Derya Ozkaya Matras is Meta’s vice president for Africa, Turkey, and the Middle East. Derya observes that technology is constantly evolving. She feels privileged to be the first female vice president of Meta, chosen from her area and overseeing the business’s activities throughout more than 70 countries. Because Derya oversees a large region that includes Turkey, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa, her work is distributed over several countries and varied teams tackling cross-functional problems.
Before joining Meta, Derya had a lot of meetings that lasted an hour, as compared to the 15 to 30 minutes that she now had. Every day, she attends up to ten meetings where topics include revenue, influencer tactics, ministerial policy discussions, and even roundtable discussions with local leaders.
Being one of the few female engineers, Derya has always been captivated by technology and its potential to empower individuals and societies. Even though she has extensive expertise in management consulting and has advised businesses across a variety of industries, she had never considered working for a large tech company until she received a message from Meta on LinkedIn six years ago.
The scope, significance, and impact of the company’s work, as well as the way it uplifts and supports the local businesses and communities, continue to inspire Derya on a daily basis. Derya views her appointment as a recognition of the growing trend toward gender parity and diversity in corporate leadership, particularly as a woman in the fast-paced technology sector.
About the Meta
Meta creates technology that facilitate human connection, community discovery, and company growth. Facebook revolutionized interpersonal communication when it debuted in 2004. Apps such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger have given billions of people worldwide even more power. In order to contribute to the development of the next stage of social technology, Meta is now expanding beyond 2D screens and into immersive environments like augmented and virtual reality.
