Every Woman Has A Story with Pınar Koyuncu-Oktar

“I don’t have to fit into someone else’s definition to be a leader. I can define my own leadership.”

by Pelin Ayan

In the corporate world, you work under same company, meet in trainings, projects, and workshops but you only may learn the true story of a person's inner journey years later. This is exactly how my guest's tale is today: Pınar Koyuncu-Oktar, founder of Her Leadership Playbook, whom I know from my years working at Beko Global and who inspires me from a different perspective now...

Pınar, an outstanding business leader with 20 years of experience in global and regional roles, puts purpose and values before titles. In her corporate career, she has embraced change many times through changing jobs, even countries, and she has grown both professionally and personally with each step she takes.

Starting with her transformation journey and continuing with Her Leadership Playbook, which she has been developing, she instills in women "the courage to define their own leadership." Her journey will inspire real courage in all women on their path to discover themselves...

Let’s hear the story from her:

A classic question to begin with, but still a good one. Who is Pınar? What are her values, her must-haves, the things she loves and the things she can do without?

17 of those years were with the same company, one I stayed loyal to and truly believed in. I held global and regional leadership roles in business development, sales, and supply chain. Over the past seven years, I focused on expanding the APAC region. One thing that’s never changed is how much I love change. I feel most alive in motion. Moving countries, shifting roles, exploring new departments, even stepping into motherhood. When everything stays the same for too long, I feel myself slowing down. Change keeps me learning, evolving, and connected to who I am becoming.Today, I lead Her Leadership Playbook, a platform I built to support women and collaborators on their leadership journeys. My goal is to help them move forward with more confidence and clarity.

Beyond the job titles, I’m a mother of two. I believe leadership and parenting are old friends. They grow together. They challenge you in similar ways. I light up when strategy meets purpose. That’s where I do my best work. I love long walks, black coffee, deep conversations, and a well-organized space. I also enjoy bringing order to chaos when I need to. I love reading, learning, writing, speaking, listening, and being ready for whatever might come next.

When it comes to values, this is something I’ve spent a lot of time exploring, especially through coaching.

I believe we need to keep asking ourselves what truly matters. Some values shift over time. Some stay with us no matter what. Those are our North Stars. For me, honesty, growth, impact, and fairness lead the way.

I care deeply about doing meaningful work. I want what I do to matter, not just for me but for the people it touches. I don’t chase empty goals. If I’m going to give something my energy, it needs to lead somewhere real. I still have been learning how to receive compliments without brushing them off.  Sometimes just saying “thank you” is something I have to practice. I pay attention to the people around me and take responsibility for the teams and projects I lead. I don’t compromise on respect. But I’m still learning how to take feedback without turning it into self-doubt. I want to keep growing. And that means staying open. That means knowing myself a little better each time.

Last but not least, since becoming a mom, sustainability has taken on a much deeper meaning in my life. In the way we live. In the way we work. In how we move through our ambition and how we show up for each other. It’s no longer just about efficiency. It’s about legacy.

There have probably been several turning points in your career. Which one changed your life and your perspective the most?

There have been many moments that shaped my direction, but the one that truly changed me was when I moved from a global role in Istanbul to a regional one in Bangkok. It was more than a title change. The scope was different. The way of thinking was different. The culture around me shifted completely. I had to build teams from the ground up, open new markets, and keep adjusting our strategy based on fast-changing realities. It was a challenge that required me to stretch in every direction.

That move also changed my life in deeply personal ways. I met my partner in Bangkok. I went through my first pregnancy during the pandemic. And I became a mother of two here. The experience of navigating such an uncertain time while becoming a parent shifted something in me. It elevated how I see the world. It made me reconsider the order of my priorities. It also revealed which strengths were truly at the core of who I am. Resilience moved right to the center.

But the biggest transformation came when we made a conscious decision to not just move cities but redesign our life. We chose a place where we wanted to raise our children. A place where I could build a career aligned with my values. It was not about what I wanted to do, but about how I wanted to live.

