en
Turkey
Fatma Güven is the CEO of Affani Ithalat Ihracat Ltd. Sti., a company specializing in the sale and application of solar and security glass films in Istanbul, Turkey. The company was founded in 1999 with a mission to save energy and protect building and auto glass exteriors from breaks due to impact, scaling anywhere between a slight bump, to a full-blown bomb attack. A WEConnect International Certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE)since 2016, Affani Ithalat Ihracat has now secured contracts with WEConnect International corporate members The Coca-Cola Company and Marriott International.
After attending one of WEConnect International’s meet-the-member events in Istanbul, Fatma and Affani Ithalat Ihracat were introduced to contacts at Le Meridien Hotel, which is part of Marriott International. After initially pitching the value and technical uses of their product, Fatma’s company was officially called for tender at Marriott International. Affani Ithalat Ihracat successfully documented their qualifications and experiences and was later contracted to apply security films to Le Meridien.
As a female entrepreneur hoping to scale her businesses, Fatma was confident that WBE certification through WEConnect International would help her company to “reach bigger and more global institutions.” In addition to the resources, contacts, and partnerships gained through training and matchmaking events, Fatma notes that certification has provided her with “education, communication, and a network of other strong women to connect with.”
