Dr. Yılmaz Argüden is an enterprising force in civil society. As the Chairman of the KalDer (Turkish Quality Association), he initiated new standards of quality in private and public sectors as well as institutions and foundations throughout Türkiye. In order to implement and maintain standards of quality to ensure competition on a global standard, he initiated the National Quality Movement which oversaw many permanent changes and programs and also founded numerous awards.

As the elected Chair of both Turkish-American and Turkish-Canadian Business Councils (under the auspices of the Foreign Economic Relations Board), he furthered business relationships and increased bilateral ties between the countries. Dr. Argüden was among the founders of TEGV (The Turkish Education Volunteers Foundation), established to ensure that contemporary educational methods of teaching were being achieved and maintained on a national basis. He Under the auspices of the Foreign Economic Relations Board instrumental in founding the Turkish think-tank TESEV (Economic and Social Studies Foundation) to further support public policy analysis. Dr. Argüden was among the founders of the Private Sector Volunteers Foundation (ÖSGD) established to promote corporate responsibility and volunteerism. Under his Chairmanship, the Boğaziçi University Alumni Association (BÜMED) garnered widespread support from alumni to elevate the university to be recognized as a model for the role it plays among strengthening civil institutions. He was instrumental in establishing management systems for the SEV Foundation, which was founded by the graduates, and assumed ownership for the American Board Schools in Türkiye. Later, he was elected as a Trustee of the Foundation, served on the Board of Directors, and as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. He served as the Chair of the Audit Committee of Ashoka, promoting social entrepreneurship, and was among the founders of Endeavor Türkiye promoting high impact entrepreneurship.

He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Turkish Corporate Governance Association (TKYD) and a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). He also served as the Chair of the Governance Committee of the Business at OECD. He has been elected as the National Representative of UN Global Compact and later served as the Global Chair of Local Networks and served on the Board of UN Global Compact.

As the Chair of the Trustees of Argüden Governance Academy he has been instrumental in developing innovative models to promote good governance for quality of life and sustainable future.