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We met with Gülay Özgen, a determined woman who has paved her own way. In our interview, we had the opportunity to get to know her inspiring success story.
I was born in Istanbul in 1983, and I am 42 years old. Since August 22, 2022, I have been working as the Finance Manager at Hasçelik. I’m in my 19th year in the business world. Life hasn’t always been easy for me; I didn’t grow up in a world of pink clouds. This, however, helped me prepare for the future with resilience.
Big Sister and Little Mother
I am the eldest sister and the oldest daughter in our family. I have a younger sister who is 10 years younger than me. During her early years, I acted like a little mother to her. While she was a responsibility to me as a child, she later became my closest friend. Even today, one of the biggest reasons I still feel young at 42 is her. Our friend circles are intertwined, and when we plan gatherings, my friends always ask, “Gülşah is coming too, right?” The same goes for her friends; they love having me around. This connection keeps our family dynamic and vibrant.
"You Will Study in Istanbul!"
I graduated from Marmara University with a degree in Economics. When I was preparing for university, my scores were only sufficient for universities outside Istanbul. My father said, "Study for another year and get into a university in Istanbul." I didn't object back then, but I might not take that risk today since life doesn’t always go as planned. However, I realized I handled stress better in those days. I prepared once again and earned my place at Marmara University.
Campus Shock!
When the results were announced, we gathered around the computer as a family. Seeing "Marmara University, Economics" on the screen was a joyful moment. Then I scrolled down a little further and saw “Bahçelievler Campus.” I was shocked! I had assumed it would be the Göztepe Campus.
Back then, social media didn’t exist, and internet resources were limited. Today’s young generation is lucky; they can access information with a single click. For me, it meant commuting from Kartal to Bahçelievler for four years. But I was one of the most diligent students of my time, always sitting in the front row. I only missed four days in four years, and that was only when I was genuinely sick. 😊
Roads Are My Reflection Space
I never complain about spending time on the road. Business trips, social events, and journeys don’t bother me; in fact, I enjoy them. Being on the road allows me to reflect and find clarity. In the hustle and bustle of life, these moments are priceless.
Every morning when I get into my car, I start my day with a sense of gratitude. I feel thankful to be healthy and to witness a new day. Then I play some good music to relax before work. In the evenings, I do the same to unwind. But on some days, I prefer complete silence.
Passion for Cycling, Walking, and Coffee
I love walking during summer. Cycling has been a passion of mine since I was six years old, and I still ride along the Kartal coast. However, I do have one complaint — the bike rental stations on the coast were removed two years ago. Thankfully, I have my own bike.
I’m also a devoted Turkish coffee lover. I enjoy its aroma and savor every sip. At work, even Zeynep Hanım finds it amusing how particular I am about my coffee. When I visit a café, I often ask, “Could you please heat the cup before serving?” Foamy coffee in a warmed cup is my little obsession.
My Route: 11 KM and Meditation
During the summer, I follow a specific walking route. I leave home, walk 5.5 km to Dragos coast, and stop by a café for a plain Turkish coffee and sparkling water. They know my order by heart now! After a 30-minute break, I walk back, completing a total of 11 km — around 15,000 steps.
These walks are like meditation for me. Gazing at the sea and the horizon provides an incredible sense of relaxation.
History is My Passion
Reading is one of my greatest joys. I have a deep fascination with history. Give me an encyclopedia, and I can read it without getting bored. Historical novels are my favorite since they ignite my imagination.
I’m also quite protective of my books. One book, "Bay Pipo," which I’ve read four times, holds a special place in my heart. For me, reading is not just a hobby; it’s like living in another world.
Accounting Closes the Past, Budgeting Plans the Future. We Manage the Present.
Accounting deals with the past, budgeting plans the future, but finance is all about managing the present. It involves rapidly changing scenarios that require immediate decisions, and I find joy in this constant dynamism.
