Gülay Yıldız, founding partner and director of Primevest Investment, was featured extensively in a special issue of Güçlü Kadınlar (Strong Women) magazine. In the interview, she talked about her 22-year career in banking and finance, her transformation from corporate life to founding her own advisory firm, and her journey in North Cyprus.
From Banking to Entrepreneurship
Having held private banking, commercial banking and branch management roles at leading institutions such as Garanti BBVA, ING Bank and Türk Ekonomi Bankası, Gülay Yıldız spent the last 8 years of her career as a branch manager in North Cyprus. She describes the turning point: "After many years in banking, the period when I built my own office in a short time was a turning point for me. The day I first opened my office door, I felt I had made the right decision and proved to myself that starting again is possible."
Trust, Not Sales
The interview's strongest message was her working philosophy: "The most important approach that sets me apart is that I have never thought in purely sales-driven terms. Thanks to my banking background, I learned to analyse the financial sustainability, the risks and the long-term return behind an investment. A long-term relationship of trust has always been worth more to me than short-term gain."
Producing Solutions in Hard Times
Emphasising that staying calm in moments of crisis was the greatest lesson of her career, Yıldız said: "My greatest inspiration was learning that in difficult times you must focus on producing solutions rather than panicking. The fact that today I try to stay calm and analyse the situation correctly before deciding is a result of that."
A Message to Women
Speaking through the magazine to women at the start of their journey, her message was clear: "The moment you give yourself the courage to start again, the direction of your life begins to change; don't give up."
The interview once again showcased Primevest Investment's trust-based advisory vision and Gülay Yıldız's pioneering position in North Cyprus, built on her depth in economics and finance.