Meet my aunt Asuman

Meet my aunt Asuman. She migrated to the United States in the 1950s. Her reason for leaving Turkey: to divorce her husband. In Turkey, at that time, a woman could not get a divorce without her husband’s consent. 

So, thinking outside the box, Asuman thought if she got married in another country, her husband would surely divorce her. She did not speak a word of  English then. She was a high school graduate. Well, she found an opportunity to go to New York, she took a chance and got married in New York to get a divorce in Istanbul. But her husband did not agree to the divorce for 8 long years. 

The United States gave Asuman more freedom- for starters to build a successful business. She is still working at the age of 87 and has a net worth north of 100 MM. She also exercised her freedom to divorce 3 more times:-) She now has a big family and that wing of the family is now in the United States. Her grandchildren, some of my relatives, do not speak Turkish. 

My aunt became an entrepreneur out of necessity and has built a life for her family on her terms. 

I was born in Istanbul and knew of my aunt Asuman with limited interaction until I decided to pursue my education in the United States. 

My parents encouraged me to invest in my education. I have received my undergraduate degree from the London School of Economics and an MBA from Columbia Business School. When I arrived in the United States in the 90s, it was by choice to start a career at the New York Stock Exchange. 

I had other challenges than what my aunt faced- I had a college degree and was looking for career advice and women like me! My aunt was in the same country but had no idea about my challenges and aspirations- yet she always supported me, like my mom, saying, if I did it, so can you! You have more education, more resources, and more support, you better do better than me:-) 

In the U.S., I was seeking first TurkishWIN American networks, then women in finance networks, then Columbia Business School networks to learn from others’ experiences to set my new goals. After 20 years in the United States, I did not feel 100% Turkish or American- I had this weird feeling of being planted in a place but never felt I  fully belong.

In 2008, I came across the TED network – TED conferences- and felt at home at once! That’s when I understood what I needed, a safe place where everyone shares similar values and a sense of shared purpose. 

Inspired by TED conferences, I founded the Turkish Women’s International Network (TurkishWIN) in 2010 in New York to connect with women like me.  

TurkishWIN is a global Sisterhood for open-hearted women with cultural, family, or professional ties to Turkey. Our members excel at our best with our sisterhood’s support. And we give back together and leave a legacy not just through the work we do but the relationships we create and the women we impact along the way. As a sisterhood, we support Turkey’s rising female leaders. Today, our #GiveBack programs reach millions of young women, lifting them up to build careers they love.

So, my aunt Asuman’s choice to get a divorce had this amazing butterfly effect. Isn’t life just full of amazing twists and turns?