Garanti BBVA Shares 20 Years of Experience Supporting Women Entrepreneurs at the Global Summit of Women
The Global Summit of Women 2026, supported by Garanti BBVA, brought together ministers, business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and opinion leaders from around the world in Istanbul. Among the speakers was Türkiye’s Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Şimşek, alongside numerous international guests.
Running from June 4–6, the summit focused on women’s entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, investment ecosystems, and sustainable development. During the event, Garanti BBVA shared its 20-year approach to supporting women entrepreneurs, along with its expertise in SME banking.
Sharing experiences on a global stage
Garanti BBVA Executive Vice President Sibel Kaya took part in the summit as a speaker. During the session “Doing Business in Türkiye,” featuring Minister Mehmet Şimşek, she discussed the importance of SMEs for the wider economy, the evolution of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and the transformative impact of women entrepreneurs. Kaya also highlighted Garanti BBVA’s more than two decades of work supporting women-owned businesses.
“We see women’s entrepreneurship as a key driver of both economic and social transformation,” said Kaya. “For the past 20 years, we have supported women entrepreneurs through four pillars: financing, education, encouragement, and market access.”
She noted that Garanti BBVA has provided 350 billion lira in financing to women entrepreneurs over the last five years, helping strengthen their role in the economy: “We do not view women’s entrepreneurship solely as a social responsibility initiative,” she added. “It is a key component of inclusive growth and sustainable development.”
Kaya remarked that women entrepreneurs are transforming not only their own businesses, but also the broader ecosystems in which they operate. She noted that Garanti BBVA has recently shared its model and experience with organizations including the IFC in Istanbul and at a United Nations Commission on the Status of Women event in New York.
“We believe women entrepreneurs should have a stronger and more visible presence globally,” Kaya said. “Through initiatives such as our collaboration with Techstars and programs like Startup Weekend Women, we are helping connect women entrepreneurs with international networks. Empowering women entrepreneurs drives not only economic growth but also meaningful social change.”
Women entrepreneurs share their stories
Several women entrepreneurs supported by Garanti BBVA also took part in the summit. Nazlı Uyanık, founder of Nebyan Doğal, and Müge Baltacı, founder of Mol-E—both previous winners of the Türkiye Women Entrepreneur Competition—shared their entrepreneurial journeys and growth stories with the international participants.
Garanti BBVA Venture Banking Manager Selin Öz also spoke on the closing day in the panel titled “Investing for Your and Your Business’ Financial Future,” which explored personal and corporate financial planning, investment perspectives, and sustainable growth.