SWE is honoured to interview Dr. Aybike Molbay, General Manager of the Turkiye Technology Center at GE Aerospace as part of our Female Leaders in STEM series.
Dr. Molbay shared her experience leading a multinational team of more than 500 engineers who are helping shape the future of flight through jet engine design and manufacturing process development. As a strong advocate of diversity, she has helped transform the culture at Turkiye Technology Center, achieving above-average representation of women engineers within the team.
On 3 Dec. from 14:00-15:00 CET, we held a live interview hosted by Anca Eisele, Human Rights Officer and Ethics & Compliance Manager in Europe at John Deere. Participants even had the chance to post their own questions to Aybike!
Meet the Speakers

Dr. Aybike Molbay, General Manager of the Turkiye Technology Center at GE Aerospace
At GE Aerospace, Aybike Molbay leads a team of more than 500 engineers at the company’s Turkiye Technology Center helping shape the future of flight through jet engine design and manufacturing process development. In this role, Aybike is a strong advocate of diversity and helped transform the culture at Turkiye Technology Center to achieve above-average rates of women engineers.
In addition to her role as an executive engineering leader Aybike serves on the Board of Directors of TEI, a joint venture of GE Aerospace and the Turkish Government that supplies critical rotating parts for commercial jet engines. She also serves on the board of the TTGV Turkiye Technology Development Foundation, Turkey’s first public-private funded program to support research, development and technological innovation projects in the private sector.
Prior to this position, Aybike served as the GE Aerospace Regional Sales Director of Commercial and Military Engines where she was responsible for relationships with customers such as Turkish Airlines, Turkish Armed Forces, Ministry of Defenses in Turkey and Balkan countries as well as Boeing and Airbus within the region. She joined GE Aerospace in Turkiye in 1994 as a program leader for turboshaft and turboprop Engines. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and has worked with all levels of government, military and airline customers in the defense and aviation industry.
Before joining GE Aerospace, Aybike worked at Airbus as a design engineer on the A330 and A340 programs engine installation aerodynamic analysis.
Aybike has a PhD in Aerodynamics from Toulouse Institut National Polytechnique, a Masters of Science in Fluid Mechanics from through ENSEEIHT and a Bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.
Aybike has two children, and in her spare time enjoys playing piano, skiing, traveling and reading.

Anca Eisele, Human Rights Officer and Ethics & Compliance Manager in Europe at John Deere
Anca Eisele earned a degree as a Mechanical Engineer and an MBA in International Lean Manufacturing Consulting. She is a certified Quality Manager, Compliance and Data Privacy officer and Fraud Examiner. She is the recipient of Society for Women Engineers (SWE) Prism Award, served on SWE’s Board of Directors, advocates as global ambassador and sponsors the Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar Affiliates.