Özge Tekalp

Founder

University of Rochester, Simon Business School, USA

MIT & Columbia Business School (via Emeritus)

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

Galatasaray University

International Coaching Federation aligned

Özge’s executive career spans three decades across some of the world’s most demanding financial institutions. Before establishing Tekalp & Partners, she held the following roles:

Role

Organization

Period

Key Highlight

Chief Customer & Project Officer

LST Technologies

2024–Present

Leading customer-centric growth for wearable payment & smart card technology

Chief Customer Officer

VeriPark (Microsoft Partner)

2023–2024

Customer health score system; digital transformation best practices

Head of Customer Engagement Hub

BankDhofar, Oman

2019–2022

$15M saved · 56% CX improvement · Oman’s first IVN System

Head of Contact Engagement Center

TEB BNP Paribas, Istanbul

2011–2019

800-person team · 13 channels · 5x cross-selling uplift

Head of Alternative Sales Channels

Fortis Bank

2007–2011

30% sales growth · 100% auto loan market share in 2 years

VP, Alternative Delivery Channels

QNB Finansbank

2000–2007

300% sales growth · invented preapproved credit card sales model

Senior Financial Analyst

Kodak, New York

1996–1999

Foundation in financial analysis and global corporate operations

30+ industry awards including World's 50

In 2025, Özge was named one of the World’s 50 Most Influential Businesswomen of 2025 by All Around Worlds, and Top 100 Women Leaders in the Middle East 2025 during the MENA Women Leaders Summit in Dubai. She was recognized as one of The 10 Best Dynamic CCOs to Know in 2024 by The Inc. Magazine. She holds an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business from MIT & Columbia Business School (via Emeritus), and a Chief Digital Officer Certificate from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

World's 50 Most Influential Business Women 2025

All Around Worlds

Top 100 Women Leaders in the Middle East 2025

The 10 Best Dynamic CCOs to Know in 2024

The Inc Magazine

Gold Medal

Stevie Awards

Best Innovative New Customer Service Initiative Award

European Call Centre Awards

2003 & 2005 (Best Use of Technology, Best Call Centre Culture)

Call Center Manager of the Year

Visa Challenge — European Region & Global Championship Winner

Kodak Breakthrough Ideas Award

2003 & 2005 (Best Use of Technology, Best Call Centre Culture)

20 additional industry awards…