Özlem Kalkan was born in Ankara in 1981. She was ranked as 3rd in the class 99’ in İzmir American High School. With the full scholarship and as one of the first graduates of Sabanci University Microelectronic Engineering Department, Özlem Kalkan completed Sabanci University Telecommunication Engineering and Management Sciences Double Master’s Degree program in 2005 and Strategic Leadership Program at Insead University in 2016.
Starting her professional career as the Executive of Value Added Services in Borusan Telekom during her master’s degree education , Özlem Kalkan worked as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development in Teletek Telekomünikasyon Hizmetleri between 2005-2006 and in Grid Telekomünikasyon Hizmetleri between 2006-2008, then worked as Business and Product Development Manager in Global İletişim Hizmetleri between 2008-2010. She worked as the New Product Development Director, Strategic Areas Director, Strategic Partnership Head, Tivibu Director and Products and Services Director, respectively, in Turk Telekom Group between 2010-2019. Özlem Kalkan has been working as the Chief Strategy & Sales Officer (CSSO) within SabancıDx family since April 2019.
She is a member in Supervisory Board of WTech Association (Women in Tech).