oceaninspirations

Fatma Yuceler currently serves as the General Manager of the Turkish Airlines Western USA office with her primary job to oversee and expand the airline’s sales and airport operations.

Having grown up on Turkish hospitality, a signature cultural emblem respected throughout the world, her studies at Istanbul University in Turkey continued a path of professional development and education in the fields of marketing, corporate agreements and negotiations, and public relations. It was during this time she realized that she wanted to take Turkey’s world renowned and much sought after type of hospitality to the rest of the world, and what better way to do so and impact the lives of so many people than through the airline industry.

In May 2010, Fatma arrived in Los Angeles with a directive to establish the entire sales and airport operations for the Turkish Airlines Los Angeles office. The huge growth and success we have experienced in the L.A. market has been an incomparable highlight of her time with the airline.

“When I took over as General Manager of the Turkish Airlines Western USA office, the main challenge we faced with was in expanding our airline’s brand recognition and market share in the L.A. market. Frankly, up to then, the L.A. market was not a strong one for Turkish Airlines. We had little or no brand awareness in the market at the time.”

In a short period, Fatma has prompted that change through intense marketing, promotional and advertising efforts, and strategic expansion of services in the L.A. region, along with high profile partnerships and sponsorships. “We knew we needed to reach an audience in L.A. with a diverse background.”

An exciting new partnership with Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA star Kobe Bryant has had a impact on the global acceptance and recognition of Turkish Airlines’ brand. Kobe is well known and admired around the world, but he has an especially enthusiastic following among Lakers’ fans and Los Angeles area residents.

There are many women who continue to inspire us between some of the most creative minds from the worlds of fashion, art and entertainment, business and women leaders in our local communities. Ocean is pleased to present Fatma Yuceler, of Turkish Airlines Los Angeles Office, and recent Los Angeles Business Journal Women in Business Nominee as our most inspirational woman in business this Summer.

Ocean: What does being a woman in business mean to you?

Fatma: To be a woman in business means I have a voice to be heard and to make a difference. In my current position, I have the ability to regularly communicate and interact with the movers and shakers in the airline industry, both in and outside Turkish Airlines. Through my associations with them, I can bring to life ideas and initiatives that produce tangible, impactful results, results that benefit people monetarily and otherwise. I wouldn’t be able to do that in any other capacity.

Ocean: What or who has been your greatest influence or inspiration in business and why?

Fatma: I can honestly say that there are many people who have influenced me for good and inspired me to persevere and succeed in business. Having worked with Turkish Airlines now for over 20 years, my supervisors and peers at Turkish Airlines have all had an enormous impact on me. They are family to me, and I strive to make my airline family proud by working each day to represent the very best of what Turkish Airlines has to offer.

Ocean: What three life factors that have contributed most to your success?

Fatma: My success with Turkish Airlines has been the result of three business practices crucial to success in any business. First, my L.A. team and I consistently work to maintain and calibrate our regional business procedures so that they align with the overall vision of Turkish Airlines. Second, I clearly communicate to everyone their role in the office, and in the company at large, so that everyone knows how they can optimize their work time and effectively contribute to the company’s overall vision. Third, I keep in close communication with my team members to make sure we fulfill our respective roles and remain focused on achieving our goals. Communication is key for us.

Ocean: What leadership qualities do you most admire?

Fatma: I admire leaders who know how to effectively and persuasively communicate their vision and direction to others. Such communication inspires people to be their best selves. It helps them see that they have a special role to play in their company or organization, which further inspires them to make a meaningful contribution. I also admire leaders who encourage those whom they oversee to rise up and be leaders themselves. A leader who can create leaders bequeaths to their company or organization a powerful legacy of human capital, and that is something that can’t be purchased at the kiosk or manufactured on the factory floor.

Ocean: What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?

Fatma: Leave each place where you work better off than when you first arrived. Distinguish yourself. Leave your mark for others to see.

Ocean: What “rules” do you live by?

Fatma: Don’t settle for less than your best. Work hard for the future. It’s there if you want it.

Ocean: Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other women in business that have helped you attain such a great success in the industry?

Fatma: It all begins with a simple, yet powerful belief that you have something unique and special to offer as a woman and a person. Don’t let stereotypes or inhibitions deter you

Remember that you have a voice that can make a

difference. Speak up and speak out.

“ “

from following your dreams. Remember that you have a voice that can make a difference. Speak up and speak out. Lean in, as Sheryl Sandberg and other successful women have advised. Learn how to effectively communicate your ideas and how to channel them into worthwhile projects. You will be surprised how many doors will open for you when you do.

Ocean: Do you have any new projects coming up?

Fatma: In July of this year, my team and I will return to the renowned Global Business Travel Association Convention, held this year in Los Angeles, to highlight the airlines’ amazing growth over the past year. We are excited to showcase Turkish Airlines’ outstanding amenities, services, and accomplishments.

Ocean: What is Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?

Fatma: To be the number one luxury airline in the L.A. market, something we are well on the way to become.

Ocean: What is your favorite travel must-see within Turkey?

Fatma: I love the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Everyone should make the time to visit there while in Turkey.

Ocean: What do you love most about Turkey? Why would you recommend it as our 2014’s Most Stylish Travel Destination?

Fatma: The food. The music. The history. The people. I love it all. And it seems that I’m not the only one. According to

TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travelers’ Choice Destinations, released in April, Istanbul recently beat out Rome and London as the world’s top city for travelers. Istanbul is a luxurious, lively spot perfect for both the laid-back tourist and the avid adventurer. Turkey, with one foot in Europe and another in Asia, brings together a wide range of cultures and stories that every tourist can witness and enjoy.

Ocean: What makes Turkish Airlines unique a leader in the industry?

Fatma: What distinguishes Turkish Airlines is the warmth of the Turkish people and our superior customer service. We treat our passengers the same as we would our guests visiting our homes and we try to do whatever we can to make them happy. The friendliness of our cabin crew and all of our employees, the richness of our in-flight food and treats we offer, our overall strong customer service makes a lasting impression. We put our heart and soul into making sure our passengers experience Turkish hospitality from the moment they step on to our plane to the moment they set foot into our country.

Ocean: What is your best advice for our readers?

Fatma: Make the time to travel throughout your life. If there is one thing I have learned over the course of my career in the airline industry, and specifically with Turkish Airlines, the world is a beautiful place with so much to offer.

To book your next trip, visit Turkish Airlines at http://www.turkishairlines.com/. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.