2024 has been a year of remarkable growth, thoughtful reflection, and lessons that will shape the years ahead. It’s been a journey of pushing boundaries, navigating uncertainties, and discovering greater clarity about what truly matters both personally and professionally.
As the year comes to a close, I’m taking this opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months with my annual year-in-review—a moment to pause and take stock of the numbers, wins, challenges, and lessons that defined this year.
This year marked my first full year in business, a milestone that came with its mix of triumphs and trials. I’m proud of the achievements and milestones I reached, but I’m equally mindful of the areas where there’s room to grow—because growth often stems from those moments of discomfort and challenge.
While I’m pleased to have achieved most of the goals I set, my greatest accomplishment was navigating the steep learning curve of entrepreneurship, refining systems, and laying a strong foundation for long-term success.
Here’s a look back at the highlights, lessons learned, and a glimpse at the road ahead for 2025.
2024 By the Numbers
Key Achievements
Serving a Global Audience I worked with clients from 20 countries, expanded my group coaching programs to 23 participants, and engaged 264 attendees through workshops and webinars.
Client Transformations I collected 13 new testimonials from clients, demonstrating the meaningful changes they experienced through their coaching journeys.
Revenue Growth With a 352% year-over-year increase in revenue, my programs, workshops, and group offerings reached more leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers than ever before. I’m deeply grateful for their trust.
Podcast Appearances I appeared on 8 podcasts, including Make it Work with Sarah Wong and Vision Pros Live, sharing insights on leadership, parenthood, expat life, and business growth.
LinkedIn Growth My LinkedIn audience grew by 167%, now reaching over 9,350 followers. It continues to be a cornerstone for community engagement and thought leadership.
Awards and Recognition Being named a Top Executive Business Coach by the Coach Foundation and a Top Coach in Dublin by Influence Digest were milestones that validated the impact of my work.
Resource Development I added 29 new free worksheets and workbooks to my website’s resource hub, bringing the total to 53 tools designed to support leaders in their growth.
Program Launches I successfully launched new cohorts of my Momentum and Ignite leadership programs, creating professional growth journeys for leaders at all stages.
Global Connections Through Travel One of my goals this year was to return to traveling the world, and I did just that. I had the privilege of meeting clients in person, engaging in trainings, and exploring new places from Oslo and Bergen to San Sebastien. These experiences not only enriched my personal life but also deepened my professional connections. We also had the joy of hosting friends from Switzerland, the USA, Turkey, the UK, and Belgium. Sharing our home and creating memories together was one of the most fulfilling aspects of 2024.
What Could Have Been Better: Reflections from 2024
Systems and Delegation This year often felt like spinning plates, constantly moving from one task to another. My attempts to delegate, such as onboarding VAs and social media managers, didn’t yield the results I hoped for. In 2025, I plan to build clearer systems and invest more time into finding and onboarding the right team to support me.
Spaciousness and Balance My packed schedule left little time for reflection and strategic thinking. In 2025, I aim to create more space for balance and deeper, focused work. More on my intentions around spaciousness here.
Corporate Partnerships This year, I delivered several workshops and trainings for corporate clients, but these engagements were more ad hoc and reactive. My focus leaned heavily toward individual coaching, which I deeply value, but I also recognize the unique energy and impact of working with larger groups. Leading workshops and trainings brings me into a flow state, where the learning and growth feel amplified for everyone involved. In 2025, I’m committed to creating more space for intentional and structured corporate engagements, building on the momentum and energy these opportunities bring.
Platform Diversity LinkedIn continued to thrive as my primary platform, where I saw consistent growth and engagement. While my attention was mostly concentrated there, I didn’t dedicate as much time to other platforms as I’d hoped. In 2025, LinkedIn will remain central to my strategy, and I’ve joined Joanna Lott ACC's challenge to double down on maximizing its potential which I am super excited about. However, I also aim to keep other platforms like Instagram active and set up systems to maintain a broader presence.
Workshops This year, I saw strong demand for workshops, but my packed schedule often made it challenging to deliver them consistently. In 2025, I plan to streamline my calendar and pre-plan my workshop offerings to better meet this demand. My goal is to host one workshop per quarter, and I already have exciting ideas for content, inspired by feedback and insights from past attendees. Stay tuned for what’s to come!
Coaching Programs I’m fortunate to have program participants and clients from all over the world, but managing time zones and schedules posed challenges. In 2025, I’ll focus on making my coaching programs more evergreen and self-serving to accommodate global clients while reducing scheduling conflicts.
Getting Out in Nature Although I love nature, I didn’t get out as much as I normally like to this year. Living in Ireland means I’m lucky to have beautiful hikes just 10 minutes from my doorstep, yet I didn’t take full advantage of them. In 2025, I plan to reconnect with nature by prioritizing regular hikes and planning a camping trip or retreat to fully recharge.
Here’s My Best of 2024
🎥 Favorite Movie:
A darkly funny, thought-provoking film that I watched that lingered long after the credits rolled. Big fan of Ruben Östlund.
📺 Favorite Show:
Suspenseful, gripping, and layered—this series was my ultimate binge-worthy escape.
🎙️ Favorite Podcasts:
How I Built This: Inspiring stories of entrepreneurial journeys.
Dare to Lead with Brené Brown: Insightful discussions on leadership and authenticity.
📚 Favorite Books:
Istanbullular by Buket Uzuner: A beautiful exploration of life and identity in my hometown, Istanbul.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A creative, thought-provoking narrative about friendships, community, and growth.
Radical Compassion: Practical tools for personal growth and mindfulness with a diverse sprinkle of examples from the day-to-day.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries: A must-read guide for navigating innovation and building sustainable businesses.
Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making by Tony Fadell: Insightful lessons from the creator of the iPod and Nest, offering practical advice for building impactful products and teams.
🌍 Favorite New Destination:
San Sebastian: Stunning beaches, rich culture, and incredible cuisine.
🏊♀️ Favorite Pastime:
Swimming Daily in the Summer: Summer swims became a cornerstone for mental clarity and well-being.
🖥️ Best New Set-up:
Standing Desk: A birthday gift from my husband that transformed my workspace and brought energy to my routine.
As I look ahead to 2025, I’m excited to build on these lessons, celebrate new wins, and create space for even greater impact and joy. Thank you for being a part of this journey!
Hi! I'm Merve. 👋 I help leaders build high performing teams, amplify their business impact, and advance their careers.
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