Hande Akpinar - Trainer-Mentor-Storyteller

Q: Where is Hande based?

Hande is based in Berlin, Germany and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Hande speak?

Hande speaks the following languages: Turkish (Native), English (Advanced), German (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Hande have?

Hande has at least 16 years of experience. During this time, Hande has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 9 months . Note that Hande may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Hande's latest experience?

Hande's most recent position is Trainer-Mentor-Storyteller at Crafted Learning .

Q: What companies has Hande worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Hande has worked for Crafted Learning , MzN International , and RET International .

Q: Which industries is Hande most experienced in?

Hande is most experienced in industries like Professional Services , Transportation , and Education . Hande also has some experience in Government and Administration .

Q: Which business areas is Hande most experienced in?

Hande is most experienced in business areas like Project Management , Strategy , and Human Resources . Hande also has some experience in Finance , Research and Development , and Sustainability Management .

Q: Which industries has Hande worked in recently?

Hande has recently worked in industries like Professional Services and Education .

Q: Which business areas has Hande worked in recently?

Hande has recently worked in business areas like Finance , Human Resources , and Operations .

Recommended expert

Berlin, Germany

Experience

Sep 2024 - Present

1 year 7 months

Trainer-Mentor-Storyteller

Crafted Learning

Supporting career and personal development through tailored workshops and mentoring.
Wide range of training and workshop options for public, private and NGO sectors.
Moderating and facilitating workshops to enable better decision making.
Constructing stronger communication and leadership methods through storytelling.

Nov 2022 - Aug 2024

1 year 10 months

Consultant

MzN International

Provide bespoke consultancy services to NGOs focusing on strategy development, organizational positioning, business development, and institutional restructuring.
Design and deliver both online and in-person training sessions on donor trends, proposal writing, budgeting, and leadership, empowering NGOs with essential skills for funding and operations.
Build comprehensive funding strategies for humanitarian and development partners, helping them access diverse funding sources like grants, tenders, and impact investments.
Lead proposal writing, editing, and quality control efforts to enhance success rates in securing project funding and create thought leadership content (articles, podcasts, webinars) on key NGO management topics.
Actively participate in talent identification, interviewing, onboarding, and conducting performance reviews.

Jan 2020 - Nov 2021

1 year 11 months

Country Program Manager

RET International

Oversee and manage all operations of RET entities in Turkey, ensuring both technical and financial supervision of active and planned programs.
Organize initiatives to enhance donor relations and expand the stakeholder portfolio for RET Alliance including multiple entities like RET International and LEAP Women’s Cooperative.
Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of 40 staff across departments including HR, Finance, Procurement, Logistics, Data Management, and Reporting as well as field personnel.
Coordinate resources, conduct technical and budgetary monitoring, and oversee performance reviews for all projects and programs implemented in Turkey.
Ensure timely delivery of high-quality technical and financial reports to donors and represent the RET Alliance in meetings with partners, donors, and UN working groups.

May 2017 - Dec 2019

2 years 8 months

Project Manager

Equinoccio

Manage the recruitment of key experts during tender preparation and ongoing projects, ensuring alignment with project needs.
Prepare strategy, rationale, work plans, and write sections for tender proposals including budget analysis, bid rates, and logical frameworks.
Analyze costs, prepare project budgets, and monitor both planned and actual project expenses and allocated working days.
Oversee the quality of services and reports provided by consultants and service providers to ensure compliance with project standards.
Lead the preparation and implementation of EU-funded Technical Assistance projects and donor-funded programs (World Bank, IADB, etc.) including mission planning and contract management.

Sep 2015 - May 2017

1 year 9 months

BD Specialist & Non-Key Expert

WYG Türkiye

Manage the recruitment of key and non-key experts during tender preparation and ongoing projects including conducting interviews and managing internal recruitment processes.
Prepare strategy, rationale, timelines, logical frameworks, and budget sections for tender dossiers while also writing key sections of tender proposals.
Serve as a non-key expert in various EU-funded projects contributing to market research, data analysis, workshop moderation, and quality assurance.

Feb 2015 - Aug 2015

7 months

Project Expert

Progem Consultancy

Write project proposals for NGOs and municipalities adhering to guidelines from Regional Development Agencies, EIDHR, and Erasmus KA1 and KA2 programs.
Supervise a team of six project writers and provide in-house training to improve their skills.
Maintain communication with beneficiaries and contracting authorities to explore available funding opportunities.

