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Özlem Denizmen

Founder & CEO

Moneye

İstanbul, TR

Özlem Denizmen

Stephen DeCherney, MD, MPH

University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Özlem’s Biography

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Özlem Denizmen is an entrepreneur, financial expert, fintech founder, and passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment.

Özlem is the Founder & CEO of Moneye, an app that uses behavioural science to steer users away from “unnecessary” spending towards saving for their financial goals. Moneye has partnered with İşbank, Turkey’s largest private bank, and received financial backing from Mastercard, its wallet infrastructure. It aims to become the most trusted alternative financial services solution in Turkey.

Believing that a lack of financial freedom, particularly for women, is a root cause of many social problems, Özlem has dedicated herself to driving the financial literacy and inclusion movement in Turkey.

With this goal in mind, she founded Para Durumu, a financial literacy initiative that produces interactive, user-oriented content to help people better manage their money. Through the Para Durumu TV programme, Özlem reaches seven million viewers monthly, and has become a trusted source of financial advice.

Özlem was also Founder & Chair of FODER, a non-profit organisation... Özlem Denizmen is an entrepreneur, financial expert, fintech founder, and passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment.

Özlem is the Founder & CEO of Moneye, an app that uses behavioural science to steer users away from “unnecessary” spending towards saving for their financial goals. Moneye has partnered with İşbank, Turkey’s largest private bank, and received financial backing from Mastercard, its wallet infrastructure. It aims to become the most trusted alternative financial services solution in Turkey.

Believing that a lack of financial freedom, particularly for women, is a root cause of many social problems, Özlem has dedicated herself to driving the financial literacy and inclusion movement in Turkey.

With this goal in mind, she founded Para Durumu, a financial literacy initiative that produces interactive, user-oriented content to help people better manage their money. Through the Para Durumu TV programme, Özlem reaches seven million viewers monthly, and has become a trusted source of financial advice.

Özlem was also Founder & Chair of FODER, a non-profit organisation she set up to formalise her mission to improve financial education in Turkey. FODER works with businesses, governmental agencies and other NGOs to help more Turkish people become financially literate.

As a leading voice for women's empowerment, Özlem holds several board and advisory positions at organisations dedicated to this cause. She is also a sought-after speaker, the author of three books aimed at understanding the importance of financial freedom, and contributes to several respected publications.

Özlem holds an MBA in Financial Management from MIT Sloan School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Cornell University. She has attended leadership programmes at Stanford Graduate School of Business, GE Crotonville, Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School. Özlem is married to a Turkish entrepreneur and has two sons. moreless

Özlem’s Newsfeed

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, call from FODER: Let financial literacy enter the curriculum

At the ceremony, FODER Advisory Board Chair Özlem Denizmen called for financial literacy to be included in the primary school curriculum.

Özlem’s Background

Moneye

Founder & CEO

Sep 2018 - Present

İstanbul, TR

The Moneye app aims to help ~100,000 users to achieve their financial life goals, providing tips and tricks on how to save, and advising on the best ways to spend money responsibly. It is partnered with İşbank and Mastercard its wallet infrastructure.

Para Durumu

Founder

2010 - Present

İstanbul, TR

Multi-platform financial literacy initiative Para Durumu provides useful content and advice on making smart financial decisions. It is accredited by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Doğuş Grubu

Head of Strategy Budgeting and Investments

1999 - 2013

İstanbul, TR

Doğuş Grubu is a Turkish corporation established in 1951 with the aim of improving the lives of Turkish citizens through lifestyle brands and new discoveries. The company operates across the energy and real estate sectors.

Tansaş

Investor Relations

2002 - 2004

İstanbul, TR

Established in 1973, Tansaş was one of Turkey's first modern retailers, supplying cost-effective goods and services across a large number of stores. The company merged with Migros in 2005 and was dissolved in 2016.

Garanti BBVA Securities

Marketing Specialist

Nov 1996 - Jul 1997

İstanbul, TR

Garanti BBVA is a Turkish financial services company. It is on the cutting edge of financial innovation, encouraging its customers to automate, and expand their financial portfolios.

Merrill Lynch

Financial Analyst

1994 - 1996

New York, NY, USA

Merrill Lynch is a globally recognised leader in wealth management, securities trading and sales, corporate finance, and investment services. It provides services in M&A, stock and debt capital markets, financing, trading, risk management, research, and liquidity and payments management.

