As artificial intelligence reshapes industries with innovation, leaders like Burak Yaka are at the forefront, transforming challenges into opportunities through technology and determination. Currently serving as Project, Utilities, and Energy Manager at PilenPak Ambalaj San ve Tic. AŞ, Burak is deeply passionate about AI, automation, and energy efficiency, viewing setbacks as chances for growth. His philosophy, “Success belongs to the team, failure is mine as a leader,” and his drive to “create a difference where there’s a ‘Before Burak’ and ‘After Burak,’ delivering value as my source of professional fulfillment,” guide his career.
A Defining Career Journey
Burak, an Electrical and Electronics Engineer, specializes in industrial management, energy efficiency, and AI-driven optimization. His 15+ year career began at Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense as a Project Review and Control Specialist, overseeing Ege Region projects with military discipline. He then advanced to TCDD’s 3rd Region Facilities Directorate, leading signalization and electrification projects with Japanese teams, ensuring IZBAN line continuity after a lightning strike crisis. Transitioning to private sectors, he held roles at DEZEGA SP (managing maintenance, investments, projects, safety, energy, and high-voltage operations), Mecalac (as Maintenance and Investment Manager, developing a digital maintenance system and leading IT during a cyberattack), Janoschka (Production Manager, implementing Toyota Production Systems and lean manufacturing), CMS Jant (as Planned Maintenance Chief, then Mechanical, Mold Shop, Metal Melting, and Foundry Chiefs, driving quality and efficiency), ERGA Global (Production Manager, leading technical operations for a new plant setup), and Vergo Energy (Production Manager, breaking historic bending and cutting records in Salihli). Now at PilenPak, he leads AI-driven projects to optimize production and energy use. His contributions earned him a spot in White Page International’s Top 200 Power Leaders of 2024.
AI-Driven Success and Innovation
Burak’s passion for AI stems from his early days as a computer enthusiast, overcoming financial struggles in a state boarding school by saving for internet cafes—experiences that later fueled his IT leadership, cyberattack responses, and AI obsession. At PilenPak and across facilities, he leverages AI to boost production efficiency, enhance energy savings, reduce failure rates, and solve root causes through predictive analytics. His AI initiatives have driven operational improvements, minimized waste, and strengthened sustainability, reflecting his commitment to smart manufacturing.
Leadership Under Pressure
Burak’s leadership shines in high-stakes scenarios, such as an impossible production target crisis. Refusing to give up, he stayed overnight at the facility, sleeping on chairs, motivating a hopeless team, and even praying in the rain. By dawn, they surpassed three times the daily capacity, met deadlines, and rallied as a unified team—proving his belief that “impossible” means nothing to him, even driving him to work factories at midnight when ideas strike.
Education and Mentorship
Educated at Ankara Anadolu Lisesi and Eskişehir’s Electrical-Electronics Engineering (100% English), Burak refined his expertise through programs at Harvard, MIT, Hong Kong, Shaw Academy, Rice University, and others like Six Sigma Black Belt and Quality Management certifications. He mentors young engineers, shares insights on Show Türk and TGRT Haber, and supports LÖSEV, TEMA, and Kızılay, balancing professional ambition with community impact.
Vision for the Future
Burak aims to lead globally in AI-driven industrial transformation, focusing on energy efficiency and predictive maintenance. He seeks to mentor the next generation, leaving a legacy where AI and sustainability converge, while continuing his social responsibilities and personal growth through lifelong learning.
