Short Profile and Interview with Melisa Kalayci

Participant in the "EXIST-Women" program

What is your business idea?

Our project is driven by a heartfelt mission. During my studies, we came across research revealing a gap in care for children and adolescents with cancer. Each year, 2,200 children are diagnosed with cancer, and thanks to advances in medicine, around 1,700 survive. The focus is increasingly shifting to the quality of life after survival. Our idea is to create a place that helps adolescents reintegrate into daily life while navigating the vulnerable phase before, during, and after puberty. We are still working on the framework and how we will offer our services, but the main goal is to provide the best possible start for these young people after their recovery. We have begun developing a concept and are continuing to work on it.

What motivated you to apply for the EXIST-Women program?

I always wanted to be self-employed. I wanted to create a place where people enjoy working, where there’s a pleasant work environment and excellent conditions.

What do you hope to gain from the EXIST-Women program?

Exchange… exchange, and more exchange.

What do you want to achieve by the end of the EXIST-Women program?

To believe more in myself and my idea.

What are you currently working on? What are your next steps?

We’ve gone back to brainstorming and are thinking about how we want to implement our idea. Alongside this, we are conducting research to determine what we will offer and how.

Where do you see the biggest challenges for yourself and your project?

The financing of the project.

How can people support you with your project? Where have you sought help?

• Exchange – ideas and suggestions
• Legal frameworks

How did the project or business idea come about?

During my studies, while working on a paper, I came across numerous studies. I was deeply shaken to learn how many children and adolescents are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. However, I was pleased to read that 85% of them survive. As someone with a background in healthcare, I know the difficult journey these individuals must go through. This raised the question for me: How are they doing after recovery, and how do they manage the rest of their lives? Is there enough help available?

What do you hope to achieve with your project?

First, I want to raise awareness of this important issue. Many families are pushed to the margins of isolation because society often doesn’t know how to talk about this or what’s appropriate to say. My goal is to offer the support these people urgently need during this extremely challenging phase of life. Despite the significant changes and limitations the illness brings, I want to help them experience this time as positively as possible. It especially moves me that children with cancer often don’t have the opportunity to develop in an age-appropriate way – and this is where I want to offer early support through tailored services.

What motivates you to start something of your own? What appeals to you about self-employment?

My goal is to create a place where people enjoy working, and as a leader, I have the opportunity to shape that. I want to support and foster people so that they can reach their full potential. My desire is to make a difference and help others, just as inspiring women have helped me on my journey.

In my career so far, I’ve gained valuable experiences – both positive and negative – for which I’m equally grateful. However, I’ve noticed that negative experiences often characterize the way staff are treated. I want to do things differently. I aim to create a work environment characterized by motivation and mutual respect. A positive error culture, where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities rather than setbacks, is particularly important to me. I want to create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and can grow.

What advice would you give ASH students for starting a business or implementing a project?

Even a heavy door only needs a small key.
— Charles Dickens

Do you have a role model? Who inspires you?

Yes, I have many role models – both within my family and beyond. In my family, there are inspiring people like my grandmother, who moved to a foreign country and worked hard her whole life despite limited opportunities, achieving a lot. But there are so many more people who have impressed me in different ways, whether through their strength, creativity, or attitude. It would be impossible to name them all, as I find inspiration in many places and from a wide range of people.

Which courses/seminars have you attended to prepare for your startup?

• How to Start a Business on the Side
• Starting a Business in a Social Context
• Crowdfunding
• Leadership Communication
• Project Management
• Quality Management
• Train the Trainer
• Certified Specialist for Animal-Assisted Intervention

What does self-care mean to you, and how do you integrate it into your daily life?

Self-care means recognizing when I need a break and what type of recovery really benefits me. It’s about figuring out what I need to regain my strength. Through the people I’ve accompanied in hospice and palliative care, I’ve learned a valuable lesson: the ability to appreciate the small things in everyday life and feel genuine gratitude. These individuals have taught me to live more mindfully in the present moment. As a result, I often practice self-care by pausing and simply being grateful.

Interview from 15.09.2024

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