Turk Boston Bank

Credit Analyst

Jun 1993 - Sep 1993

İstanbul, TR

Turk Boston Bank was established in 1984 as a Bank of Boston Branch. It was acquired by Oyak in 1993. Özlem worked as a Summer Trainee at its New Jersey location.

Bankers Trust International

Trainee

Jan 1993 - Mar 1993

Jersey City, NJ, USA

Bankers Trust is an American financial services provider. It offers a partnership with its customers, ensuring their financial needs are met in a professional manner.

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Özlem’s Gallery

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Board Positions

Doğuş Otomotiv

Board Member

2006 - Present

İstanbul, TR

Doğuş Otomotiv is the automotive arm of Doguş Grubu. The firm is involved in a number of industries, including energy, automotive, retail, construction, broadcasting and real estate. Doğuş Otomotiv is the company with the widest brand and service network in Turkey in its sector.

Previous Board Positions

Independent Women Directors (IWD)

Board Member & Advisor Member

2012 - 2017

İstanbul, TR

The Independent Women Directors Project is an initiative by Sabanci University to encourage the appointment of women in senior management positions.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Board Member

May 2014 - Dec 2020

Amsterdam, NL

The Global Reporting Initiative is a standard-setting organisational body. It assists organisations in their efforts to honestly report on their environmental impact and sustainability.

Current Advisory Roles

Cornell University

Member

2014 - Present

Ithaca, NY, USA

Cornell University's President's Council of Cornell Women is made up of highly skilled and talented alumni dedicated to increasing the participation of women within the institution.

Previous Advisory Roles

Fora | Network For Change

Member

2016 - 2018

Previously known as G(irls)20, Fora is a centre of excellence aimed at turning young women into future leaders. Özlem sits on its Advisory Council.

Child & Youth Finance International

Media Advisory Board Member

2010 - 2019

Amsterdam, NL

The Child & Youth Finance International's mission was to create a platform for the financial inclusion and financial education of young people. After achieving its aim, the organisation closed its doors in December 2019.

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Philanthropy

FODER | The Financial Literacy and Inclusion Association of Turkey

Founder & Chair

2012 - 2019

İstanbul, TR

FODER is a non-profit organisation committed to improving financial literacy in Turkey. Özlem founded FODER as part of her desire to expand the financial literacy movement that she started.

Media

Özlem Denizmen ile Para Durumu | Money Status with Özlem Denizmen

Presenter

İstanbul, TR

Özlem has been hosting Para Durumu (Money Status) on Turkish news channel NTV since 2019. This is the most recent iteration of the financial literacy programme that first started airing in 2010. It aims to educate individuals on how to gain control of their finances.

Özlem Denizmen'le Kadınca | Women with Özlem Denizmen

Presenter

İstanbul, TR

Özlem hosted a weekly television programme aimed at women, featuring informative inserts and motivational interviews. The show aired on Star TV from 2016 to 2019.

Özlem Denizmen

Owner

İstanbul, TR

Özlem Denizmen has a specially curated website where she shares her passion for financial literacy, insight and advice on financial independence.

Fintechtime. | Özlem Denizmen

Contributor

İstanbul, TR

Fintechtime was established to inform Turkish readers about the world of finance, technology and entrepreneurship. Özlem regularly writes informative articles for the publication.

Elele | Özlem Denizmen

Contributor

From 2010 to 2017, Özlem wrote 84 article over 84 months for Elele, one of the oldest magazines in Turkey aimed at women.

Turkish Policy Quarterly

Contributor

İstanbul, TR

Özlem frequently contributes her insights on women and finances, advocating for the sustainable inclusion of women in handling their finances.

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Interviews

Özlem Denizmen | Turkey's Financial TV Guru

Interviewee

İstanbul, TR

Özlem discusses her passion for financial education, particularly that of women and the path she has taken in her career.

Publications

Bolluk ve Bereket Icin Yer Ac

Author

Oct 2015

İstanbul, TR

In Bolluk ve Bereket Icin Yer Ac, Özlem explains that, in order to understand your relationship with money, it is important to first understand yourself.

Cebinde Mucize Yarat

Author

Apr 2012

İstanbul, TR

Cebinde Mucize Yarat! is a guidebook to financial understanding in which Özlem helps readers to better understand their connection with finances.