Risk, Excitement, and Stress — But I Enjoy It
Living in the moment, managing stress, and making quick decisions — these are integral parts of finance. Of course, there are moments when my motivation dips, but the dynamic nature of finance is what excites me. It’s challenging, but I genuinely enjoy it.
A Smile Is the Easiest and Free Gift
Wherever I go, I greet people, make eye contact, and offer a smile. Saying good morning and smiling is simple yet impactful. A smile shows people they are valued.
I've Seen This Attitude Change People Over Time
At first, I didn’t receive much response when I greeted people. However, over time, I noticed a shift. Many who used to keep their heads down while working now return my greetings. This small change has significantly improved the office atmosphere.
Balancing Work and Personal Life is Essential
Most of our time is spent at work. If you’ve had a bad day at the office, it’s unfair to bring that energy home. It’s crucial to separate personal and professional life to maintain balance.
I Keep Lunch Breaks Work-Free
I believe lunch breaks should be a time to relax, not discuss work. Sometimes, my colleagues bring up work topics during lunch, and I jokingly say, “I’m moving to the next table.” It’s important to enjoy those moments of relaxation.
Being Present in What I Do
If I’m doing a task, I’m fully committed to it. Half-hearted work doesn’t satisfy me. I love my job and feel like I was born for it. When I’m fully immersed, I strive to do my best. For me, it’s a passion.
Starting Every New Day in Good Health is My Greatest Motivation
For me, the greatest motivation is health. In 2024, I faced serious health issues. I had a small traffic accident, fell, had knee damage, and suffered burns. This experience taught me even more about the value of health. But actually, the thing that has always motivated me in the mornings is the same: When I wake up, being able to say, "I started today healthy."
Health: Our Greatest Asset
I have a friend I've known for over 10 years. He is visually impaired, but not born blind. He fell from a bike at the age of three and gradually lost his sight. He is a graduate of Boğaziçi University and a top executive. His approach to life and his struggle remind me every day: Health is our greatest asset. When you lose it, you realize how valuable even the simplest things are.
The Value of Simple Things in Daily Life
Think about it—today I can comb my hair by myself, I can walk, breathe, see colors, and live without needing anyone’s help. This is an incredible source of motivation for me. Of course, there are things that can lower your morale during the day, but when you change your perspective, these things don’t bring you down.
Tough Days and the Process of Recovery with Determination
I went through tough days. After the accident, I couldn’t walk for a long time, and my family had to carry me. I started losing the ability to do things I could do on my own. Doctors recommended surgery, but I didn’t give up and searched for a solution. In the end, I recovered without surgery. During that process, I learned this: Life will challenge you, but you must be flexible like a rubber band. They will pull you down, put pressure on you, but you have to push yourself upwards.
The Cycle of Life and Valuing the Moment
In life, neither good nor bad days last forever. Everything continues in a cycle. The important thing is to value the moment. What we can do today, we won’t be able to do in later years. That’s why, when I wake up every morning, my greatest motivation is: "I am healthy today, I am standing today. So, let’s continue with life from where I left off!"
Like the Three-Legged Iron Stand
My teammates are truly like a three-legged iron stand for me. Imagine a three-part structure: one is me, one is my teammates, and one is my team. Yes, even if one leg of the iron stand is missing, it might still stand, but if you apply pressure to that side, it will bend and fall. We stay strong within the team by balancing and supporting each other.
The Iron Stand Needs to Be Complete
When one leg of this three-legged stand is missing, a deficiency is definitely felt. But as a team, we can quickly complete this. I hope the employees in other workplaces are as lucky as we are. But in business life, balancing this is truly difficult.
I’m Really Lucky
I’m not saying this just because I currently work here, but I say it sincerely: There is an incredible harmony in our team. From our accounting manager to our lawyer, everyone supports each other, brings suggestions, and we complement each other.
The Number of Female Managers at Hasçelik is Increasing
When I joined Hasçelik in August 2022, the number of female employees was quite low, and there were almost no female managers. But today, seeing the increase in the number of female managers makes me incredibly happy. Many names have joined this chain after me, and this development makes me proud.
