photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: dirkje visser from art of colors
özlem sehirli-kaya
manager directie consumenten at acm
about
my name is özlem, and i work as a manager at the netherlands authority for consumers and markets (acm). in my role, i am committed to strengthening and supporting consumer resilience, with a particular focus on the silent majority, those who do not always have the opportunity or the means to make their voices heard. i believe deeply that everyone in society deserves to participate on equal footing. this conviction drives my work and my leadership every day.
to me, leadership is about perseverance: standing firm for others, especially when it would be easier to stay silent, and continuing to lead with courage, even when the path is not straightforward.
why do you think it is important that role models need to be visible?
visibility matters, especially for those who grow up in modest circumstances. when your environment is small or quiet, your dreams can easily become the same. i was fortunate to have a mother who always whispered one simple question: “why not?” that question gave me the courage to persevere, even when the path forward was difficult. this is why role models are so important. sometimes, all it takes is seeing one person who looks like you, who stands where you never imagined you could stand, to realise: it is possible. and that realisation can change everything.