Doğukan Ejder

Doğukan Ejder’s journey is defined by an unrelenting drive to learn, create social impact, and uplift others. From the moment he began his academic path at European College, he took immediate action—volunteering at social projects and with the Red Crescent, while founding the college’s first newspaper to discuss human rights and social issues. This early commitment to driving change and informing the public set him on a path he would never abandon.

Upon arriving at Yeditepe University, Doğukan rejected the conventional route. With a deep passion for language, politics, and social change, he accelerated through a dual major in English Language & Literature and International Relations & Political Science, completing his four-year degree in just two and a half years in order to join the global stage and contribute to making a positive impact on the world. His academic excellence earned top-merit awards and recognition for his leadership in campus research initiatives. His distinction opened doors to two full scholarships at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals and a prestigious merit award to Harvard’s program in conflict and peace studies. Yet, despite these accolades, Doğukan’s drive to make a real difference never allowed him to rest on his laurels.

Driven by the belief that education is a fundamental human right, he founded Arcadia, a non-profit organisation offering high-quality, open-access courses in 112 countries across all seven continents. Under his leadership as Founder & CEO, Arcadia has reached over one million learners globally, earning heartfelt appreciation from universities around the world. When he wasn't designing curricula or establishing partnerships, Doğukan channeled his artistic instincts into thought-provoking public commentary on gender equality and human rights. In 2022, he curated the exhibition A Rebellion Towards Traditionalism: Art In Coffee Houses in Istanbul, using art to challenge 21st-century gender biases and spark community dialogue.

His commitment to impactful solutions, guided by a strong sensitivity to gender equality, human rights, and environmentalism, led Doğukan to the green finance and strategic consulting sectors. Believing in the transformative power of sustainable practices, he transitioned to sustainable finance in the banking sector, working to integrate green financial solutions into global markets. Later, he moved into consulting, advising on environmental risk factors and sustainability to drive global green impact through CEOs of companies and organisations.

Doğukan’s career path then took him to the intersection of Sustainable Development and Peacebuilding at the United Nations, where he took impactful roles in global locations:

• UN Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Istanbul – Focused on conflict and gender equality.

• UN Regional Office for the Caribbean, Barbados – Served as a Strategic Advisor to the region.

• UN Headquarters in New York – Worked in the policy team, focusing on peace, gender, climate, and security issues.

In these roles, witnessing the human toll of fragile states and conflicts solidified his resolve to build bridges between adversaries and prioritise global peace and sustainable development. At just 25, Doğukan took his vision further by founding the International Council of Peace & Security (ICPS) in Geneva, becoming its youngest-ever Chancellor. Today, under his leadership, ICPS teams focus on peacebuilding initiatives and craft diplomatic roadmaps for lasting stability.

Through every venture—whether academic, artistic, financial, or diplomatic—Doğukan has remained guided by one principle: impact-driven action to make a positive change in the world.