A Team with Strong Communication
Everyone supports each other, shares knowledge, and helps one another. Especially seeing this solidarity among female employees is very valuable. Even though we are in different locations, when we come together, we feel we have a sincere and strong bond.
Patience and Hard Work: The Key to Success
The most important thing in business life is patience. But that doesn't mean staying stagnant. You need to constantly improve yourself. Work, work, and work again! If you look at great success stories, discipline and determination are behind them.
Learn to Listen, Imitate, and Gain Experience
One of the most important things for someone starting a new job is to listen. How do children learn to speak? By listening and imitating. When you start your career, first listen, then observe, and imitate the best. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, because you can’t learn to walk without falling.
You Can Reach Information with One Click, Make Use of It!
In the past, we would go to libraries to get information, and we would spend hours researching. Now, everything is at your fingertips with one click. New-generation artificial intelligence, social media, foreign languages... Take advantage of these opportunities to develop yourself.
Work and Make Time for Yourself
There are different opportunities at every stage of life. When you first start a job, you have plenty of time but little money; later on, you may have money but less energy and time. That’s why enjoy the beauty of each age. Develop yourself but don’t neglect your social life.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask!
Newcomers often hesitate to ask questions. They may think, "Will they think I don’t know?" or "Will I seem unsuccessful?" However, the most effective way to learn is to ask. First ask your teammates, and if not, go to your manager, but always ask!
Lift Your Head and Increase Your Awareness
Many people walk into work looking down, not even making eye contact in the elevator. Lift your head, look around, and be aware. You can't always work at your computer. Every now and then, stop and look around, take a breath. Awareness is important in all areas of life.
You Can’t Learn Without Falling
You can’t improve without making mistakes. You can’t put someone in a glass bubble and protect them because, in the real world, one day they will face difficulties. That’s why we need to let people fall and make mistakes. The important thing is to help them get back up.
Don’t Focus on Problems, Be Solution-Oriented
There will always be problems in life. But the issue is how you solve those problems. You should focus on evaluating the situation and finding solutions without panicking. Remember, crisis management is also a skill!
The Success of the First Major Project
One of the moments I am most proud of was related to a very challenging project. We worked intensively on it for exactly 6 months. One morning, while I was on my way to work, I received an email and it was approved. It’s hard to explain how I felt in that moment. It was such a demanding project that receiving the approval email gave me a real sense of peace and accomplishment. Even when I told my friends that day, I shared the joy of that moment.
A Financial Success and International Credit Approval
Getting a loan from abroad as Hasçelik is a very challenging process in our sector. But we received international credit approval for our Bilecik Steel Mill investment. This success created a huge excitement across the company. That energy spread from Mr. Naci to the lowest level employee and boosted everyone’s morale.
6 Months of Effort and the Triumph of a Great Success
One of the projects we worked on tirelessly for 6 months deeply moved and made me happy. The feeling of success after all the effort is still within me. It was a project that I had been thinking about day and night, and reaching this success continues to motivate me.
Leadership Lesson from Yavuz Özdil: Communication and Empathy
In 2012-2013, when I worked as a financial affairs specialist, my manager, Yavuz Özdil, gave me a very important leadership lesson. A large part of my managerial qualities today comes from him. I always remember this lesson, and I mention his name in every job interview. He taught me how valuable it is to understand people and communicate effectively in business life.
The Importance of Appreciation and Criticism in Communication
Mr. Yavuz always told me that appreciation should be made in front of everyone. Honor the people around you, let them be proud, and this will increase their motivation. But when giving criticism, do it in a private setting to avoid embarrassing anyone. He taught me that if someone has a bad feeling, it should stay between you once you leave the room.
Anger Control and Empathy
Anger control is very important. Just like everyone else, there are people who cannot control their emotions. That’s why bad words sometimes slip out. However, the important thing is to show empathy and support each other after that negative feeling. For me, if I’ve hurt someone’s feelings after an angry moment, I find it very valuable to go to them, offer something, or even just touch their shoulder to soften the tension. Because love and support always motivate.
