Özge Tekalp

Özge Tekalp is a dynamic and visionary leader with over two decades of global experience in the financial industry. Throughout her career, she has taken on key leadership roles focused on driving digital transformation and enhancing customer experience. Her expertise is mainly in fostering customer-centric cultures that lead to commercial success, increasing sales, and profitability while minimizing customer churn. Her leadership approach seamlessly balances accountability with a commitment to employee growth, creating high-performance environments where innovation and personal development thrive.

A strong advocate for change management and talent development, Özge ensures that her team members' expertise is recognized at industry events and executive presentations. By providing visibility to her team she fosters an environment where innovation is celebrated. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in identifying untapped potential and providing the necessary resources, coaching, and recognition to help individuals excel. She has spearheaded mentorship programs and cross-functional projects that connect teams with key stakeholders, fostering valuable growth opportunities within the organization and the broader community. As an ‘ActionCOACH’ certified business coach, she believes in the mission of ‘World Abundance through Business Re-Education’ and actively supports the community when needed.

Beyond her role as Chief Customer and Project Officer at Locksmith Software Technologies and Invotect, Özge dedicates time to sharing her expertise for collective growth. She is actively involved in various professional and non-profit organizations and is a dedicated member of Yenikoy Rotary in Istanbul, which leads impactful social responsibility projects. The club, founded by Ülkü Gönenli, is known for its exemplary leadership culture and governance model, inspiring many with its impactful initiatives. Recently, the club celebrated its 15th anniversary with nearly 100 compassionate and highly successful members, serving as a source of motivation for many.

Özge envisions a revolutionary fintech ecosystem that integrates digital innovation with environmental sustainability. She is currently collaborating on the development of biodegradable smart cards that decompose within five years and wearable payment technologies powered by the wearer's own movement. She aims to push the financial industry beyond traditional product development by advocating for sustainable materials and zero-carbon manufacturing as industry standards.

Her vision extends to transforming financial transactions by creating intuitive ecosystems that better serve customers while unlocking new revenue opportunities. This requires a cultural shift within organizations—bridging the gap between technology and business teams to build truly unified, customer-focused solutions that will define the future of finance.

Committed to financial inclusion, Özge is working with teams to develop a cross-cultural model that enhances how technology operates in global markets. Drawing from her international experience, she supports adaptive AI systems that automatically adjust digital banking interfaces to align with local cultural contexts while ensuring accessibility for all. Her forward-thinking approach places her at the forefront of financial innovation, shaping a future where technology is seamless, sustainable, and universally accessible.