The big success of women entrepreneurs is a Kurdish princess

By Solin Hacador:

Ferda Cemiloğlu

Ferda Cemiloğlu (54) is a Kurdish entrepreneur who comes from the capital city of Kurdistan, Amed (Diyarbakir). She is from one of the noble families of Amed. Her grandfather governed Yemen for about 16 years. She is referred as a Kurdish princess. She owns a construction company in Erbil, Kurdistan. In a male-dominated field, Ferda Cemiloğlu provides the Kurdish community with great service. By doing this, she encourages other Kurdish and Middle Eastern women to get involved in business. Therefore she was recently awarded a top ranking among Middle Eastern women entrepreneurs.

The changes in this year’s rankings of the top 50 women in the world of business illustrate its essential risks and uncertainty. American business woman, Irene Rosenfeld, chief executive of Kraft Foods, has risen to the top position, displacing Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo who was judged the leading female chief executive in 2009 and 2010.

“Business is dealt by man. The man who is brave enough to take risk and challenge uncertainty. Starting and operating a business entails considerable risk and effort. The risk, both financial and emotional which can also be very high”, said my grandfather. In his time businesses were mostly run by men. Unfortunately, women were financially dependent on men. However, the chains have been broken and women are achieving more success than was ever expected. It is important that women use the strengths they possess and not put these strengths aside to do a ‘man’s job.’

Since the turn of the last century, accepted social values have slowly changed. For example, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote in ‘Women and Economics’ that women’s oppression was rooted in their roles as wives and mothers. She indicated that women needed to work to be independent ( Stambler 1970).

Ferda Cemiloğlu recently spoke to me about her experiences and achievements:

Solin Hacador: You are from one of the noble families of Diyarbakir. Your grandfather governed Yemen for 16 years. Diyarbakir has been known as the capital of Kurdistan and it is a modern city and yet you are referred as a Kurdish princess. How do you feel about being called a Kurdish princess?

Ferda Cemiloğlu:  It is true, my family has a history of 700 years and it is powerful, but also a pioneering family; my family which has a soul of missionaries has paid a great price in order to protect their identity for 300 years. That’s why, we have grown up with same culture and understanding; we have a strong sense of social responsibility; moreover, we were taught to endure difficult conditions and seek solutions to the every single problem. In short, it is something very difficult and very nice at the same time, my past gives me respectability as well as responsibility. In other words, it is a serious task. However, I see myself as no different to any other person in the society. So I do not use this advantage very often. While I was in Turkey, my surname was an handicap, but it was an honourable struggle which I waged.

Solin Hacador: I think that, as an entrepreneur, you set a different example as opposed to the traditional image. How did you enter business life?

Ferda Cemiloğlu:  While I was studying Biology at the Hacettepe University in 1980, which was a very difficult period, I got married to Eyup Cilalioglu, who was my classmate. My daughter Renda Helin was born in 1981 and we were new graduates without income. We began working at the office of my father who founded Erol Medikal. At that time I was not very active. In 1983, my son, Mehmet Eren, was born. I was much more focused on my domestic life until my children began studying and then the school where they were studying became bankrupt and I became the owner of their school. I must add that, at that time, I was involved in the Parents’ Association of this school where, with the contributions all my friends, everything went perfect. Thus I became the founder and CEO of Ilkem Primary School and Lycee. The year was 1989 and that was the first real management position I had undertook.

Solin Hacador: How do you see yourself as a businesswoman in a society where women are very often been subjected to double standards?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: You may find it difficult to believe but I have not encountered any undue stress. I was supported, first of all by my father and all parts of the society. I think this is because of the fact that it was a sector which was ‘suitable’ for woman. I mean education and children: in short, I did not step on anybody’s toes. During this time, I learnt to manage an organisation. I gained self-confidence, respect, experience and many more things. I think I then slowly  prepared myself for my future activities.

Solin Hacador: You are working in the construction field. What is the strategy of your company?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: Construction, consultancy and design, import and export. In sum, it is a company in the building sector. I have also other investments in other areas. It is important to evaluate the circumstances and analyse properly and to determine what is needed, demand and supply relations and timing to act. It is also important to complete the projects on time and not to cut corners under any circumstances. It is paramount not to leave the project which was undertaken as uncompleted, and to have a good team and reliable partners. Needless to say, it is very important to maintain good dialogue and respectful relations with all the workforce.

