Women’s Inspiring Stories Came Together at “Story Harvest”!
Coordinated by TurkishWIN and hosted by the Western Anatolia Federation of Industrialists’ and Businesspeople’s Associations (BASİFED), the “Story Harvest” event showcased women’s inspiring stories of achievement. The event was organised in collaboration with the İzmir Women Entrepreneurs Board of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), which operates under the coordination of the İzmir Commodity Exchange.
The event aimed to strengthen women’s role in society and support their efforts for equality as the Republic enters its second century. In the “Inspiring Storytellers” session, moderated by Story Harvest facilitator and TOBB İzmir Women Entrepreneurs Board member Nuray Ekinci Esen, Deniz Celep, Chair of the TOBB İzmir Women Entrepreneurs Executive Committee, and Duygu Karaca, founder of Tinytrek, shared inspiring stories drawn from their professional and social lives. Celep and Karaca emphasised that gender equality is a right and that achieving it requires raising awareness and standing up for that right.
Deniz Celep, Chair of the TOBB İzmir Women Entrepreneurs Executive Committee, highlighted the importance of women’s visibility in decision-making. She said, “Işınsu Kestelli, the first woman to chair the İzmir Commodity Exchange, is a role model for us all through her leadership, her hard work, and the doors she has opened. My own journey began when I first saw her, drew courage from the way she carried herself, and took her as my role model. Her presence tells me, tells you, and tells everyone, whether they are here today or elsewhere, ‘You can do it.’ Having women in leadership matters for representation and for transforming society. We can achieve anything we set our minds to. As women, we do productive work, manage our households skilfully, make time for our families, and balance these responsibilities. We bring value to every area of life through our organisational skills, intuition, and sense of responsibility. For me, learning and discovering new things is a lifelong need. Seeing my journey inspire others over time has brought me a joy I can hardly describe. One woman’s courage and determination can light the way for others.”
Drawing attention to examples of what women can achieve, Celep said, “As women, we want to contribute more to society through our knowledge, hard work, and empathy. We have more than enough strength to do so.”
Duygu Karaca, founder of Tinytrek, began by thanking the teacher who inspired her in her career. She emphasised the important role teachers play in shaping children’s and young people’s career choices and outlook on life. She said:
“I am here today because I set out to discover who I was. Years ago, my physical education teacher taught me to persevere. I have carried that lesson with me every step of the way. As I built Tinytrek, I trusted in my own abilities and always believed I could do better.”
Nuray Ekinci Esen, a member of the TOBB İzmir Women Entrepreneurs Board who took part in the event as a “Story Harvest Facilitator”, said, “The Story Harvest Programme is a social movement that brings women’s stories of life, struggle, and achievement to wider attention across Türkiye. By sharing their experiences, women pass on the message ‘You can do it’ to future generations. With the help of facilitators, the programme aims to reach more people and strengthen solidarity and cooperation among women. We want equal rights and an equal chance to pursue our dreams. We want a world where we can choose the future we truly want and decide for ourselves what is right for us. This time, we are listening, creating, and healing together. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another, guide one another, and build strong bonds. The warmth and openness this creates show what it means to grow together and stand by one another.”
Throughout the event, women entrepreneurs shared their inspiring journeys, demonstrating the strength of women and the power of their solidarity.
