Cem Ünsal
My career began in media and grew through entrepreneurship. Today I train AI models, build my own AI projects and advise organizations on AI strategy.
I was born in Ankara in 1983. I started my career in advertising sales at some of Türkiye's largest media groups and moved into management over the years. I then turned to entrepreneurship. I founded my own venture company, launched two digital products and advised global brands.
Today most of my time goes to artificial intelligence. I train some of the world's leading AI models, build my own AI projects and advise executives and organizations on AI strategy.
I wrote Muhafız, a book that helps women recognize danger and manipulation, set boundaries and defend themselves when needed. In my free time I coach Krav Maga, kickboxing and Muay Thai.
All of this work has one aim. To pass on what I have learned, as accurately as I can, and to show why it matters.
I help leading AI models give more accurate and reliable answers. I review model responses, correct the flawed ones and train the model to tell a grounded answer from an unsupported one. My focus is on following instructions and answering from real information instead of inventing it. I work in Turkish and English, and I give particular weight to AI handling Turkish correctly.
I advise executives and organizations on AI strategy. Bringing AI into an organization is a management process, not a software purchase. I approach it in four phases, namely literacy, decision, implementation and sustainability. I see from the inside where and why models go wrong and how their output should be checked, and I look at each decision from an executive's point of view.
I build my own AI projects, including agents and bots that turn my work into practical digital tools. The main one is Muhafız Mentor, built for my book and one of the first digital mentor bots to accompany a book. A reader can work through the book's methods one to one with the mentor. When they describe a situation they have faced or are worried about, the mentor shows a fitting approach within the book's framework.
I write about subjects ranging from AI literacy to personal safety. At the center of this work is Muhafız, my book for women. I also publish articles, podcast episodes and videos. Most of my work is in Turkish, and selected pieces appear here in English.
I advise global brands, particularly in tourism and hospitality, on entering and marketing in the Türkiye market. This work draws on my background in media and entrepreneurship.
I coach Krav Maga, kickboxing and Muay Thai. I prepare people mentally, physically and technically for real situations they may face on the street. I have developed dedicated programs for women and children, and they are the main focus of my work.
Media. I began my career in 2007 at CNN Türk, part of Doğan Media Group, as one of six management candidates selected for advertising sales. Over seven years at CNN Türk, Habertürk, Bloomberg HT and Show TV, I worked at every level from advertising sales executive to sales director. I was part of the founding team of Sales House, Türkiye's first independent advertising sales agency. I worked with brands such as Vodafone, P&G, Unilever, Toyota, Beko and Coca-Cola, and with global agencies such as Mindshare, OMD and Mediacom. I managed large budgets, led complex negotiations, designed custom brand projects and sponsorships, and ran brand launches and media plans.
Entrepreneurship. In 2014 I left my position in media and founded a venture company, istaleo, with my brother. Through it we launched two mobile apps. The first, Selfision, let people see themselves objectively through other people's eyes. Users shared tagged photos, learned from the votes how others saw them and met new people. The second, Corld, was a social network built around shared interests and experiences rather than geography, where people exchanged knowledge and supported one another. In those years I handled everything from accounting and legal work to design, software, user experience and fundraising.
Artificial intelligence. After these years in entrepreneurship I turned my attention mainly to artificial intelligence. I saw early how quickly it was changing work, thinking and everyday life, and I moved directly into the field. Today I train leading models, build my own projects and guide companies through this change.
Krav Maga. Krav Maga is a separate and important part of this path. I trained at Krav Magen Self Defense Academy in Istanbul, affiliated with WindGate College, and later added kickboxing and Muay Thai.
My work comes together at one point. In AI, I care that people keep their own judgment engaged and understand the tools they use. In personal safety, I care that they notice danger in time and can protect themselves. Both come down to the same principle. No one should hand full control of their life to another person or to a tool. I call this stance the Guardian Mindset.
The stance of a person who is highly aware, reads danger early, holds clear boundaries and, when needed, meets physical and mental threats with composure.
I built this site for the same purpose. My aim is a reliable, useful source on subjects surrounded by confusion, such as AI and personal safety. I will also share what I learn in my other areas of interest.
Muhafız
Muhafız, Turkish for "guardian", teaches women to recognize danger and manipulation, to set boundaries and to defend themselves in words and, when necessary, physically. Its goal is a reader who knows what to do in a moment of danger and does not freeze. The book is complete and ready for publication in Turkish.
Thank you for reading. You can follow my work on the platform you prefer.