• Born in 1968. Gamze Cizreli graduated from Middle East Technical University,
Department of Business Administration.

• Post-graduation, she started her business career in gastronomy with her ex-
husband by creating many brands in Ankara such as Cafemiz, Kuki and Quick China.

• 10 months after her divorce she created a new brand “BIG CHEFS Cafe Brasserie”
with a 100% bank loan.

• Today, Big Chefs has reached 85 locations in 8 countries with more than 4.500
employees.

• In 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2017 she was awarded as “Woman Entrepreneur of
Turkey” by Economist magazine.

• In addition to the growth targets of BigChefs,
Gamze Cizreli; focused on Community Services and SDG’s.
She had the chance to speak at the United Nations General Assembly with her
Gender Equality Project “From the Women farmers to the Tables”.

• Besides her core business, she was a part time lecturer on “Entrepreneurship” in
Middle East Technical University.

• She wrote weekly to Hürriyet Daily News and has written her own cookbook named
“Lezzeti Giydiren Eller”.
• She was also one of the jury members of “Dragon’s Den” broadcasted on
Bloomberg TV and “Winning Restaurant” on FOX TV.
• For a while, she made a radio program on music, art and literature on Kiss FM on
Sunday mornings.

• In 2021, Fast Company selected her as one of “Turkey’s Sustainability Leaders”.
 Most recently, she was selected to the list by Forbes “50 Over 50 Women” in
Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EMEA) .
• She is an Executive Board Member in KAGIDER (Women Entrepreneurs Association
of Turkey) and in TURYID (Tourism Restaurant and Entertainment Association).

• She has two sons named Oğul and Ali.