Global Economies

“What attracted me the most was courage,” said Cattaui, explaining that, during the Cold War, EWI’s idea of informal discussions between Russians and their Western counterparts was unpopular – even revolutionary. “This concept of daring to do is at the root of what I admire about EWI.”

Cattaui’s own professional history is prestigious: she is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Petroplus Holdings AG, Switzerland. Previously, she was Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, championing the role of world business in the global economy. She also worked for the World Economic Forum in Geneva, where she became managing director, responsible for the Annual Meeting in Davos.

Still, Cattaui has found the time to take an active and enthusiastic role in EWI over the years. In one memorable trip, she joined Founder and President John E. Mroz in Moscow for an early meeting on cybersecurity – an example, she said, of EWI’s ability to tackle new security challenges, to “delineate where those difficult divides are happening - where things are stuck” and to make an impact.

At EWI, we are grateful for the involvement and guidance of our board members like Cattaui. For our 30th anniversary, we have begun interviewing them about their experiences at EWI – a valuable chance not only to chronicle the institute’s oral history, but to learn about ourselves.

What has emerged is a portrait of EWI as a small, innovative organization willing to tackle the world’s toughest problems and deliver solutions, like bridging divides between Afghanistan and Pakistan or getting Chinese and American political leaders to sit down one-on-one.  Or, an organization that “dares to do,” as Cattaui put it.

We invite you to watch this short video which, along with Cattaui, features: Ross Perot Jr., EWI Co-Chairman and Chairman of Hillwood; Stephen Heintz, President of the Rockefeller Fund; Mark Maletz, Senior Fellow at the Harvard Business School; Jerald Baldridge, Chairman of Republic Energy Inc.;  Ikram Sehgal, Chairman of Security and Management Services; and Leo Schenker, Senior Executive Vice President of Central National-Gottesman Inc.

How did you first come to hear about the EastWest Institute, and how did you get involved?

I was introduced to EWI by Allen Col­linsworth, an acting fellow and former staff member. He shared with me some exciting work EWI was doing to curb violent extremism and also their work to bring development in Afghanistan. [EWI President] John Mroz visited me in Istanbul and in­spired me to get involved.

How did Kurt Enterprises come about? How would you sum up its long-term mission?

Kurt Enterprises was founded by my father Mehmet Kurt who was born and raised in the southern town of Adana, Turkey. Here he established the first flour mill and fostered a broader food production enterprise including sunflower oil and jam as well as pack­aging. Today, his focus is on perfecting his revolutionary race-horse training technology called Kurt Systems. Our family for generations has owned land around Turkey, which we continue to develop according to the economic demands of the era.

What major international relations and public policy issues are you most passionate about?

Violent extremism as well as the empowerment of women in business and political life are areas where I hope to see more progress in my lifetime— particularly in the predominantly Muslim areas of Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa, which lag behind Europe and the United States.

How do you see Turkey’s role on the international stage changing in the coming years?

It will become a staging point for Western commercial activities directed toward the resource-rich Middle East and Caspian Basin. Politically, it will become an im­portant go-between for Western powers engaging with emerging Muslim democ­racies with strong Islamic identities.

What are your thoughts on the launch of the Economic Security Initiative? How do you see the institute making a difference in the field of economic security?

Trade interdependence is the funda­mental basis for security. Countries who trade together share peace together, and governments allowing fully participatory economic systems are more stable. Corporations today have brought distrust to the economic system, suggesting that wealth and risk are not fairly distributed, and early generations benefit at the ex­pense of those in the future. Whether we are talking about investing in state and global assets such as water and energy supplies or even cyber infrastruc­ture, these can all be pursued under the banner of economic security.

What are the advantages of working with EWI as a director?

Firstly, I have met wonderful people at EWI, people who genuinely care about making this world a safer place. It is fulfill­ing to be a part of an organization that doesn’t just talk about problems but gets out there and solves them.