From Rowing Shells to Microsoft Teams Meetings: Lessons from ERAU Crew That Still Pull Weight at SunExpress Airlines
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
Back in 2011, I was waking up before sunrise, barefoot and half-asleep, to row with the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Crew in Daytona Beach, FL. At the time, it felt like madness, non-sense. Cold mornings, aching shoulders, 180 bpm heart rates and a boat full of teammates trying not to tip over into the Halifax River. But little did I know that I was learning some of the most transferable skills I would use for life.
It might sound a bit cliché, but rowing isn't just about strength. It's about timing, trust, and unity. You quickly learn that even if you're the strongest person in the boat, if you’re not in sync, you’re just making a splash… not progress. And here’s the twist: That exact principle shows up in corporate life more often than you would think.
At SunExpress Airlines, where cross-functional teamwork is key to managing complex fleet strategies and keeping operations smooth, I find myself drawing on the same mindset I had as a rower:
· Stay in the rhythm,
· Communication is the key,
· No matter how strong your own stroke is, respect the flow of the team.
JetStream, our in-house talent program, reminded me a lot of those crew days: intensive, energizing, and deeply collaborative. It brought together colleagues from different departments, each with their own strengths, styles, and "row strokes". It taught us how to align for a common purpose. Just like a well-balanced eight, when we worked in sync, it just clicked.
Now, about that oar in the photo: it’s yellow and blue, the official colors of ERAU Crew. Coincidentally (or fatefully), they’re also the colors of Fenerbahçe, the team I’ve supported for life. So, whether I’m cheering from the stands or holding an oar taller than me, I seem to have a habit of sticking to teams with passion, tradition, and a slight taste for chaos.
Today, I may not be rowing at dawn, but I still believe in showing up early, pulling your weight, and moving like a one, together. Whether it's in the water or in the office, that’s how you win.
