Hello!

I’m Elif, and I currently look like the person in the photo (as of October 2025). I don’t know if Future Elif will ever update the photo, so I added the date to avoid misleading anyone. (I don’t normally refer to myself in the third person, don’t worry.)

I grew up in Turkey, specifically in Ankara. If you’ve ever met someone who spent a good part of their life there, you’ve probably noticed we tend to love the city and mention it often. That said, don’t feel obliged to visit just because of our enthusiasm—you might end up a little disappointed as a tourist. (The food, however, is absolutely worth it.)

Academically, I have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Computer Science. I came very close to earning a PhD as well, but then enough was enough. I eventually gave up resisting the idea of a conventional office job—staying at the university was not the most unconventional escape anyway. Around that time, I realized Europe offered opportunities that suited me better. So I moved—which is a surprisingly short sentence for a process that’s rarely simple unless you or your ancestors happen to be European. In the end, though, it didn’t really matter where I was—I got caught up in what I was afraid of: I had grown tired of spending my days in an office, getting stressed about things that didn’t genuinely excite me. Then I finally started listening more carefully to my own values. I mean, I had to. I wish I’d been wise enough to figure that out before life forced me to. (Ironically, I consider myself wiser than most people but everybody has some self-delusions anyway, right?)

Despite my academic background and professional experience, I’ve never been interested in just one thing. Writing fiction has always been one of my greatest passions, but I also enjoy drawing, painting, and various kinds of handicrafts whenever the mood strikes. I like exploring different creative mediums without feeling the need to master every single one.

So why am I telling you all this? First, I’m a bit of a TMI person. But jokes aside, I do have a purpose. As you’ve probably guessed, I want my work to reflect more of who I am. I want to bring everything I love and everything I’m capable of into one place: communication, collaboration, storytelling, humor, designing experiences, technology, light, color, and, last but not least, creativity in all its forms. Maybe there is a job title for that. Maybe there isn’t. Either way, I believe the work matters more than the label.

Before I wrap up, here’s a section for the bullet-point lovers. It also gives me a chance to brag a little while demonstrating that I do, in fact, function in professional settings.