When I think about this, there’s one thing I would say: Live in the Moment!
Live in the moment, because when I look back, I realize those moments I failed to live. Before university, I wasn't someone with this mindset. I was always energetic and dynamic, but I also had a tendency to procrastinate. I clearly remember this from my high school years. However, when I entered university, I experienced a great awakening about myself. From that moment on, I began to understand how valuable time is.
The Value of Time
We cannot get time back. Think about it: no matter what you do, you can’t relive yesterday. You can buy health up to a certain point, buy a car, buy clothes, but you can’t buy time. That’s why, live in the moment.
Don’t Let Anyone Change Your Path
Another important thing is this: Don't let anyone design the route to your dreams. Everyone has their own journey; some may want to get married, have children, or raise them in a certain way. Some people set career goals, saying, "I need to reach this level." Others may want to buy a house or a car. No matter what, don’t let anyone change the direction of your dreams. Because time is irreversible. As you go along the way, choose what’s right for you, not what others suggest. For example, don’t be swayed by statements like, "You were going to buy a BMW, let’s get a Mercedes" or "You were going to buy a Renault, let’s get a Fiat."
Life’s Decisions Are Yours
Yes, life is shaped by mistakes, beauties, kindness, and evils, but these were my decisions. Not because Oğuz said so, but because I did it. I’m glad I did it, I’m glad I made mistakes, I’m glad I fell, I’m glad I got up, I’m glad I studied in those places. Because everything added something to me.
In conclusion, live in the moment and don’t let anyone change you...
If a key on your keyboard worked in real life, which one would you choose?
Yes, this is really a great question. My answer would be the Windows key. Because when you press the Windows key, you can also press additional keys, and suddenly you can do many things at once. I’m someone who loves getting a lot of things done at the same time. When I press the Windows key and that screen pops up, I can do multiple tasks quickly. It’s really efficient. And everything is more enjoyable and easier when everything is in one place. A very spontaneous question, but it turned out great.
What Did You Want to Be When You Were a Kid?
As a child, I actually wanted to be a computer engineer. Of course, back then, no one could have predicted how much artificial intelligence would develop. That’s why computer engineering interested me. But over time, this changed. I started chasing money and decided to become a financier. That’s how life is, it can drift in different directions. But in any case, my connection with the computer engineering I dreamed of as a child still continues because my interest in technology and the computer world never faded.
If Your Computer Could Speak, What Would It Say?
Yes, very interesting question! If my computer could speak, it would definitely say, "Could you please shut me down now?" Because I never turn off my computer until I finish something, especially until I finish my work. For example, I open a lot of emails, and while they’re waiting at the bottom, I go through them one by one. But sometimes, because things pile up, I imagine my computer saying, “Shut me down already.” Once a week, my computer restarts itself. New things come in, old tasks are closed. This is a very organized process. So, my computer would definitely eventually say, "Shut me down, rest."
What Makes You Laugh the Most at Work?
Actually, the thing that makes me laugh the most at work is myself. Because I’m generally someone who likes to make people smile. I have good motivation, and I enjoy spreading cheer to others. Both in the workplace and in general, I joke around with people as I feel. Since we moved to the new building, I’ve noticed the atmosphere in the office has changed. I want to keep everyone’s morale high and make sure they smile. So, the thing that makes me laugh the most is something that depends on me: myself.
If There Were a Magic Button in the Office, What Would You Want It to Do?
Honestly, what I’d want it to do is make everyone smile. Because, no matter how positive people are, sometimes we get buried in the intensity of work, and I want to make sure people lift their heads and see around them. If such a magic button existed, I would want it to take people out of work mode and guide them to live in the moment. I would want everyone to be successful, hardworking, and unique, but also have a moment to breathe and look around. This way, instead of getting lost in the business world, making sure we all live in the moment would be so valuable.
