Name: Ilknur B.
Position: HR Technology Manager
Location: Marriott HQ
Most used emoji: 💃 for celebrating the small wins 
Dream destination: China

When Ilknur’s 6-year-old daughter asked what she does at work, Ilknur gave her the simplest answer she could.

“When you grow up, learning doesn’t stop,” she told her. When that answer did not get the happiest reaction, Ilknur tried again: “But [when you grow up] you don’t always have to go to school. You can learn on your computer or phone. My job is helping the big sisters and brothers get the training they use to learn new things.”

In many ways, that conversation captures Ilknur’s Marriott story. Her work supports learning systems like our Digital Learning Zone (DLZ), helping associates access training, troubleshoot issues and improve the learning experience. But her own journey has also been shaped by learning: asking for feedback, building relationships, teaching herself new tools and taking ownership of her development one step at a time.

Read more about how Ilknur is owning her career growth, her passion for “digging,” and making things happen at Marriott.

How was your first day at Marriott?

It was actually kind of funny because I got stuck on the stairs. A note for new hires at HQ: don’t use the stairs until you get your badge!

During those first few weeks, I really liked the team, the work I was doing and the environment at the office. I remember telling my friends, “It’s only a short-term job, but I hope I can stay here.” Eventually, I had another opportunity to transition into a full-time role and continue supporting the Talent Development team. Now, almost two and a half years later, I’ve learned a lot, worked with great people and had opportunities to grow in ways I didn’t expect.

What is one conversation that changed the way you saw yourself, your work, or your career? 

I reached out to my colleague Anitra, who has been with Marriott for over 25 years. I asked if she could share her perspective on career growth and life at Marriott. She helped me realize that growth is not only about technical skills, it’s also about building relationships, learning how to collaborate with different people, understanding the culture, and finding your place within the organization. After that conversation, I became more comfortable asking for feedback and learning from the people around me. This conversation helped me feel more connected to Marriott and more confident in how I wanted to grow my career here.

What does owning your career mean to you?

It means figuring out what interests you and where you want to grow, then taking action in that direction. Sometimes you need to explore different opportunities and learn along the way. That might mean learning a new tool on your own, volunteering for a project or taking on something that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

You taught yourself specific software to make complex processes easier. What made you think, “There has to be a better way”? 

One day, my manager, asked me to look into Power Automate for a process the team was doing manually. The process involved a lot of repetitive tasks and required significant manual effort. I had some background in algorithms and logic, but Power Automate was completely new to me. At first, Copilot was almost like a guide that helped me understand the basics and get started. As I learned more about Power Automate, I built a flow for the process that reduced the manual effort and saved time for the team. Eunice’s request pushed me out of my comfort zone and opened the door to automation. Since then, I’ve continued looking for opportunities where automation can help make processes more efficient.

How has that mid shift helped you in your career?

What I like most is that every time I build a new flow, even a small one, I learn something new. It has become a practical way to keep improving my skills while also making everyday work a little easier.  

What do you think your managers saw in you from the beginning?

When I was a child, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I liked the idea of digging and discovering something important. At Marriott, I’m not exactly an archaeologist, but sometimes it feels similar. When an issue is reported, I like digging into it, asking questions, and understanding the root cause instead of just fixing the symptom. Once we find the root cause, we can resolve the issue and create a better experience for the end users. Maybe that’s what they were seeing. If I didn’t understand something, I kept digging until I understood it.

What are you still climbing toward now?

I’m interested in learning more about AI, especially human-computer interaction. I’m curious about how people and technology work together and how AI can be used in a way that actually helps people.

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