Global Citizen: The Story Behind Our Istanbul Office

Hello everyone. Today, I would like to share the story behind the establishment of our Istanbul office. It is a story about my professional relationship with Mesut, the current Head of our Istanbul operations, and how a difficult situation laid the foundation for a strong business partnership.

Sometimes, it is only after a challenging event occurs that you truly understand who your reliable partners are.

A Rocky Start: From Conflict to Mutual Respect

I first met Mesut about six or seven years ago. At the time, we were engaged in some initial business dealings. Unfortunately, a significant dispute arose between us. To put it plainly, we were at odds, and the professional relationship deteriorated rapidly.

However, we eventually decided to handle the situation directly. We scheduled a video call to address the conflict openly and resolve the disputes. By the end of that conversation, we had reached an agreement. There is a saying that "a single smile can dissolve past animosity," and that is essentially what happened.

Following that resolution, our dynamic shifted entirely. Because we had navigated a difficult conflict transparently, we developed a strong mutual respect and a high level of trust in each other.

Building the Istanbul Office

About five years ago, I recognized that Mesut had a prominent presence and a strong professional reputation in Turkey. Turkey is a substantial market with a large population and a highly active outbound migration sector.

Given our established trust, I approached him with a proposal: to join Globevisa as our partner for the Turkish market and build something substantial together. Looking back, that initial dispute was actually a positive occurrence. It served as a stress test for our working relationship. Because we had already proven we could handle conflicts honestly, establishing a formal partnership was a logical next step.

Mesut joined Globevisa five years ago, and we officially launched our Istanbul operations.

Replicating Regional Success on a Global Scale

I travel to Istanbul once or twice a year to review our operations, and the progress has been highly satisfactory.

Today, our Istanbul office is performing exceptionally well. It currently ranks among the top three immigration consulting firms in Turkey, and it is entirely possible that we are now the leading firm in that market. We have successfully assisted numerous Turkish clients with their international migration plans.

From a strategic perspective, this represents a significant milestone for Globevisa. In the Asian market, we have clearly established ourselves as a leading player. Our ongoing objective is to replicate that operational success in other global regions. Today, in markets like Turkey and Canada, we are very close to achieving—or have already achieved—that same leading position.

A Reflection on Long-Term Partnerships

Recently, Mesut and his wife invited me to spend some time on their yacht in Istanbul. Mesut took on the role of the fisherman for the day, and we had a chance to talk and reflect on our shared history.

It was a good moment to acknowledge the journey. Five years ago, we agreed to attempt something challenging together. Today, we have built a successful, functional operation in the Turkish market. It is a great story about business, conflict resolution, and the value of a reliable partner.

Thank you for reading.