Oct 2013 - Jan 2015

1 year 4 months

Project Management Coordinator

Alya PR & PM

Write project proposals for municipalities, NGOs, and private organizations aligning with national and EU-based funding program guidelines.
Deliver seminars to NGOs on available EU funds and conduct capacity-building sessions on proposal writing for grant projects.
Research funding opportunities for municipalities and NGOs and design communication plans for current and potential clients.

Aug 2011 - Oct 2013

2 years 3 months

EU Relations Officer

Turkish Chamber of Shipping

Conduct research on EU competition policy in the shipbuilding industry and write grant projects for the Chamber while preparing a monthly EU bulletin on maritime issues.
Serve as project manager for “Project BRIDGE” overseeing event organization, study visits, and coordination with partner institutions in EU member states.
Represent the Chamber at the TOBB Maritime Committee on EU maritime issues and manage project activities, budgeting, and reporting to relevant authorities.

Feb 2009 - Jun 2011

2 years 5 months

Partner & Project Consultant

Güneykaya Consultancy

Provide consultancy services on EU funds and foreign-financed projects including project writing from idea evaluation to submission and coordinating services.
Deliver training sessions to NGOs on project preparation, project cycle management, and event management while offering consultancy on CSR and institutional capacity management.

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Professional Services, Transportation, Education, and Government and Administration.

Professional Services

Transportation

Education

Government and Administration

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Project Management, Strategy, Human Resources, Finance, Research and Development, and Sustainability Management.

Project Management

Strategy

Human Resources

Finance

Research and Development

Sustainability Management

Summary

Female entrepreneur currently working as a Trainer and a Mentor to craft learning for individuals, ensuring learning can be fun and engaging.
Accomplished Trainer with almost two decades of experience in design and delivery of capacity building trainings for public, private and non-profit organizations.
Actively supporting individuals as a Mentor towards realizing their goals and navigating their personal and professional journeys.
Proven track record in the design and delivery of workshops with a focus on improving soft skills and promoting personal as well as professional development.
More than 15 years of hands-on experience in building and leading teams, developing and implementing projects on an international scale.
Extensive experience of program and project management with a focus on socio-economic development and resilience building.
Strong communication, presentation, moderation, facilitation and reporting skills with a learned ability to adapt to pressure and deadlines.
Excellent team player with effective communication skills.

Languages

Turkish

Native

English

Advanced

German

Intermediate

Education

University of Exeter

BA · Politics & Sociology · Exeter, United Kingdom

Oxford Brookes University

MA · Humanitarian and Development Practices · Oxford, United Kingdom

Bahcesehir University

MA · EU Relations · İstanbul, Turkey

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 9

Experience in Professional Services 12 y

Avg length 1 y 9 m

Longest experience 2 y 7 m

Expertise

Recent roles Trainer-Mentor-Storyteller, Consultant, Country Program Manager

Main industries Professional Services, Transportation, Education

Main business areas Project Management, Strategy, Human Resources

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Profile

Created

September 2025

Last Update

February 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Hande based?

Hande is based in Berlin, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Hande speak?

Hande speaks the following languages: Turkish (Native), English (Advanced), German (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Hande have?

Hande has at least 16 years of experience. During this time, Hande has worked in at least 9 different roles and for 9 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 2 years and 9 months. Note that Hande may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Hande be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Hande would be well-suited for roles such as: Trainer-Mentor-Storyteller, Consultant, Country Program Manager.

What is Hande's latest experience?

Hande's most recent position is Trainer-Mentor-Storyteller at Crafted Learning.

What companies has Hande worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Hande has worked for Crafted Learning, MzN International, and RET International.

Which industries is Hande most experienced in?

Hande is most experienced in industries like Professional Services, Transportation, and Education. Hande also has some experience in Government and Administration.

Which business areas is Hande most experienced in?

Hande is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Strategy, and Human Resources. Hande also has some experience in Finance, Research and Development, and Sustainability Management.

Which industries has Hande worked in recently?

Hande has recently worked in industries like Professional Services and Education.

Which business areas has Hande worked in recently?

Hande has recently worked in business areas like Finance, Human Resources, and Operations.

What is Hande's education?

Hande holds a Master in Humanitarian and Development Practices from Oxford Brookes University, a Master in EU Relations from Bahcesehir University and a Bachelor in Politics & Sociology from University of Exeter.

What is the availability of Hande?

Hande is immediately available for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Hande?

Hande's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.