May Luncheon | The Business of Sports: Changing The Game

Ebru Köksal, CFA

Born in the vibrant city of Istanbul in 1968, Ebru Köksal’s journey from the bustling streets of New York to the heart of Turkish football is nothing short of inspiring. She kicked off her career as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley, navigating the fast-paced world of finance with finesse. Her return to Turkey saw her rise through the ranks at Citibank, where she honed her skills as a senior manager.

In 1999, Köksal took a bold leap into the world of private equity with AIG, before making a game-changing move to Galatasaray Sports Club in 2001. As CFO, and later CEO, she steered the club through a transformative era of growth and international success.

Köksal’s influence extended beyond Turkey when she was appointed General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation in 2011. Her expertise was sought after by FIFA and UEFA, where she served as a consultant from 2012 to 2018. She returned to Galatasaray as a Board Member, continuing to shape the future of football.

Today, Ebru Köksal is a Board Member and Business Development Director at J Stern & Co., Chair of Women in Football, UK, Board Director at A-Leagues Australia, INED at the Professional Footballers Association UK, and an INED at the International Tennis Integrity Agency. Her accolades include the Executive of the Year Award 2011 by Stadium Business Awards, the first-ever Making a Difference Award by HBS Executive Education in 2018 and the inaugural Leaders in Sport Trailblazer Award in 2024.

A graduate of Brown University with dual degrees in Economics and International Relations, and an alumna of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, Köksal is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Köksal’s story is a testament to her unwavering dedication and pioneering spirit in the world of sports and finance. She has significantly impacted the representation of women in sports globally through her pioneering leadership and advocacy. She broke numerous glass ceilings, becoming the first woman on the Executive Board of the European Club Association and the first female General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation. As Chair of Women in Football, she champions gender equality, creating opportunities and raising awareness about challenges women face in sports. Köksal’s journey inspires women and girls worldwide to pursue careers in sports, and her work with various organizations promotes diversity and inclusion, making her a key figure in creating a more equitable sports environment.

Şafak Müderrisgil

Şafak Müderrisgil is a transformative leader and trailblazer in the field of impact investing, recognized for her unwavering commitment to advancing innovative, technology-driven, and sustainable initiatives on both national and global stages. She is the founder and chair of Etkiyap, Türkiye’s first and foremost impact investment platform. Additionally, she serves as the chair of the National Advisory Board on Impact Investing (EYDK), Türkiye’s representative in the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing (GSG Impact). EYDK unites institutions across public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors, fostering a thriving impact investment and sustainable finance ecosystem in Türkiye.

With a robust background in corporate and energy law, Müderrisgil has spent years advising and serving on the boards of national and international organizations. Her legal expertise spans corporate governance, energy law, environmental law, and public policy. Since 2014, she has dedicated herself to academic and professional initiatives that leverage impact investing as a catalyst for sustainability in diverse sectors.

Müderrisgil’s career began at the global law firm White & Case, after which she evolved into a prominent angel investor and venture philanthropist. Her efforts have centered on fostering youth leadership, women’s economic empowerment, children’s rights, climate change, and energy efficiency. She has played a pivotal role in leading several national and international projects that address these critical areas.

In addition to her legal and impact investing pursuits, Müderrisgil holds a variety of leadership roles. She is a World Fellow of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Foundation (since 2019), a member of the Advisory Board for the Chair in Contemporary Turkish Studies at the London School of Economics, and Vice President of the Energy Efficiency Association in Türkiye. Previously, she served as a board member at the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), overseeing areas such as sustainability, women’s football, and legal frameworks. Since November 2024, Müderrisgil has been leading the Turkish Tennis Federation as its President, spearheading efforts to elevate Turkish tennis on the global stage.

Müderrisgil is also a board member of TED (Turkish Education Association) and a Trustee at GSG Impact, a global nonprofit that drives the agenda for impact investing worldwide.

Academically, Müderrisgil holds an LLB and LLM in Private Law from Ankara University and an MPP from the University of Oxford. She is also an alumna of the Saïd Business School at Oxford and the Harvard Kennedy School, where she honed her leadership and strategic skills.

Her remarkable contributions have garnered international recognition. In 2021, she was honored by the European Network for Social Enterprises and Impact-Driven Leaders as one of the “Top Women in Social Enterprise.” In January 2023, she received the “Sustainability Leader” award for her groundbreaking work in advancing Türkiye’s impact investing ecosystem.

Zeynep Gül Onay Ene

Born in 1969 in Istanbul, Zeynep Gül Onay Ene graduated from Galatasaray High School and Boğaziçi University with a degree in Political Science and International Relations. As the captain of Galatasaray’s basketball team, she led her team to 10 Turkish Championship titles, Turkish Cups, and Presidential Cups, which now reside in the Galatasaray Museum. She proudly represented Turkey 54 times in national competitions.

Due to injuries, her basketball playing career ended earlier than expected, leading her to coaching youth teams and national junior basketball teams. Between 2007 and 2012, she served as Director of Grassroots Development at the Turkish Football Federation. From 2017 to 2018, she worked as the manager of the Turkish Women’s National Basketball Team, and between 2018 and 2021, she dedicated herself to youth development and the future of Turkish women’s basketball as the Director of the Girls’ National Basketball Teams (ages 14–20). In the 2021–22 season, she held the role of Director of Galatasaray Women’s Basketball.

She translated the book “Basketball for Young Players” and continues to mentor young athletes and coaches. She is currently engaged in coaching children aged 6–14 at a basketball academy. Additionally, she is working on a project to establish a basketball club in Bursa, providing talented girls with the opportunity to play despite limited local resources.

She strongly believes that sports provide children and young people with a platform to channel their energy, express themselves, and unlock their potential. She enjoys spending time in nature, taking long walks, caring for animals, working with soil and plants, and continuously learning through reading. Above all, she is passionate about sailing and being on the water. Traveling to new places and creating lasting memories are among her greatest joys.