Being a tree or a woman is tough in this country

International Women?s Day on March 8 was marked by a photo of three woman presidents of what is known as the bosses? club, the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜS?AD).

The first female president of TÜS?AD, Arzuhan Do?an Yalç?nda?, the second female president, Ümit Boyner, and the current president, Cansen Ba?aran Symes, posing in the same photo frame was indeed a cheer-up for us women.

The three female presidents gave the ?We cannot fly with one wing? message; they demanded priority for gender equality from everybody in society from the business world to politics.

At one time, the head of French Medef was Laurence Parisot, the head of Italian Confidustria was Emma Marcegaglia. Today, Emma Marcegaglia is heading the Confederation of European Business.
There are female presidents at TÜS?AD equivalents in Belgium, Croatia and Iceland. However, it is a rare example like the one in Turkey when three female presidents were elected shortly after each other at a prestigious association like TÜS?AD.

Let us not forget that the presidency of TÜS?AD is a ?bed of nails? exposed to the frequent criticisms of the government, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an.

It is a remarkable situation that three women have gone through this ordeal during the Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule.

On the other hand, Turkey is near the top in terms of the number of female CEOs. Many of the female CEOs have climbed the corporate ladder in their family businesses, but at the end of the day, they have used the opportunity well.

Female CEOs heading family companies are not only from mega cities like Istanbul and Ankara. The first names that come to my mind are ?ölen Çikolata, growing with Elif Çoban of...