Esra Gönen

Esra Gönen is an entrepreneur mainly interest in Innovation and Design in Service and Creative and Cultural Industries. In 2009, she founded GNN Foreign Trade, an import/export consultancy firm, followed by GNN Office in 2014, the first co-working space for businesses in Izmir. After observing the impact of coworking and cocreation on local development, she cofounded ORIGINN COWORKING in 2016, where creative and social entrepreneurs work, socialise and develop projects collectivley. In 2017, she cofounded Merak Creative Activities and Culture Association to foster new work at the intersection of art, technology and innovation. She is the local facilitator of NestaUK Creative Enterprise Program and has been assigned as a influencer woman leader in Cultural and Creative Industries in Turkey, by British Council. She has been also nominated as ambassador of Women’s Enterpreneurship Day Organisation. Esra studied Business at Dokuz Eylül University and holds an MA in International Business at Applied University of Mainz and London South Bank University, still continues her master studies in Design Management in Izmir Economy University.