From Turkey to New York: How Networking Opened Doors for Pinar

Hi Networkers! I'm Anggie, Partner and VP of Sales & Marketing at CROING, a creative agency founded by Alejandra Salazar, and welcome to our initiative, Women Who Network: Stories of Connection and Success.

Networking has played a key role in my career, and I’ve found through many conversations that it’s an area where many women still don’t feel confident or need a little push to explore further.

At CROING l Creative Agency , we are motivated to inspire and empower professional women to feel more confident in networking. We believe that by sharing stories and experiences, we can encourage more women to connect and grow together.

In this episode of Women Who Network: Stories of Connection and Success, I had the pleasure of speaking with Pinar Pekdemir . From her beginnings in Turkey to building her professional network in New York, Pinar shares how genuine connections and saying yes to opportunities shaped her path at one of the world’s most iconic beauty brands. 🚀 This is a must-read for women navigating new environments and wondering where to start when it comes to networking. 💼🌎

“Your network is your net worth.” It’s a phrase I deeply believe in—and it couldn’t have been more true for our latest guest, Pinar, a brilliant marketing strategist currently working at MAC Cosmetics in New York.

In our latest Women Who Network conversation, we explored how her journey from Turkey to NYC was shaped not only by her expertise but by her willingness to step out of her comfort zone and connect with others.

She started her journey at Estée Lauder Companies over a decade ago in Turkey, where she began building relationships internally. But her real leap into active networking happened two years after she moved to the U.S. “I finally felt confident enough to start putting myself out there,” she shared. It wasn’t easy, but she discovered that genuine curiosity was her best networking tool.

“I don’t play a role when I’m networking. I just show up as myself. I ask honest questions and try to truly understand what others do, and I share my own experiences as well. It becomes a natural, meaningful conversation.”

One of the most powerful moments in our talk was when Pinar revealed that her current job at MAC came directly from a networking event she was invited to by a friend. That single yes to an invite changed the course of her career. It’s proof that the right opportunity often comes when you choose to show up.

We also touched on the cultural shift she experienced in moving to the U.S.—from professional norms to social customs—and how she leaned on familiar faces while slowly expanding her network in a new country.

I especially loved her shout-out to Estée Lauder’s Women’s Network, an internal initiative that brings women across all levels of the organization together. “It’s one of my favorite events,” she said. “You meet leaders from different brands and roles, and we empower each other. It’s a reminder that we’re not alone in this.”

One of the best takeaways from our conversation was Pinar’s advice for women who are hesitant to network:

“First, believe in yourself. Believe that your voice matters and that your ideas deserve to be heard. And then—go to the events. Accept the invites. Take them seriously. You never know what’s waiting for you there.”

That message hits home. Especially as women, and particularly as immigrants or professionals navigating new industries or cities, we often feel like we have to be 100% ready before showing up. But the truth is: we grow when we show up—even if we’re still figuring it out.

As I always say: Don’t forget, your network is your net worth.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our next edition of Women Who Network: Stories of Connection and Success every week.

If you want to be part of or propose someone for this space, please email me at anggie@croing.com.

Until next time, keep networking and growing!

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