In this episode of Leadership Without the Mask, I sit down with Hakan Bulgurlu — former CEO of Beko (11 years), now Senior Advisor at Bain Capital Private Equity. He led the world's second-largest home appliance company, climbed Everest, skied to the South Pole, and wrote books that have shaped the global conversation on the planet.

This conversation is about the person underneath all of that.

We talk about formative years, nature, family, the descent from Everest that changed him, the month alone in Antarctica that nearly broke him, and the long inner work of leading from purpose rather than performance.

In this conversation, Hakan opens up about:

• Childhood, education, and early career
• Finding his purpose
• Climbing Everest and battling ego
• Antarctica as a mirror for leaders
• What comes next, and why he stepped away

This is what Leadership Grounded in Love looks like in practice — Awareness, Compassion, and Courage, lived across all three dimensions: self, relationships, and the systems we are part of.

Lead with purpose. Choose with intention. Act with courage.

For senior executives navigating the gap between who they had to be and who they actually are — this episode will stay with you.

Leadership Without the Mask is a series of honest conversations with leaders who are shaping the future. Hosted by Handan Arıbaş — executive coach and founder of Sparkup Leadership — the show explores the courage, the doubts, the values, and the moments that define what it actually means to lead.

Connect with Handan Arıbaş:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/handanaribas/

Website: https://www.sparkupleadership.com/

With more than 30 years inside IKEA, leading 170,000+ people, serving millions of customers, and steering billions in revenue, Jesper has seen leadership from every angle. 

In this conversation, Jesper opens up about:

• Leading with courage in moments of uncertainty
• Why mistakes are essential for growth
• The human side of global leadership
• What it means to stay grounded while leading at scale
• How values shape decisions inside one of the world’s most loved brands

This is leadership without the corporate filter — honest, human, and deeply insightful.

Whether you’re a CEO, a team leader, or someone who wants to grow, this episode will stay with you long after it ends.

Leadership Without The Mask is a series of real, unfiltered conversations with global leaders who are shaping the future. Hosted by Handan, executive coach and leadership advisor, the podcast explores the human side of leadership — the courage, the mistakes, the values, and the moments that define us.

Connect with Handan: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/handanaribas/

Website: https://www.sparkupleadership.com/

Connect with Handan Arıbaş:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/handanaribas/

Website: https://www.sparkupleadership.com/