Meet A TurkishWINner: Alev Bosut Berrak

Alev Bosut Berrak was a banker for 20 years and a student before that. She recently started her second life after moving to London with her family and she intends to do what feels like she should have done for a long time. A long-awaited surprise that she wants to give herself. She is currently involved in music, books and movies and she also has a passion for fashion. Keep reading to get to know her a little better.

What's the best piece of advice you've received?

To read books originally written in English in English, not from the translation. I received this advice from one of my mother’s friends when I have just started learning English at an early age.  I listened to her advice. I became the best student in English in no time but this was only a side benefit.  In order to find books in English, I started to visit libraries, or perhaps I shall say treasure dungeons and I became extremely rich.  

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Milk, but nothing beats Nutella

One thing you wish you had known earlier in your career.

In the first five years of your career, maximize the skills, know-how you receive from others, remain a student rather than becoming a young teacher. Look out for opportunities to learn all types of skills.  In the next five years of your career, maximize your monetary rewards for your good work. In the next 10 years, do what you feel like you love and do well.

If you could have any three people (dead or alive) over for dinner – who would they be?

• Jarvis Cocker
• Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar
• Elon Musk

Name a book you read that positively shaped you.

Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

You believe in the sisterhood at work because… 

We all need one another and we flourish with meaningful relationships. I love all my older, peer, and younger sisters from my banking years. 

Who are your role models? 

My favorite role model is my mother, a competent philosopher disguised as a housewife. 

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

My superpower is to perform very well under time pressure but I would like to be a time traveller instead

Do you have any pets?

Not at the moment, but I had a cat for 14 years.

Describe yourself as a teenager in 3 words.

A cool nerd

What’s in your handbag right now?

I don’t want to take up 3 pages with the answer

Last book you read or are reading now.

A concise history of Sunnis and Shi’is by John Mc Hugo

If you have a time machine to which era do you want to travel in time? Which era? Past or future and why?

Every week, I would like to travel to Batcave Club night in 1985 in London and come back to my life the next day. 

If you weren’t in your industry – what would you be doing?

 Directing movies

What’s on your iPod (or cell phone playlist) right now?

New Order - Technique

If your house was on fire, what two things would you run back in to get?

Two coats I really like, and of course all family members and neighbors.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Molly Ringwald 

What's your favorite thing in your closet right now?

My leather jacket.