Meet A WINner: Ayşıl Akcanbaş

Ayşıl Akcanbaş is a Human Resources professional with 25 years of experience, the last 15 years of which were spent at the executive board levels at several prominent multinational (e.g., Xerox, Alcatel, Lafarge, Johnson and Johnson) and domestic Turkish (e.g., Dogan Holding, Ayaydin Miroglio) companies that operate in a variety of sectors. She was awarded “Top 50 most influential HR Leaders” by the Fortune Magazine in Turkey in 2016. Currently, she is one of the accredited coaches of the CoachHub and Thrive Partners. Most recently, she is a dear advisory board member for our MentorWIN program and leads the ‘Coaching for Future Leaders’ project at the TurkishWIN. She is also engaged in several volunteer projects to empower women, young adults, and teens.

She has PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation by International Coaching Federation with more than 700 hours of coaching and 200 hours of assessor roles for all levels of employee positions ranging from CEOs to Middle Management to Career Professionals.

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

“There are no limits to what you can accomplish, except the limits you place on your own thinking.” (Brian Tracy)

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Dark chocolate

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

I wish I had a coach who knew my capabilities, ability to guide me on my career journey before making a selection for where I went to university .

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

• Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
• Leonardo Da Vinci
• Tina Turner

Name a book you read that positively shaped you.

• The Four Agreement – Don Miguel Ruiz
• Anatomy of Peace – Arbinger Institute

You believe in the sisterhood at work because… 

You know that you have support, are held by others, and learn unconditional love and trust.

Who are your role models? 

• Brene Brown
• Arianna Huffington
• Deepak Chopra

If you had one superpower, what would it be?

Teach all parents about how to grow a mentally healthy individual and birth control.

Do you have any pets? 

Yes, her name is Cookie

Describe yourself as a teenager in 3 words

Funny, Cool, wow

What’s in your handbag right now?

My wallet, hand sanitizer, my special pens, a notebook, my keys, my reward cards and an empty bag in case I go shopping.

Last book you read or are reading now 

I am currently reading two books:

• Thinking Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman
• Algida, iknada, iletisimde beyin oyunlari – Tamer Demirdelen

If you had a time machine to which era would you want to travel in time? Past or future and why?

Best years in the Ottoman Empire, around 1490s

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

Gourmet Cuisine 

What’s on your playlist right now?

My yoga songs and a mix of songs that I like most.

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

My credentials and my golds

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Meg Ryan

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

My sports clothes

If you can explain your personality like a food; which food and why?

It should be delicate and healthy, if you eat it, you and your soul will be healthy…

You have a car trip from İstanbul to Bodrum. Choose a famous person to join you and tell us why!

I think Cem Yilmaz and his crew as I will have a lot of fun during my journey.

You are walking on the street and suddenly, you come across Mona Lisa. What do you do?

I may do nothing ☺ look at her and walk away as I do not want to bother her.

If you were a new festival:  What would be your name and how people would celebrate?

Soul – by dancing with me

You have your own talk show on tv and your childhood self is your guest. What would be your first question to her?

How are you?