Women Entrepreneurs Honored for Business Success

The 14th “Women Entrepreneurs of the Year” Awards Ceremony, organized by the İş Kadınları Derneği (İKD) with the support of Telsim, was held under the slogan “First dream, then act.”

The event, held in an atmosphere of recognition and inspiration, was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, Minister of Economy and Energy Olgun Amcaoğlu, Minister of Labor and Social Security Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, Minister of Agriculture Hüseyin Çavuş, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Fazilet Özdenefe, Telsim General Manager Sefer Tüz, İKD Chairperson Bilen Sayılı Bozkırlı, as well as MPs, business representatives, and members of civil society.

The highlight of the evening was a performance by Turkish world wheelchair dance champion Yeliz Güllü, who presented an emotional choreography.

Telsim General Manager Sefer Tüz emphasized that the award annually honors women whose ideas and determination benefit society and demonstrate the strength of female leadership. He added that participating in this project has been a “source of pride and inspiration” for the company.

İKD Chairperson Bilen Sayılı Bozkırlı stated that the ceremony reflects the association’s 18-year journey full of dedication and belief in women’s potential. According to her, the organization aims to remove barriers faced by women and develop an ecosystem that supports female entrepreneurship.

Bozkırlı thanked Telsim, which has been the main partner of the ceremony for 14 years, and stressed that every woman in Northern Cyprus — regardless of awards — is part of the country’s economic strength.

2025 Award Winners:

• Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Olgu Afşaroğlu (Director of Buff & Bloom)

• Woman Who Transformed Her Region: Aysu Diren (Director of Aysu’s Cakes & Bakery)

• Woman with a Promising Future: Gülşen Kayımzade (Director of Lefke Arıcılık ve Ticaret Ltd.)

• İKD Honorary Award: Birgül Güvenir Beyatlı (Architect, Tourism Business Owner)

• Telsim Special Entrepreneurship Award: Berin Sonüstün (Founder and Director of British Medical Laboratuvar)