Today we’d like to introduce you to Hulya Kurt

Hi Hulya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

Well, my origin is Turkish and I grew up in Germany, like any other Turkish human, you might say.
After, 18 years my family decided to go back to Istanbul, which was the year of 1984, A complete culture shock for me, although we travelled each year for holidays to Türkiye, living is different. Though you adapt, of course and I started my career in Istanbul as a secretary. That time, we did not had smartphones and laptops. Working here and there, I applied for a multi national company called Reuters, you might know from news, as a sales secretary. Taking this a stepping stone for me, I am a curious person and put my nose into customer admin, became supervisor, moved up to be the Business Admin Manager, travelled around the world, expanded my team, got married and a child, was offered to move to Geneva Headquarters as a leader for the new global Customer Order Management Centre, Worth to mention, that I did not had any bachelor, nor masters at that time, despite I did lots of management programs.
In Geneva, I led major transformation programs, diverse teams and humans, was responsible for more than 80 countries in the Order Management space.
As a restless woman, I created the Diversity and Inclusion initiative, was part of the global steering committee, facilitated many workshops around unconscious bias, organized fun events as I believe strongly that professional and personal life converges, such as Christmas

and summer parties, ski weekend and many more.

But I could see it coming as we moved lots of functions to different countries, were acquired many times and changed names several times as well, as an organization.
Ultimately, before the pandemic, I was made redundant after 32 year and I decided that I am going to work with companies and for them, Moreover, I took that opportunity to do my diploma in coaching and mentoring, followed my passion to support humans to live a fulfilled life.

I created my company called “InnKick”, I kick you to innovate yourself and became an entrepreneur, who’s mission is : “Empowering mid-career professionals to navigate transitions with confidence and purpose. As your Vocation Architect, I guide you to your ideal career path, transforming your passions and experience into fulfillment.”

I created my own coaching programs, facilitate experiential workshops, work with companies as advisor, I am a professor at a private University in Geneva.

I wrote a book for the professional world “Break free from your Hamsterhweel” and a new book has been just completed.

I motivate and empower company management teams and their employees to move forward in their professional life. Additionally, I specialize in growth management with young adults and teenagers, assisting them through anxieties, fears, and internal roadblocks.

My solid experience in leadership roles, enables me to facilitate diverse topics about leading teams, public speaking, communication skills, negotiation, personal branding, claim your space at a meeting and of course how to become a great leader.

In addition, I am an innovation hackathon facilitator, introducing to concepts such as design thinking, business model canvas, validation process and pitching

I am fluent in English, Turkish and German and have as well French language skills.

Moreover, I am involved in OWIT more than 10 years, as a corporate sponsor, as volunteer and different VP roles, as President of OWiT Lake Geneva and in my new role, President of OWIT International.
Women’s economic empowerment is extremely important to me, for having an impact on the society, on our young generation and creating a better world.

Passionate about public speaking and being on stage.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Nothing is smooth. In my professional career, I had to be strong and determined to move up the career ladder. Sometimes, it was some steps back and sometimes forward. You need to have some allies and sponsors at work, who can support you and vow in for you.
Networking is in this sense. People do business with trusted people,
I recall, that I was looking to a promotion to become the Business Admin Manager in Istanbul, and I just became a mother and was on maternity leave. I was disappointed to learn that someone else has been promoted that time, as I just became a mother,
Or after the transformation program which took more thane 2 years was completed, there was no real job for me and literally created my own title and job description, seeing a gap to be filled in.

As an entrepreneur, each day is a challenge as you are the leader, you are the CEO and need to think ab out ways to gain clients, do your own marketing, create your own brand, so it is an everyday challenge,

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

InnKick is a specialized coaching service that offers clear career guidance to professionals and mentorship programs for emerging professionals aiming to excel in the corporate world. Our business provides educational workshops and training sessions for corporations, focusing on career growth and personal branding.

With InnKick, professionals can find a clear path in their careers, and young individuals can benefit from tailored mentorship to successfully navigate the professional world.

We create experiences such as :
InnKick Experiences includes a combination of diverse, inclusive, and engaging social events and workshops curated to build community and nurture your authentic self.

Bringing people together, sharing, fostering, and allowing everyone to just be. A space where experience, inspiration, culture and spirituality meet, by creating a sense of belonging for personal growth, learning and connection.

Our offerings do contain, inidividual coaching, different programs such as :
Lunch and coach
Walk and talk
Laser Coaching
Drive and Thrive your Career .
Travel & Coaching

The InnKick Academy offer online courses that can be taken anytime.

We are a multi awarded company. Last year we won the price of ” The most innovative career coaching and education Services 2023″ , which was a proof that we do matter and we have an impact on the human.

Moreover, I have been chosen by under the best coaches in Geneva by Influence digest.

Also appear as the expert in Laser coaching, under google search with organic growth.

We really focus on the human and use different modalities such as music and aroma to stimulate the mind, gain clarity and focus.

I love what I am doing as I can see the immediate impact,

Passionate about professional speaking engagements, opening the stage with energy and public speaking.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?

Determination is key to success, my motto and another one : From Union come strengths.
Collaborating and complimenting our experiences, creates more value, it is rewarding.

And never giving and transforming the question from ” why does this happen to me?” to “how can I get this work?”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://innkick.com/
• Instagram: hulyakurt_coach/innkick_coachingworkshop
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hulya.kurt.3762/ – https://www.facebook.com/coachingwithhulya/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCH4wZfm2N60sx0Hp3Kl5Ew
• Other: TikTok:@hulyakurtcoaching