HLP Allies with Ziya Şakir Yılmaz: "The Mission is to Touch Millions of Lives"

At Her Leadership Playbook, we spotlight voices who inspire with both impact and intention. This month, we’re honored to feature Ziya Şakir Yılmaz. He defines himself as a Success Engineer, Personal Development Expert, and a lifelong advocate of growth, service, and human potential.

From being a TEDx speaker to reaching half a million people daily through his podcast, Ziya Şakir has touched countless lives. His book “Shall I Tell You a Secret” became one of the best-selling personal development books on Google Play, and his viral video on “Believing in People” has inspired over 15 million viewers.

With more than 25 years of international trade experience, a professional coaching practice, and a passion for training as a form of social responsibility, his story is filled with lessons in both business and purpose.

HLP: Welcome to Her Leadership Playbook! It's truly an honor to have you with us today. Reflecting on our first meeting years ago, I recall being captivated by your energy! Your journey from humble beginnings to inspiring countless individuals, is nothing short of remarkable. Your dedication to personal development, exemplified by your best-selling book “Shall I Tell You a Secret?”, and your mission to touch a million lives, deeply resonates with our community. We're excited to delve into your experiences and insights, knowing they'll provide immense value to our growing audience.

To begin, you've donned many hats over the years: from directing public health initiatives across multiple countries to establishing a successful e-commerce enterprise spanning over 80 nations. What ignited this diverse and impactful journey?

ZSY: I was born in a village without electricity, but my soul always carried a light, a desire to grow, to give, to guide. Life gave me challenges early, but I chose to see them not as obstacles, but as invitations to rise. From Bayer to Amare Global, from export deals to empowerment stages, every step was about one thing: using what I know to serve others. I believe our journey becomes meaningful when our success becomes someone else's inspiration.

HLP: You’re running a global business while also staying deeply committed to creating social impact. How do you manage to hold space for both?

ZSY: To me, they are not two separate things, they are one. Business is the engine; impact is the compass. I don’t believe in building empires; I believe in building ecosystems. Every product, every program, every person I partner with must pass one test: does it serve humanity? If the answer is yes, then it’s worth my energy.

HLP: Your book “Shall I Tell You a Secret” became the second-best-selling personal development book on Google Play. What led you to write it, and did you imagine it would reach so many people?

ZSY: I didn’t write it to be a bestseller. I wrote it because of Yunus Emre’s saying, ‘What you accumulate is not yours; what you share is.’ Full of lessons, stories, mistakes, and miracles. I wanted to whisper hope to someone who might be one sentence away from giving up. I never imagined it would reach so many people but perhaps the secret is, when you speak from the heart, it always finds its way.

HLP: I agree. You've given seminars to over half a million people around the world. That’s an incredible number. Is there a story or piece of feedback from those sessions that’s stayed with you?

ZSY: Yes. A young woman once told me, “I was planning to end my life until I heard you speak. You reminded me of my worth.” I cried that day. Not because I saved someone but because I realized how powerful words can be when they come from love. That’s why I never take a stage lightly.

HLP: That is so intense! In all your trainings and talks, are there certain messages or truths that you find yourself coming back to again and again?

ZSY: Always. One of them is this: “You were not born to be average. You were born to awaken others with your fire.” I believe we all carry greatness, but fear keeps it hidden. My job is to help people remember not who they should become, but who they already are.

HLP: I love that you offer free trainings every month, and that you always dedicate at least one to a social responsibility cause. What keeps you grounded in that commitment?

ZSY: Gratitude. I know what it means to have nothing. I know what it feels like to be unseen. That’s why I promised myself if I ever find the light, I’ll hold it high for others. Giving isn’t something I schedule. It’s who I am.

HLP: Your “Believing in People” video reached over 15 million views, such a powerful response. Why do you think it resonated so deeply with so many people?

ZSY: Because it spoke a universal truth: everyone is waiting for someone to believe in them. We live in a world that’s quick to criticize but slow to celebrate. That video didn’t teach anything new. It just reminded people of something they had forgotten their own worth.

HLP: Following that, what would you say to someone who’s trying to do something meaningful, but feels like their impact is still too small?

ZSY: I would say: “Even a candle can light a thousand more without losing its flame.” Don’t wait to be big to begin. Start where you are. Show up with love. The universe honors every act of sincerity. One heart touched is already a miracle.

HLP: So, do you see yourself as an ally for women’s empowerment? And how do you consciously show up in that role, both in your work and in life?

ZSY: Absolutely, not as a favor, but as a responsibility. There is a quote I truly love from Neşet Ertaş, one of the most beloved folk poets of Turkey. He once said: “Woman is the human being; man is merely the son of a human.” In every team I build, I ask: are women being seen, heard, elevated? My mother, my teachers, my mentors, many of them were women. I owe them my voice. And I’ll use it to uplift others.

HLP: When you take a moment to reflect on everything, the travels, the talks, the lives you’ve touched, what are you most proud of?

ZSY: Not the titles. Not the stages. But the moments when someone said, “Because of you, I didn’t give up.” Or when they told me, “Thanks to you, I started believing in myself and I succeeded.” Some even said, “You inspired me so deeply that I started believing in others too.” That’s what I carry in my heart. That’s the real legacy. I came from a village where there was no water, no electricity, no roads and if my journey proves one thing, it’s this: where you start never limits where you can rise.

HLP: Thank you so much, Ziya Bey, for sharing your story with us. Your words remind us that leadership is not a title but a commitment to growth, to service, and to believing in others even before they believe in themselves. We’re grateful to have your voice in this space and honored to be part of your mission to touch millions of lives.

We hope your journey continues to inspire the changemakers, dreamers, and quiet leaders among us.

✨ Follow him on Instagram and Linkedin