Who We Are?
Hey People! was created with one mission: to help startups hire smarter, grow faster, and lead better. We combine deep expertise with a modern approach to talent development and culture building.
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We have a lived experience in tech, VC-backed startups, and organizational development. We work hands-on and move fast, just like you.
Ekin Ataman Yönet
Founder | Strategic Talent Partner
Ekin is your friendly neighborhood talent partner. She works with tech startups and high-growth companies to help them build and scale their teams with intention and impact. Her focus is on making hiring smarter, culture stronger, and people systems more scalable.
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She has spent over a decade in the world of VC-backed startups and talent-driven organizations, building high-performing teams across functions and stages. Her background spans recruiting, talent management, and leadership development, with a hands-on approach grounded in real startup experience.
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Professional Background:
Ekin began her career as a recruiter at an executive search firm in New York City, where she built a strong foundation in identifying high-caliber leadership talent. She went on to hold key roles at Korn Ferry and WTW, two of the world’s most respected firms in executive search and human capital advisory. Prior to founding Hey People!, Ekin led talent initiatives at 500 Emerging Europe, a global venture capital firm. In that role, she worked closely with dozens startup founders, supporting them through critical hiring decisions and scaling challenges. Over the course of her career, she has successfully placed top executives across industries, including leading financial institutions and major holding companies, and has become a trusted advisor to both emerging and established organizations.
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Education:
Columbia University - M.Sc. - Technology Management
Barnard College of Columbia University - B.A. - Psychology​
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Ashli Carter, Ph.D.
Leadership & Development Advisor
Ashli is a scholar, leadership coach, educator, and researcher who brings a people-first, evidence-based approach to developing individuals and teams. Her work blends behavioral science with practical strategies to help leaders grow with clarity, self-awareness, and purpose.
Whether through one-on-one coaching, workshops, or classroom teaching, Ashli coaches professionals and teams to help them align their values with their everyday behaviors, improve communication, and unlock their highest potential.
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Professional Background:
Ashli is a Senior Lecturer in the Management Division at Columbia Business School, where she teaches courses on leadership, negotiation, and cultivating a growth mindset in the MBA, Executive Education, and staff development programs. Prior to joining CBS, she taught leadership and professional ethics at NYU Stern as an Assistant Professor and Faculty Fellow.
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Her academic research examines how thinking styles (abstract vs. concrete) shape how people respond to setbacks and how stereotypes about these thinking styles affect workplace opportunity. She also explores how art alongside new technologies like generative-AI can be used to strengthen collaboration and connection within teams.​
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Education:
Columbia Business School - Ph.D. and M.A. - Management
Stanford University - B.A. (with honors) - Psychology​
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Nilgun Langenberg
Executive Talent & Leadership Advisor
Nilgun is a trusted advisor to senior executives navigating complex leadership, talent, and organizational challenges. With a sharp strategic lens and deep business acumen, she helps leaders and boards make better people decisions, accelerate performance, and lead with clarity.
Known for her ability to balance candor with empathy, Nilgun brings a distinctive blend of insight, challenge, and actionable counsel to every engagement.
Professional Background:
Nilgun is the Founder and Managing Director of ida leadership, where she works closely with CEOs, CHROs, and senior leadership teams to drive transformation through people. She previously held leadership roles at Korn Ferry, where she led the EMEA Consumer Practice across all consulting solutions and served as an advisor and coach in executive development programs worldwide. She has extensive experience in executive search, assessment, and organizational strategy.
Nilgun is a CTI-trained executive coach and certified in a wide range of assessment and leadership development tools. She is also a sought-after speaker and facilitator, delivering sessions for global audiences on topics such as enterprise leadership, learning agility, succession planning, talent acquisition, and diversity and inclusion.
Education:
University of Ottawa - MBA - Business Administration
Bogazici University - B.A. - Business
Lisa Patti
Speech & Communication Coach
Lisa is a communication expert, coach, and speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience helping professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and impact.
She specializes in working with global talent, from startup founders to corporate leaders, to elevate how they pitch, lead, and connect across cultures. Her work blends speech clarity, communication strategy, and intercultural intelligence into a practical, personalized approach.
Professional Background:
Lisa is the founder of C3Speech, a communication and coaching company focused on helping international professionals refine their presence, delivery, and message.
Over the course of her career, Lisa has worked with hundreds of founders from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, helping them communicate their vision and lead more effectively. She has coached individuals and teams from organizations such as PwC, EY, Columbia University, and Gunderson Dettmer, as well as participants from global accelerator programs like Starta VC, Investment NSW, EACC, and Maison de L’Occitanie.
Lisa is a licensed and ASHA-certified Speech and Language Pathologist and holds multiple credentials in intercultural communication and emotional skills.
Education:
Nova Southeastern University - M.A. - Communication Sciences
St. John’s University - B.S. - Business Management
