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Hande Cilingir

Co-Founder & CEO - 1X Entrepreneur | We are hiring: useinsider.com/careers/open-positions/

Hande Cilingir is the Co-Founder and CEO of Insider, a leading AI-native Omnichannel Experience and Customer Engagement Platform.13 She founded the company in 2012 along with five co-founders, following a successful exit from a language school she had previously co-founded.35

Cilingir's background includes:

  • Education: BSc in Economics & Management from the London School of Economics and an MSc from Shanghai Normal University.36
  • Work experience: Prior to founding Insider, she worked as an investment consultant for global corporations like PepsiCo and Vestel, and held positions in marketing and business development across various industries.36

Under Cilingir's leadership, Insider has grown significantly:

  • The company now has over 1,200 team members across 26 countries.24
  • Insider has achieved unicorn status, becoming one of the few woman-founded, women-led B2B SaaS unicorns worldwide.1
  • The platform is trusted by over 1,200 leading brands and has been recognized by analysts like Forrester, Gartner, and IDC.1

Cilingir has received several accolades for her work:

  • Named "Microsoft's Woman Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2016.5
  • Ranked as one of the top women CEOs by CrunchBase.1

Her leadership style emphasizes maintaining core company values while scaling globally, focusing on culture, continuous learning, and investing in people.2

Highlights

Aug 20 · linkedin

Insider. is becoming a generational company. We’ve led the most seismic shifts in the industry, from the rapid adoption of mobile to Predictive AI. Now, we’re leading the charge in Generative AI, and our technology once again sets the standard for the future of customer experience and marketing.

At RETREAT’24, we came together with our global team to reflect on how far we’ve come and where we’re headed. We discussed the bold plans we have put in motion to shape the future of marketing and customer experience, and how we have become the #1 leader in the industry.

Our Co-founder & CPO, Muharrem Derinkök, took us through Insider’s roadmap, the most ambitious in the industry, and shared updates on our latest developments, including Generative AI, WhatsApp Flows, and how we are building the ultimate architecture for growth. We also shared the biggest transformation of our Academy to date. Our team is relentlessly driving the change marketers need and want from the technology that supports them.

One of my favorite moments from RETREAT’24 was the AMA (Ask Me Anything) session with my six co-founders. We took the opportunity to answer questions and address topics openly. These sessions are invaluable to me as they bring us closer as a team.

There’s no better way to understand what everyone’s thinking than by opening the floor to hear questions, concerns, and ideas directly from our team without filters, and no topic off-limits.

If you’re looking to be part of something big, now’s the time to join us > https://bit.ly/46RMEwK

Aug 19 · linkedin

1200+ team members. 27 countries. 51 nationalities. One city. #OneTimeZone.

What a week!

RETREAT’24, the biggest event in Insider.’s history is now over! Yet, the moments we shared have deeply transformed us.

Connecting with everyone in The Insider Universe was a profound experience. It reminded me one more time that we have built a very unique community where extraordinary people keep building extraordinary things. 

Once again, I realized that all Insiders around the world are united by endless curiosity, a hunger to learn, and a willingness to be the change we wish to see in the world.

This event united us in every way. We aligned our shared goals, deepened our understanding of one another, and laid the foundation to put even bolder plans into motion.

Keep an eye out for more stories and moments from RETREAT’24.

Enter The Insider Universe, where all galaxies unite… ;) And I must say… #ExpectTheUnexpected.

If you would like to become one of us: https://bit.ly/46RMEwK

Related Questions

What inspired Hande Cilingir to start Insider?
How did Hande Cilingir's experience in China influence her leadership style?
What are some of the core values that Hande Cilingir emphasizes at Insider?
How has Insider's culture evolved under Hande Cilingir's leadership?
What challenges did Hande Cilingir face when scaling Insider globally?
Hande Cilingir
Hande Cilingir, photo 1
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United States