Welcome back to ACE Spotlight, our weekly journey around the world to meet the people behind the expertise of the Oracle ACE community.
This week’s Spotlight is particularly special because we’re publishing it on October 14, Joel Kallman Day! 🌟
#JoelKallmanDay celebrates the spirit of community, generosity, and knowledge sharing — values that are also at the heart of the Oracle ACE Program. It’s a day to recognize the people who make our technology communities stronger by sharing what they know, supporting others, and inspiring the next generation.
And what better way to celebrate than by introducing another Oracle ACE whose passion for technology goes hand in hand with a commitment to sharing knowledge?
This week, we’re heading to Istanbul, Türkiye, where we meet
Oracle ACE Pro Alkin Tezuysal
With more than three decades of experience in databases and open-source technologies, Alkin is an author, international speaker, and passionate member of the MySQL community. And when summer arrives, you might find him working remotely from his sailboat somewhere between the Greek and Turkish islands!
Let’s meet Alkin!
🌍 Where in the World Are You?
I’m based in Istanbul, Türkiye. 🇹🇷
Istanbul is a city where thousands of years of history and multiple cultures come together, sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
It’s also a great base for travelling, giving me easy access to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and the rest of the world.
During the summers, I sail between the Greek and Turkish islands aboard my boat, while continuing to work remotely from onboard.
🎉 Three Fun Facts About Me
I’ve spent more than three decades working with databases and open-source technologies, and I’ve co-authored two books: MySQL Cookbook, 4th Edition and Database Design and Modeling with PostgreSQL and MySQL.
During the summer, I trade my usual office for my sailboat, @svrubato, sailing and working remotely between the Greek and Turkish islands. ⛵
I’m also a frequent international traveler, regularly crossing the world to speak at database and open-source conferences and meet the communities behind the technologies I work with.
☕ My Perfect Weekend
My perfect weekend depends entirely on the weather and where I happen to be.
In summer, it might mean sailing between islands. Even during winter, we still take the sails out for local sailing around Istanbul.
Other weekends, I might take my motorcycle out for a long ride, discover a new road or destination, and stop somewhere along the way for good food and coffee.
I enjoy being outdoors, travelling, exploring, and simply getting away from the usual routine.
⭐ ACE Since…
I became an Oracle ACE Pro in 2025.
🚀 My Oracle Journey
My first encounters with Oracle technologies came early in my career, before I moved into open-source database technologies.
I’ve been working with databases for more than three decades, including many years before the cloud era.
Over time, my career evolved toward MySQL, PostgreSQL, database architecture, and open-source technologies.
Alongside my technical work, I’ve always valued the opportunity to connect with others, exchange experiences, and contribute to the database community through books, conferences, and knowledge sharing.
Today, MySQL remains one of the technologies I’m most passionate about, and I’m always interested in exploring how databases continue to evolve.
💡 One Oracle Tip Everyone Should Know
Don’t underestimate the value of good documentation.
Oracle has great documentation compared with many other technologies.
Taking the time to read it carefully and explore the details can help you understand the underlying architectures and technologies much more deeply.
Sometimes the answer you’re looking for is already there — you just need to take the time to find and understand it.
🛠️ A Project I’m Proud Of
Apart from the books I’ve co-authored, one of the projects I’m particularly proud of is MyVector.
It’s a project I’ve been working on over the past few years, and it has received recognition from Oracle as well as great support from the community.
That community support has made the experience especially rewarding.
You can explore the project at myvector.online.
📚 What I’m Learning Right Now
I’m currently exploring AI and its growing role within the database ecosystem.
AI is another area where I believe everyone will need to develop knowledge and practical skills to take advantage of the opportunities it creates.
Database technologies continue to evolve, and AI is becoming an increasingly important part of that evolution.
Even after decades in the industry, there’s always something new to discover.
💬 Ask Me About…
MySQL!
That’s the technology I’m happiest to help with.
And if I don’t know the answer to your particular challenge, chances are I know a company, a person, or an expert who does.
That’s one of the great things about being part of a community: we can connect people and find solutions together.
🌟 Advice for Aspiring Oracle ACEs
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about becoming an Oracle ACE?
My advice comes down to one thing:
Share.
Share your knowledge and spread the word.
Knowledge becomes more valuable when it’s shared with others, and that’s what helps communities grow.
🤝 Let’s Connect!
You can find me on LinkedIn and through my website:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/askdba
Website: askdba.net/about
This week, ACE Spotlight took us to Istanbul, Türkiye, where we met a database expert whose professional journey spans more than three decades — and whose office sometimes floats on the Mediterranean Sea! ⛵
Alkin’s story reminds us that technology communities are about more than individual expertise.
They’re also about the connections we build, the people we meet, and the knowledge we pass along.
Whether through books, international conferences, open-source projects, or simply helping someone find the right expert, Alkin demonstrates how sharing knowledge creates opportunities for others.
And his advice for aspiring Oracle ACEs couldn’t be simpler: Share.
On this #JoelKallmanDay, Alkin’s story reminds us why sharing knowledge matters — because every contribution, connection, and act of generosity helps our community grow.
Did you miss our previous ACE Spotlights?
🇪🇬 Meet Nada Bashar, Oracle ACE Pro — Oracle Integration, Visual Builder, Agentic AI, and a love for K-dramas.
🇦🇷 Meet Gustavo Gonzalez, Oracle ACE Director — More than 25 years of Oracle experience, from Financials to AI Agents.
🇮🇳 Meet Divya Unnikrishnan, Oracle ACE Associate — From NetSuite Functional Consultant to Solution Architect.
Next Wednesday, our international journey continues as we meet another person behind the expertise — with a new location, a new Oracle story, and a new perspective to share.
Where will ACE Spotlight take us next? 🌎