Guided by its founding philosophy, “Make Happy Be Happy,” Yıldız Holding celebrated the 11th edition of its now-traditional Make Happy Be Happy Day with simultaneous events across its global offices, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to creating happiness for all its stakeholders. The main event was hosted at Yıldız Holding’s Çamlıca Campus.

Since its establishment, Yıldız Holding has placed societal benefit at the heart of its work across its global footprint, carrying out projects inspired by its central philosophy, “Make Happy Be Happy.” In this spirit, the company marked the 11th edition of Make Happy Be Happy Day this year. Celebrated each year on the third Thursday of November in tribute to the words of the company’s late founder, Sabri Ülker, “Every child deserves a happy childhood,” this year’s Make Happy Be Happy Day once again brought together Yıldız Holding employees as well as prominent figures from the worlds of business, arts, and sports.

This Year’s Special Guest: Renowned Painter Devrim Erbil

Committed to supporting the arts through its special exhibitions and its extensive collection of nearly 2,000 carefully curated works spanning traditional and contemporary forms, Yıldız Holding welcomed one of the most distinguished figures in Turkish contemporary art, painter Devrim Erbil, as the special guest of Make Happy Be Happy Day. Renowned for conveying the ever-changing rhythm of city life to wide audiences through his unique artistic style, Devrim Erbil shared his perspectives and experiences on art and life in a talk moderated by journalist Aysun Öz. The event also featured a documentary screening offering an insight into Erbil’s artistic journey, depicting how he transforms the rhythmic patterns of nature and the urban vistas of Istanbul into vibrant compositions.

As part of the Make Happy Be Happy Day celebrations, a special selection of Devrim Erbil’s works from the Yıldız Holding art collection will be showcased for one month at the Çamlıca Campus exhibition hall, with access available by appointment.

Make Happy Be Happy spirit spread across global offices

During the traditional cake-cutting ceremony that brought Make Happy Be Happy Day to a close, Yıldız Holding connected live with teams across a wide geography, including Istanbul, Romania, Çorlu, the Netherlands, Bursa, London, Topkapı, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, India, Dubai and China, extending the joy from the Çamlıca Campus to colleagues across continents.

The celebration also featured the participation of Hidayet Türkoğlu, President of the Turkish Basketball Federation, along with video messages from national basketball and football team players. The day concluded with a concert by Oğuzhan Koç.

Murat Ülker: “With tens of thousands of colleagues across diverse cultures, we speak a common language of happiness.”

pladis and Godiva Chairman Murat Ülker stated: “Our Make Happy Be Happy philosophy is not only the foundation of how we conduct business; it also shapes our approach to sports, arts, culture, and society. Today, across a wide geography stretching from Japan to the United States, from Africa to the Nordic countries, and from Istanbul to London, we live by the same values. With tens of thousands of colleagues across diverse cultures, we speak a common language of happiness and promise joy to the world with every bite we offer. Make Happy Be Happy Day, which we celebrate every year on the third Thursday of November, stands as one of the strongest reflections of this shared culture. As we take stock of the year and recognize our achievements, we are given the opportunity to celebrate simultaneously with our teams around the world. Watching these celebrations unfold like a 24-hour chain across the globe is a source of pride for all of us. At Yıldız Holding, happiness is not simply an outcome; it is the natural result of creating together, growing together, and doing good together. The strength of these values continues to guide us toward greater goals every year, and our commitment to expanding the reach of happiness will remain the compass for every step we take in the future.”

Mehmet Tütüncü: “With our Make Happy Be Happy philosophy, we continue to contribute to society.”

Yıldız Holding Chair of the Board and CEO emphasized that the “Make Happy Be Happy” philosophy lies at the heart of Yıldız Holding’s corporate culture and added:
“From our late founder Sabri Ülker to today, the ‘Make Happy Be Happy’ philosophy has been at the core of all our operations and a priority in every step we take. This understanding recognizes inclusivity and cultural diversity as a source of richness and forms the foundation of our values-driven corporate culture. Every day, in every corner of the world, we work to achieve more and put our contribution to society at the heart of what we do. As Yıldız Holding, we will continue to spread happiness through sharing and to celebrate our achievements hand in hand with our teams and stakeholders around the globe.”