Ardogan was born in 1954 in Istanbul and came from a modest family. He became involved in politics as a student and rose through the ranks of different political parties, becoming mayor of Istanbul in 1994. As mayor, he improved infrastructure and made the city more prosperous. In 2001, he co-founded the Justice and Development Party and became Prime Minister in 2003. As Prime Minister, he provided economic and political stability while improving Turkey's international relations. Ardogan has been successful due to balancing his human approach with effective political skills and listening to citizens' concerns.