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Memberships

TÜYİD

Member

Levent, TR

TÜYİD (Turkish Investor Relations) promotes and encourages collaboration among investor relation professionals and the groups they are invested in, namely management, private investors, shareholders and employees. Their aim is to assist Turkish capital markets achieve international standards.

TÜSİAD

Member

2005 - 2015

İstanbul, TR

TÜSİAD (Turkish Industry & Business Association) is a non-governmental organisation promoting financial welfare through enterprise. Established in 1971, the voluntary body encourages healthy business competition and business cohesion across sectors.

OECD International Network on Financial Education - OECD/INFE

Turkish Representative

Paris, FR

The International Network on Financial Education, part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), seeks to increase financial literacy amongst those with limited access, through reform and the implementation of policy.

DEİK

Member

Levent, TR

DEİK – the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey – was established in 1985 to manage and coordinate foreign policy relations between Turkey and its allied nations. The organisation seeks investment from within the private sector, assisting with trade and development of small business activities.

Digital Life Design (DLD)

Turkish Honorary Representative

Munich, DE

Digital Life Design (DLD) is an international platform connecting industry leaders, providing digital insight, and expanding knowledge bases through innovative conferences.

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Awards & Recognition

2011 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader

Award Recipient

2011

Cologny, CH

Young Global Leaders are highly accomplished individuals who have made a mark in their field of expertise.

American Turkish Society

Award Recipient

2011

New York, NY, USA

The American Turkish Society aims to unite the two nations through investment, business, civil service and community engagement.

Türkiye Özel Sektör Gönüllüleri Derneği

Award Recipient

2011

İstanbul, TR

Özel Sektör Gönüllüleri Derneği (Private Sector Volunteers Association) partners with corporate HR departments to bring about social change through volunteering. By contributing their skills, employees are rewarded through their service. Özlem was awarded the Jury Special Reward for The Most Successful Volunteer.

Dünya

Award Recipient

2011

İstanbul, TR

Özlem was recognised by Dünya, a national Turkish Newspaper, as one of the country's Top 100 Powerful Women of Turkey.

Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship

White House Delegate

Apr 2010

Washington, DC, USA

Özlem was honoured to be part of a White House Delegation at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in 2010. She was the only social entrepreneur representing Turkey.

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Training & Management Courses

Harvard Kennedy School

Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century

2013

Cambridge, MA, USA

The Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership conducts research in order to provide effective leadership skills to government, non-profit and commercial executives. Özlem completed The Future of Capitalism programme, part of Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century.

Harvard Business School

Advanced Management Program

2008

Boston, MA, USA

Harvard Business School is Harvard University's world-renowned graduate business school. It offers a full-time MBA, doctorate degrees, HBS Online, and a variety of executive education programmes.

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Speaking Engagements

Elevating Women Financially In The Middle East

Speaker

New York, NY, USA

Özlem delivers a practical talk about wealth and women, particularly in the EMEA region. She also discusses the importance of women having financial independence and the confidence that comes with this.

Para Karakterini Biliyor Musun? | Özlem Denizmen | TEDxIzmir

Speaker

Feb 2020

İzmir, TR

In this talk titled "Do you know your money?", Özlem unpacks the impact of money on our lives and advocates for a better relationship with it.

WBAF | Responsible finance and impact Investment: The future of smart finance for social entrepreneurs

Panelist

Feb 2019

İstanbul, TR

Özlem was a speaker and panelist at the World Business Angels Investment Forum Conference, offering her insight on impact investments and responsible financing.

Özlem Denizmen at TEDxAthens: Give Women Credit

Speaker

Jan 2014

Athens, GR

Özlem delivers a talk at TedxAthens where she notes the importance of financial freedom and that women should be trusted with financial decision making in their personal lives as well as in business.

Chautauqua Institution | Morning Lecture Series

Speaker

Sep 2013

Chautauqua, NY, USA

Özlem Denizmen received a standing ovation after her presentation to an audience of 5,000 people at The Chautauqua Institution. She spoke about the Turkish economy and the financial awakening of women.

Para Durumu: Boosting Turkey's Financial Literacy

Speaker

Oct 2011

İstanbul, TR

Özlem gave an inspiring speech to the Turkish Women’s International Network in which she talked about Para Durumu and her mission to improve financial literacy in Turkey.

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Özlem’s Education

MIT Sloan School of Management

MBA – Financial Management

1997 - 1999

Cornell University

Bachelor of Science – Industrial Management

1992 - 1994

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