And that choice gave me the clarity and space to start Her Leadership Playbook. I began creating from a place that felt honest and grounded. I stepped into work that felt connected to my purpose. And I found myself wanting to support other women who might be at a similar crossroads and asking the same questions I once did. What now? What matters most? And how do I grow without losing myself?

What has been the biggest challenge in your career, and how did you overcome it?

Recognizing my own limits. I’ve always taken pride in being hardworking, but over time I had to learn how to protect my energy. I had to trust my intuition and lead with a quiet kind of strength, even in the middle of intense workloads or fast-paced change.

What helped me the most was coaching and mentorship, a strong support system, and this constant reminder I gave myself: I do not have to fit into someone else's definition of leadership. I can define it for myself.

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” That Brené Brown quote stayed with me through many moments of doubt and reinvention. Because for me, leadership is not about knowing it all or sitting at the top. It is about staying curious, staying human, and always staying open to growth.

I watched great leaders build teams grounded in trust and harmony. I learned that real leadership lifts others up. It creates space instead of taking it.

And that is how Her Leadership Playbook came to life. I began creating from a place that felt closer to my purpose and more aligned with my values. I chose to show up with everything I had, hoping to support other women who were asking themselves similar questions. In those moments, I realized something powerful. I no longer walk into any room alone.

As Maya Angelou said, “I come as one, but I stand as ten thousand.” I carry the strength of those who have walked with me, supported me, and opened doors so I could walk through.

If you could give just one piece of advice to a woman walking a similar path to yours, what would it be?

Do not wait for permission. Claim your space.

You do not need another certificate. You do not need five more years of experience. You do not need someone else to tell you that you are ready. We are so often told to prove ourselves before we speak. But the truth is, more often than not, you are already the most prepared person in the room.

Do not shrink yourself. Do not hold back. Do not say it is not your turn. Stand where you are. Courage is not about having no fear. It is about moving anyway. And when you do, the next step becomes clearer.

Success does not start with knowing everything. It starts with walking. Your voice, your ideas, your way of seeing the world are all valuable. Let yourself be seen, even a little more each time. Power lives in many forms. In a word. In a pause. In simply saying, I am here.

If you could share a message to inspire hope, courage, and strength in women around the world, what would that be?

Leadership is not measured by corner offices, fancy titles, or applause. Real leadership is doing the right thing when no one is watching. It is staying present when it would be easier to step away. Sometimes it means speaking up. Sometimes it means creating space for someone else to speak.

Sometimes leadership is using your voice. Sometimes it is listening to another woman’s voice. You are already enough. There is nothing missing. You do not have to wait. You do not have to earn your worth. Start right where you are. Let yourself grow from that place.

It does not need to be perfect. It just needs to be true. Every step you take lights a path. Not only for you. For the women who are watching and walking beside you too.

Any final thoughts you would like to share?

First of all, thank you. I am truly grateful to be part of this beautiful piece you created. I deeply believe that every woman's story deserves to be told. Women are creative, resilient, and always evolving. I have never met a woman who stayed still.

Women and men are not the same. That is a biological truth. But we should have equal access to opportunities. On this journey, the support of other women matters. So does having people beside us who choose to be allies.

That is what Her Leadership Playbook is here for. It began as an idea, a personal need, and a very intimate journey. Over time, it turned into a platform that opened up space not only for me, but also for other women and our collaborators who wanted to walk with us and with their values. Today, it is a growing community for women who want to lead with purpose and for everyone who believes in walking that path together.

If any part of this speaks to you, maybe this is your moment to join us. We are building something meaningful. And there is space for you here.

👉 www.herleadershipplaybook.com👉 www.instagram.com/herleadershipplaybook

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First and foremost, I would like to  thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your story with us. The Her Leadership Playbook platform allows to combine your passion and strong background & experience to empower other women. It's amazing to witness your progress on this journey. I truthfully believe that the space you've created for yourself and others will expand even more, and that many women will discover their own voice and path as a result. May your path be clear and your inspiration plentiful.