Having 20 years of HR experience, Özlem worked in various industries. She had started her career in the pharma industry at Eli Lilly&Company, and carried on respectively at PepsiCo, Turkcell Global Bilgi and ERGO Turkey (Sigorta and Emeklilik).
She has 15 years of managerial experience and worked as HR Director for 8 years at ERGO Turkey.

Throughout her career, she has led strategical transformation processes and turnaround projects including; growth, restructuring, M&A, corporate development, cultural transformation, leadership transition & development. She is also a coach and mentor.

Özlem Yılmaz is Lecturer at Marmara University, she is lecturing the courses of ‘Strategy’, ‘Leadership & Management’, ‘Introduction to Business World’, and ‘Strategic HR Management’ at the Faculty of Engineering.

Özlem holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and an MBA degree from Boğaziçi University. Özlem is married and has a son.