I graduated from university with a degree in Business Administration, which provided me with a foundational understanding that has proven invaluable in my current job. Before joining ELEMENT, I worked at a corporate insurance company in Turkey. I started there as a Business Analyst and eventually transitioned into the role of a Product Owner.

In this role I learnt more about technical details, gaining insights into IT and honing my technical skills, particularly in mobile and web development. Also it emphasized the importance of asking questions, a skill curcial for understanding problems effectively.

I think the most important skills that are needed for my daily tasks include being a good listener, curiousity and mediation. While problem-solving was ingrained in my university education, transitioning into roles like business analysis and product owner role, I had to step back and start thinking about the problem itself and collaborating effectively with solution engineers for technical advancements.

Looking into the future, what do you want to accomplish at ELEMENT.

At the moment ELEMENT is going through transformation and I’m super excited to be part of this phase. Of course I want to grow into management roles, following the trajectory of my manager, who initially was also a Product Owner before evolving within ELEMENT.

Right now, I am satisfied where I am at ELEMENT, because it offers plenty of challenges. It’s one of the things I really like about ELEMENT – there is room for personal development. You can just proactively dive into a topic. You don’t have to wait for someone to give you the opportunity.

What I also want to accomplish here is to help everyone enjoy working here as much as I do. I gave yoga classes and now I am part of the mental health committee. Moreover, we organize international lunches, one of the activities that the social committee takes care of. While these activities may not directly relate with my professional growth in a traditional sense, I want to help everyone see ELEMENT from my perspective.

What makes you happy at your everyday work at ELEMENT?

First and foremost, it’s the people. We have a very diverse community of incredibly intelligent people, all united in their drive to work collaboratively and create something meaningful. 

Coming from a competitive atmosphere of the corporate world, here at ELEMENT, there is a sense of peace. The people truly make ELEMENT special, along with the autonomy we enjoy. While my experience might differ from others, in our department, we are highly autonomous and taking initiative is not just encouraged but celebrated.