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The Ravi K. Mehrotra Institute at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business Receives Generous Donation From Alumnus Raif Dinçkök, Establishing the Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund

via Business Wire

The Ravi K. Mehrotra Institute for Business, Markets and Society at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business is excited to announce the receipt of a generous donation from Raif Dinçkök, a 1994 Questrom alumnus of the Business Administration program. The gift establishes the Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund at the Mehrotra Institute to advance student-led engagement initiatives that foster constructive dialogue and discourse on the role of business and global competitive markets in society.

A key goal of the Mehrotra Institute is to provide opportunities for balanced debates and dialogue about the role business and markets do, can, and should play in creating value and solving global societal challenges. In an era marked by technological disruption, environmental degradation, rising inequality, and political polarization, understanding how business can—and must—play a constructive role in addressing society’s greatest challenges is more important than ever. This work addresses a pressing cultural concern about the lack of open forums for discussing issues relating to capitalism and the role of business in global society. Events supported by the Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund will provide students with opportunities to engage in thoughtful, evidence-based dialogue inclusive of differing perspectives, fostering mutual understanding and helping to counteract the societal polarization that increasingly undermines democratic discourse.

Enabling opportunities for student-led dialogue and balanced conversations about business and capitalism, the gift supports the expansion and refinement of the Questrom Summit Series, initiated in 2024 by Boston University students Yash Seth (College of Arts & Sciences ‘26), Utkarsh Seth (Engineering ‘26), Carlo Leopardi (College of Arts & Sciences ‘25), Raza Shah (Questrom School of Business ‘26), Aanya Shahdadpuri (Questrom '26), and Nora Rotman (College of Arts & Sciences '26). In its launch year, student-led discussions included prominent leaders and innovators Linda P. Henry, CEO of Boston Globe Media and Partner at Fenway Sports Group, and Paul G. Parker, Managing Partner at Flagship Pioneering. Under the Mehrotra umbrella, the series will bring speakers who not only exemplify successful career paths but also represent diverse opinions regarding the role of their businesses and industries in society. Students will engage directly with invited business leaders in critical discussions about the design of effective corporate governance structures and regulatory frameworks, examining how these institutional foundations enable well-functioning markets and empower businesses to create long-term value for society.

The Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund will also support the development of student-led episodes in the Mehrotra Institute’s Is Business Broken? Podcast series. The first such episode was released on June 26, 2025, and featured Questrom sophomore Grant Corbett (Questrom‘27) interviewing JD Chesloff of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable on the topic of global tariffs. Additional Boston University students involved in the podcast production include: Jack O’Sullivan (Communications ‘27), Izzy Victoria (Film & Television and Advertising ‘27), Anna Welsh (Questrom‘27), Sean Champa (Questrom ‘27), and John Kim (College of Arts & Sciences ‘27).

“Boston University, and Questrom in particular, have continued to impress me with their commitment to global engagement, including furthering alumni connections in my home country of Turkey,” said Dinçkök. “I’m thrilled that my son, who is studying at the BU College of General Studies, will benefit from this commitment and all that Boston University has to offer. The Mehrotra Institute, with its emphasis on how business can help solve societal problems, felt like an ideal mission to support.” Raif Dinçkök serves as chairman of the board of Akkök Holding, which has interests in a variety of business operations, both in Turkey and outside its borders. Its primary interests are in chemicals, energy, composites, and real estate.

Established in September 2024, the Ravi K. Mehrotra Institute for Business, Markets & Society advances rigorous research, innovative education, and meaningful public dialogue on the role of business and markets in creating value for the world. As part of its mission, the Institute places businesses at the center of economic and social transformation—emphasizing their potential not only to drive growth and innovation, but also to contribute meaningfully to societal well-being. “Providing students with a business-centric perspective that also encourages a positive social impact will pay off when they’ve graduated and are working in business,” said Marcel Rindisbacher, Director of the Mehrotra Institute. “We want to help students make better business decisions and ultimately improve how businesses are run. The Raif Dinçkök Student Forum Fund helps further our school’s mission by supporting real-world student learning opportunities outside the classroom and research settings.”

About Boston University

Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With nearly 37,000 students, it is one of the largest private residential universities in the United States. BU consists of 17 schools and colleges, along with the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences and a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes integral to the University’s research and teaching mission. In 2012, BU joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of leading research universities in the United States and Canada.

About the Boston University Questrom School of Business

Founded in 1913, the Boston University Questrom School of Business is a global top-tier academic research business school. Led by Allen Questrom Professor and Dean, Susan Fournier, Questrom develops business leaders who create value for the world. Questrom redefines transformational business programs, strengthens partnerships with the business community, advances the impact of research on business, and manages the school as a high-performing enterprise committed to excellence with a service mindset. Comprising a renowned full-time faculty of 165 researchers, teaching faculty, and accomplished practitioners, Questrom generates insights to address today’s business challenges and prepares students with the tools they need to succeed from Day 1 in their professional lives. Questrom’s portfolio of academic programs is robust and includes a Top 20 undergraduate program of over 2,200 students; distinctive MBA offerings including 900 students in a full- and part-time MBA, the affordable Online MBA and specialty MBAs in social impact, health, and digital technology; several thriving specialized masters programs in areas including business analytics, mathematical finance, and management studies; and a rigorous PhD program. More than 50,000 Questrom alumni form a powerful global network of leaders driving value creation that changes the world.

QUESTROM MEANS BUSINESS. For more information, visit bu.edu/questrom.

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