Fulya Turkmenoglu shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Fulya, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I’m thrilled to share that I’ve just completed the full manuscript for my upcoming book, “Dance with the Waves: Tactics to Lead in Business and Life Strategically.” Finishing this project feels incredibly rewarding — it’s a calling I’ve carried for a long time.
The book brings together my journey as a strategist and entrepreneur, offering insights for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone aspiring to lead with intention and clarity. It draws from my personal experiences, notes, research, and life lessons.
What makes it especially meaningful is that the decision to write it came after I began mentoring others. Seeing people grow and guiding them gave me the perspective and purpose to share these insights in a tangible, lasting form.
You can also sign up on our website to stay updated and be among the first to access the book when it launches.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Fulya Turkmenoglu — strategist, entrepreneur, and aspiring lawyer and author, currently continuing my legal education in the UK. I hold a Master’s in Strategic Design & Management from Parsons School of Design, New York, and I earned my undergraduate degree from FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology). Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working across diverse industries, from fashion to innovative tech companies, gaining a broad perspective on strategy, design, and business growth.
My entrepreneurial journey began with Jaiyou, my brand focused on orthopedic supports, braces, and medical devices. Building on that foundation, I launched NEW DESIGN LAB.co, a strategic design agency initially created to manage compliance and FDA registrations for my medical device line. My compliance learning journey began by taking courses at Harvard, and as I expanded into strategic solutions for international companies, I realized the importance of deepening my knowledge of law and regulations — a journey that continues today.
Through these experiences, I aim to bring clarity, creativity, and strategic insight to every project, helping businesses navigate complex markets, grow strategically, and leave a meaningful impact.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’ve always been someone who finds joy in simple things. Since childhood, I’ve felt lucky, even through life’s ups and downs. But as we grow, the world starts defining what success and achievement should look like — and somewhere along the way, it’s easy to lose our own sense of direction.
For me, especially throughout my entrepreneurship journey, I became harder on myself and overly focused on results rather than the experience itself, even though I tried not to fall into that mindset. I’m still like that to some degree, but lately I feel myself returning to who I used to be. I’m no longer trying to control everything. I simply do what needs to be done and move on, one thing at a time. The truth is, even if I don’t do this and let stress take over, it won’t change reality — it will only slow me down.
It feels like I’m finding my way back to my original self.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Life is teaching me that self-improvement has its limits: I can refine who I am, but I cannot control every circumstance. Persuasion and negotiation can only take me so far. True strength comes from recognizing the boundaries of my control and using each setback as preparation for the next chapter.
Of course, this isn’t something that happens overnight — we’re not robots who can adjust automatically. Shifting a mindset takes time, patience, and often the support of others. Yet with effort and guidance, it is possible to grow, adapt, and move forward with clarity and resilience.
The most beautiful part is having faith — truly believing that every step, every challenge, every failure, is part of a larger journey toward growth and purpose. With this understanding, navigating life’s ups and downs becomes a little calmer, a little clearer, and a little more meaningful.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I’ve noticed that temporary things rarely hold my attention or feel truly worth investing in. A fad, with its fleeting popularity and surface-level appeal, may entertain for a moment, but it rarely leaves a lasting impression.
Foundational shifts, on the other hand, run deeper. They reshape how we see the world, influence our choices, and leave a legacy that endures. These are the changes worth dedicating time, energy, and intention to — because they transform not just the moment, but the trajectory of life itself.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I feel like I’m getting closer, by building it brick by brick, to what I was born to do. I’ve always wanted to be a force for positive change in the world — to help people recognize their worth when they feel stuck, to remind them that they are valuable, and to reinforce that nothing is more important than life, health, and family. While each of our life experiences is unique, I’ve always valued advice and guidance from those who have walked similar paths, and this has been a pillar for me. Before going through my own breakthroughs, I could only share assumptions—but now, I can share authentic, first-hand experience.
Through my journey, I’ve come to truly understand the importance of integrity, resilience, the power of creativity, strategic thinking, and striving to do better for the greater good. I want to leave a meaningful legacy for future generations and share it with the world in a way that truly matters.
Until I went through the experiences I have, I wouldn’t have been able to share authentically what I’m doing today, especially in my book. Now, I feel ready to share it on a deeper, more genuine level.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fulyaturkmen/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fulya-turkmenoglu-12653199/
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