Zuhal Mansfield
Born in Iskenderun in the Mediterranean, Zuhal Mansfield has worked for 27 years in the mining business, and works in the natural stone industry as the Chairman of Board of TMG Natural Stone Mining and Construction Co.
After finishing her studies, Zuhal left Turkey. First, she went to Stockholm-Sweden, then to Botswana in South Africa, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong, working in many different fields from textiles, to metals like gold and mining. Working in different jobs, she undertook many courses, attending seminars, conferences and social activities. She then grew an interest in publishing and media; choosing to study media and working at SBS-3EA, on a programme called “Sister Zuhal” which was focused on women and children. She then went on to publish her first research book “New Land Old Memories” while working in Melbourne-Corburg City Council as a social worker.
After settling in Hong Kong in 1990, Zuhal decided to invest in the mining business; Hong Kong was an upward growing city, and at the beginning she was buying and selling gold, however this lead to her getting involved with marble. She soon became a miner and manufacturer, and was the first to create the marble market for Turkey in China, and one of two women miners and producers in Turkey. Today, Turkey exports over 1 Billion USD of marble to China.
Now, Zuhal Mansfield has spread her success across many fields. She is Chairman of Board of TMG Natural Stone Mining and Construction Co. and owns and manages marble and mining quarries in several different parts of Turkey, exporting their products to 18 countries. She also runs a city hotel in Istanbul, The Pera Hotel. Along with this, she is a member of DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Board) since 2000, Chairperson of Turkish Belarus Business Council for 5 years, Vice Chairperson of African Business Council, Chairperson of Turkish Egypt Business Council for 6 years, Vice Chairperson of Asia Pasific Business Council and is now Chairperson of Turkish Australian Business Council.
She is applying her media skills as a columist one of an economy magazine called Turco Money, and has been in charge of program on National TV TRT for 4,5 years, called Secret of Success - to show other there is no need to be afraid of trade. The message of the show is "If they can do it, you can do it too".
She has been awarded by the Turkish government “Most Successful Business Person of the Year” award in 2000, and awarded “Most Successful Miner of 2002” by the newspaper of Dunya. She has also been awarded “Best Exporter of the Year” in 2009 and 2013 by IWEC, and many others.
Along with her many achievements, Zuhal is also very invloved with helping and mentoring other women. She is one of founders of KAGIDER Women Entrepreneurs Association, and represents Women Entrepreneurs in CACCI. She has also been the Chairperson of Bilecik Women Entrepreneurs Organisation under TOBB since 2009.
Zuhal has visited more than 50 Universities, 20 cities, and 20 Chambers of Commerce, and has given more than 200 conferences in last 10 years, acting as a role model to the younger generation, and talking about trade to China, and how they can be involved in business life as a women.
She has one philosophy: "If you have done or learnt some thing good, pass on the experience to others as much as you can."
For the further information about Zuhal, you can visit www.zuhalmansfield.com