To ensure women in Türkiye continue to drive transformation, organisations need to support strong professional networks, develop policies to support women and empower employees to enable progression.  

Capitalising on increased female representation at board and senior leadership level in Türkiye, leading global accountancy body ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), and global professional services firm KPMG, invited 94 women leaders and professionals to share experiences, challenges and opportunities related to leadership and navigating change in the region’s evolving business landscape.

The findings from the roundtables give insight into:

• the challenges that women face in leadership roles
• the role of mentorship and sponsorship in career development
• how leaders are looking to grow and develop. 

Jessica Bingham, Head of Regional Policy Development EEMA & UK, ACCA, said: ‘The findings will improve the understanding of current barriers impacting women’s career progression, identify practical actions organisations can take to foster more inclusive leadership environments, and encourage meaningful dialogue around sustainable change and equal opportunities at work.’

Three key recommendations for Türkiye business came from the roundtable:

Undertake sponsored networking initiatives: Strong professional networks play a critical role in helping women build confidence, access new perspectives and develop relationships that can support career advancement. By connecting women with internal and external communities, organisations can help create sustainable support systems that foster mentorship, sponsorship, and leadership readiness.

Review policies and communications: Using sectoral and geographical benchmarking organisations should track appointments, critical projects, pay, promotions, and attrition alongside representation to ensure there is an equitable decision-making culture.

Increase visibility – strategically amplify role models and success stories: Many women mentioned barriers related to the perception of gender, and lack of confidence to speak up and put themselves forward. By amplifying the work each organisation does to improve its leadership culture women are more likely to feel empowered and grow within organisations.

Seval Sir, Country Manager, ACCA Türkiye, said: ‘Women need equal access to progression, decision-making power, sponsorship, and senior roles. Organisations need to create environments in which women can reach senior roles and succeed in carrying them out. Such environments not only promote fairness but also contribute to better business outcomes – diverse leadership teams are consistently linked to increased innovation and organisational resilience.’

Challenges remain. Türkiye ranks 135th out of 148 economies in the Gender Gap Index (WEF, 2025). Progress in board representation remains gradual – women held 19.4% of board positions at Borsa-Istanbul (BIST)-listed companies in 2025, up from 18.7% in 2024. But 77% of roundtable participants stated that their organisation actively fosters inclusive leadership environments. The challenge is embedding equality into organisational processes, decision-making rights, and accountability – moving from ambition to implementation. Future-ready leadership means more than giving women a seat at the table – it is empowering them to make decisions, lead transformation, and develop the next generation.

Read the report

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About ACCA

We are ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the only truly global professional accountancy body. Since we were founded in 1904, we’ve been breaking down barriers to the accountancy profession. Today we proudly support a diverse community of over 266,100 members and 546,500 future members in 179 countries.

We’re redefining accountancy. Our cutting-edge qualifications, continuous learning and insights are respected and valued by employers in every sector. They equip individuals with the business and finance expertise and ethical judgment to lead and drive sustainable value in organisations and economies worldwide.

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