With one foot in the European side of Istanbul and the other in the Anatolian part of the city, Uğur Çağlar leads Turkcell Digital Insurance Company, the non-life insurance carrier of Turkcell, Turkey’s leading mobile phone operator. He shares his daily life and experience with Boris Plantier from Qorus.
Please tell us a little bit about your background.
I began my career in the early 2000s as a management consultant with PwC and Booz Allen Hamilton, working across Türkiye and the MENA region. I then transitioned into financial services with the BNP Paribas Group – first as a strategic planning manager at BNP Paribas Group Bank (TEB) in Türkiye, and later as the CMO and head of distribution at BNP Paribas Cardif. Between 2015 and 2019, I served as an expat CEO for a local captive insurance company in Baku, Azerbaijan. I returned to Türkiye in 2019, working with MetLife before joining Turkcell to establish its non-life insurance carrier, Turkcell Digital Insurance Company (Wiyo), in 2022. Since then, we have acquired necessary licenses from the regulator and launched operations reaching around 1 million policies per year.
What does your workplace look like?
Thanks to Turkcell’s hybrid working model – which supports both in-office and remote collaboration – we have enjoyed the flexibility of multiple work locations from the start. We are fortunate to have dedicated physical offices for our insurance staff on both the European and Anatolian sides of Istanbul. Additionally, colleagues have access to various Turkcell locations across Türkiye or can choose to work from home, ensuring a dynamic and adaptable work environment.
Could you describe your usual working day?
My day starts early, typically arriving at the office around 7:30am to set priorities and prepare for the day’s activities. Meetings usually begin around 8:30am, where we discuss our roadmap, review ongoing projects and address immediate challenges. To maintain strong team cohesion, we organize town halls, training sessions or similar in-person gatherings every two months, which provide an opportunity for team members to connect and collaborate face-to-face.
What is your favorite food?
I have a special fondness for İskender Kebap, a unique type of döner that originates from Bursa – very near my hometown of Bandırma.
What do you do when you need a break from work?
When it’s time to recharge, I immerse myself in travel. Exploring new places and experiencing different cultures provides a refreshing break from the daily routine and sparks innovative, out-of-the-box thinking that I can bring back to my professional role. These experiences are essential in keeping my perspective fresh and creative.
What is the key to building a successful team?
I believe that building a successful team starts with authentic leadership and a clear vision. When a leader is genuine and focused, like-minded individuals are naturally drawn to join the team. Achieving targets together, overcoming challenges and celebrating successes not only solidify the team’s unity but also foster a culture where everyone enjoys the journey toward collective success.
There is a saying that we learn more from failure than success. Tell me about one of your failures and what you have learned from it.
I view failure as an inevitable stepping stone on the road to success. Many of the setbacks in my professional journey have stemmed from making assumptions in the absence of complete information. I’ve learned that while assumptions are necessary to move forward, intellectual flexibility is crucial when confronted with new facts. By continuously reassessing and updating those assumptions, it is possible to transform failures into valuable lessons and opportunities for growth.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to succeed in financial services?
Financial services is among the most competitive and rewarding industries in the world. I advise anyone looking to advance their career in this field to seek mentorship from experienced professionals. The industry is remarkably generous when it comes to sharing insights and guiding emerging talent. Building strong relationships, maintaining integrity and continuously learning will help you navigate this dynamic landscape and achieve long-term success.
