Long before I became an IT management professional or a wine aficionado, I dreamed of being an engineer. Machines and computers were all I could think of as a kid, and understanding the logic behind them was my passion for a long time. I studied software engineering and worked on a variety of challenging projects and implementations, satisfying the urges of that little boy who wanted to be an engineer, but I started to feel like I was missing something in my life.
I was always attracted to nature, so I started camping in the wild. I climbed mountains, adventured into caves, and enjoyed the beauty of lakes, but no matter what I did, it was only a brief getaway from reality, since I was spending most of my time in the office.
My work as an IT project manager evolved over time. I discovered COBIT while I was working on improving our processes. Service management and information security became more important, and managing the work that was being performed took the place of actually doing the work. Managing IT and information security teams was interesting, but I thought I was missing an outside perspective that could be valuable. I realized that I needed to see everything the way an auditor sees it in order to become more effective, so I decided to become a CISA. I took the course, passed the certification exam and joined the ISACA family, where I could meet great professionals and continuously improve myself and my career.
Work was going well, but I was spending so much time in the office, meaning more time in the city and away from nature, so I decided that I needed to have a hobby that combines the urban lifestyle, nature and my hobbies. And speaking of hobbies, at the top of the list for me is wine, a longtime interest that I began taking seriously about five years ago. Each sip gives you different feelings, and visiting vineyards offers me the chance to be in nature. Maybe it isn’t the wilderness, but it is satisfying. I started to feel that I was quite ignorant about wine despite my interest, so I decided I needed to learn it properly. I attended many degustation events in recent years, trained my palate to differentiate the various tastes, and finally took courses and certified myself with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 Award in Wine.
During this journey, I met many wine enthusiasts in my home country of Turkey and the surrounding region, and I decided to bring them together, so I established the Bursa Degustation Club, a non-profit organization that aims to organize degustation events and vineyard visits, and educate beginners on the nuances of wine. I usually attend at least two events a month, and I organize the majority of them. The vineyards in the Thrace region are especially fantastic to visit and to gain a deeper appreciation for wine.
This new endeavor has brought greater balance to my life. Being a CISA made me a better IT manager but my passion for degustation also kept me going in my career. I believe that everybody needs to improve themselves, and becoming a CISA is a great path to do so. I also believe that everybody needs a break from their professional challenges to stay mentally strong and happy, and socializing with people who share similar interests is a great way to do so. I am glad I have managed to do both.