We’re excited to announce the receipt of a generous donation from Raif Dinçkök, a 1994 Questrom alumnus of the Business Administration program. The gift establishes the Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund at the Mehrotra Institute to advance student-led engagement initiatives that foster constructive dialogue and discourse on the role of business and global competitive markets in society.
“Boston University, and Questrom in particular, have continued to impress me with their commitment to global engagement, including furthering alumni connections in my home country of Turkey,” said Dinçkök. “I’m thrilled that my son, who is studying at the BU College of General Studies, will benefit from this commitment and all that Boston University has to offer. The Mehrotra Institute, with its emphasis on how business can help solve societal problems, felt like an ideal mission to support.” Raif Dinçkök serves as chairman of the board of Akkök Holding, which has interests in a variety of business operations, both in Turkey and outside its borders. Its primary interests are in chemicals, energy, composites, and real estate.
Events supported by the Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund will provide students with opportunities to engage in thoughtful, evidence-based dialogue inclusive of differing perspectives, fostering mutual understanding, and helping to counteract the societal polarization that increasingly undermines democratic discourse. A key goal of the Mehrotra Institute is to provide opportunities for balanced debates and dialogue about the role business and markets do, can, and should play in creating value and solving global societal challenges. In an era marked by technological disruption, environmental degradation, rising inequality, and political polarization, understanding how business can—and must—play a constructive role in addressing society’s greatest challenges is more important than ever. This work addresses a pressing cultural concern about the lack of open forums for discussing issues relating to capitalism and the role of business in global society.
The gift supports the expansion and refinement of the Questrom Summit Series, initiated in 2024 by Boston University students Yash Seth (College of Arts & Sciences ‘26), Utkarsh Seth (Engineering ‘26), Carlo Leopardi (College of Arts & Sciences ‘25), Raza Shah (Questrom School of Business ‘26), Aanya Shahdadpuri (Questrom ’26), and Nora Rotman (College of Arts & Sciences ’26). In its launch year, student-led discussions included prominent leaders and innovators Linda P. Henry, CEO of Boston Globe Media and Partner at Fenway Sports Group, and Paul G. Parker, Managing Partner at Flagship Pioneering. Under the Mehrotra umbrella, the series will bring speakers who not only exemplify successful career paths but also represent diverse opinions regarding the role of their businesses and industries in society. Students will engage directly with invited business leaders in critical discussions about the design of effective corporate governance structures and regulatory frameworks, examining how these institutional foundations enable well-functioning markets and empower businesses to create long-term value for society.
The gift will also support the development of student-led episodes in the Mehrotra Institute’s Is Business Broken? podcast series. The first such episode was released on June 26, 2025, and featured Questrom sophomore Grant Corbett (Questrom ‘27) interviewing JD Chesloff of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable on the topic of global tariffs. Additional Boston University students involved in the podcast production include: Jack O’Sullivan (Communications ‘27), Izzy Victoria (Communications ‘27), Anna Welsh (Questrom ‘27), Sean Champa (Questrom ‘27), and John Kim (College of Arts & Sciences ‘27).
The Mehrotra Institute advances rigorous research, innovative education, and meaningful public dialogue on the role of business and markets in creating value for the world. As part of our mission, we place businesses at the center of economic and social transformation—emphasizing their potential not only to drive growth and innovation, but also to contribute meaningfully to societal well-being. “Providing students with a business-centric perspective that also encourages a positive social impact will pay off when they’ve graduated and are working in business,” said Marcel Rindisbacher, Director of the Mehrotra Institute. “We want to help students make better business decisions and ultimately improve how businesses are run. The Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund helps further our school’s mission by supporting real-world student learning opportunities outside the classroom and research settings.”
