Gamze Ateş is the founder of My Beachy Side, a fashion label which debuted in summer 2016 with accessories, ready-to-wear pieces, and its signature barefoot sandal designs.

My Beachy Side’s social consciousness element gives Syrian refugees and Turkish women opportunities to better their lives. Ates works with established NGO’s to reach women in difficult situations, and partners with them as vendors to craft her products. Each is given the opportunity to name her cost for their labor, which, in the spirit of altruism, is not negotiated and paid upon product delivery, providing financial support and building self-esteem.

Prior to launching My Beachy Side, Ates founded Admiral Line, Inc., a successful international shipping company. She later sold it to DHL worldwide and was named a Senior Executive Vice President. While at DHL, Gamze spearheaded the Emerging Markets for Global Customer Solutions Division, managing operations for 82 countries in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the former Soviet Union. In addition, Gamze was instrumental in DHL’s Corporate Social Responsibility Program, where she worked with UNICEF and local NGO’s. Among the list of accomplishments, Ates was also the New York Editor of Turkish Vogue.

Ms. Ates holds a B.A. in Architecture from Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Turkey. She moved to the United States in 1989 and completed her MBA at Butler University in 1993. She lives in New York with her 13 year old son. In her spare time, she serves as the New York editor for Vogue Turkey.