The rise of Turkish executives in the global arena continues without slowing down. Recent consecutive international appointments have turned Turkey into a veritable "expat factory." With market experience forged in crises, an agile leadership approach, and cultural flexibility, Turkish professionals are becoming a strategic choice for global brands. So, according to which criteria do international companies select "Turkish expats"? Who are the leaders successfully representing Turkey on the global stage?
The research conducted by the global expat community InterNations, with more than 10,000 expats from 172 different nationalities, draws attention with its striking results. According to the study, the countries that received the highest scores in overall happiness this year also ranked high in the "Personal Finance" index and achieved strong results in quality of life and ease of settling in.
- PANAMA
- COLOMBIA
- MEXICO
- THAILAND
- VIETNAM
- CHINA
- UAE
- INDONESIA
- SPAIN
- MALAYSIA
The dynamism of the business world in Turkey, the constantly changing conditions, and expectations grant everyone—especially leaders—a natural ability to adapt and be agile. Making quick decisions under uncertainty, developing alternative and creative solutions, and managing crises are part of daily practice. Therefore, muscles such as strategy formulation, creativity, resilience, and change management develop earlier in those working in Turkey.
Taking on the responsibility of multiple countries requires transforming into a leader who can manage regional and global priorities and adapt to differences. I believe one of the strongest attributes of Turkish leaders is their flexibility and ability to adapt to changing conditions. They possess a natural advantage in generating creative solutions in environments of uncertainty and change, agile decision-making, action-orientation, and crisis management.
However, diversity and inclusion, which are still focal areas for many companies in Turkey, remain a developmental area. Turkish executives working in global roles find opportunities to develop these skills by working with multi-cultural teams; as they embrace differences, they strengthen both team performance and their own leadership impact. Every Turkish expat carries a new story to the world and to all employees in Turkey who see them as role models: a leadership journey that grew and developed in Turkey, then opened up to the world. The fact that global companies entrust critical responsibilities to Turkish leaders shows that the talent raised in our country has gained trust on an international scale.