Solin Hacador: Beside your business activities you have actively taken part in Kurdish and Women Organisations. During this process, what kind of difficulties have you encountered?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: Of course, I was a Kurd, and from Diyarbakir, and a member of the  Cemiloğlu family: these three facts presented an impediment. Initially I had to spend a great deal of effort to show my abilities but, later on, my relationships settled into a normal pattern. In other words, I had to struggle quite hard in order to be accepted. However, the most difficult time when I was the Chairman of the Association for Solidarity with Refugees and Immigrants and when, for the first time, in Turkey, I delivered social services in Van. In many ways, this was an incredible experience.

Solin Hacador: Why did you settle in Erbil?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: In 2003, after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, as a Kurdish woman I wanted to take part in the reconstruction. In other words, it was a sense of duty. Making profit was a secondary issue. Time has passed and I am now realising that what a right decision I made. It was a right decision both in material and spiritual terms.

Solin Hacador: What kind of  advantages and disadvantages have you encountered as a business woman in Erbil?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: For me it was an advantage to be the first one in Erbil. However, this is only after I made myself known and gained good credentials. My disadvantage was the lack of confidence towards woman, particularly in the building sector. I worked very hard to get my first project in 2004. There are of course three important advantages I have: I know the culture very well, I speak Kurdish and Arabic fluently and I have my surname, which I could have either built upon or otherwise. What is important is one’s personality and the quality of one’s work.

Solin Hacador: What kind of place can Kurdish women have in the global economy?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: Kurdish women are all over the world; besides, they are warriors and they are successful.  What we are lacking is lobbying and public relations work. There are other problems: many countries are not recognising Kurds or aware of their existence, but this is changing fast and I think that the coming one hundred years will be the century of the Kurdish woman.

Solin Hacador: How can the Kurdish women be successful as entrepreneurs?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: It is important to have some confidence and begin from what one knows best. Moreover, it is important to make use of the experiences of the others. There is no need to rediscover America or lose time. It is important to trust her own people, to respect and appreciate them.

Solin Hacador: European Governments in many countries, such as Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom and France, establish networks to help women succeed in the globalized economy. Can you build a network with other Kurdish female entrepreneurs?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: Of course (the Kurdish Government) is supporting this and taking necessary steps, Tomorrow there is an important meeting in Paris to which we have particularly been invited. I think many of our friends are taking part in this. The name of the female entrepreneurs registered at the Commercial Organisation has increased considerably within last five years. Particularly women returning from abroad are setting up businesses and receiving support. Nonetheless, this is a process and we need time.

Solin Hacador: Is the Kurdish Regional Parliament providing any support or any particular program in order to assist the Kurdish women entrepreneurs?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: It has just begun doing so. Recently, the Kurdish Women Entrepreneurs Association had been founded and I am the Head of the Management Committee.  We have already participated in some conferences such as in the USA and the Middle East. We are very active in providing micro credits and preparing new technical vocational courses and all of them are supported by women’s organisations. We are constantly liaising with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs but this is just the beginning and so, if we continue like this, we will make a giant leap forward.

Solin Hacador: Are Kurdish products finding a place in the international markets?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: Unfortunately, no, because there are not many products at the moment, excluding petrol. There are only some local products such as carpets, but this is in decline.

Solin Hacador: What can Kurdish women do to promote Kurdish products in the international markets?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: Of course Kurdish women can do lobbying and take part in international exhibitions/organisations and provide an effective form of representation. Kurdish women abroad can also establish an electronic network among themselves. They can also establish a web portal to market goods. They can collaborate in order to show their solidarity. I believe that, if women want to, they can get succeed under any circumstances.

Solin Hacador: According to some research, there are a large number of university graduates in  Southern Kurdistan but the unemployment rate among the youth is high. It is claimed that Turkish and foreign companies are not employing local people and that this is the reason for the high unemployment rate. Do you think this can be prevented?

Ferda Cemiloğlu: No I don’t certainly think that this is true. Universities are providing free education and every student is given a monthly salary; more than half of the university students are women. On graduating they are marrying and so only a small number of them are attending universities in order to work or have a profession. In general, the children from conservative families are going to university to get out of their domestic environment and create a social circle. In reality, they are the ones preferring the traditional life styles. If we speak in general terms, everybody wants to be a civil servant and for this reason: seventy percent of Kurdistan’s budget goes towards the salaries. This is unfortunate but, step by step, it is changing.

Solin Hacador: We thank you for participating in the interview with us. It is much appreciated.

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