Banu Tomruk is a Certified Professional Coach, Talent Expert, and Next-Gen Career Champion based in West New York, NJ. She is the founder of Ascend—a career coaching practice dedicated to helping emerging leaders and early-career professionals gain clarity, confidence, and direction as they build meaningful, purpose-driven careers aligned with who they truly are.
Born and raised in Turkey, and having lived and worked across Europe and the U.S., Banu brings a multicultural lens to coaching, along with deep expertise in career transitions, leadership development, and inclusive growth. She holds an MBA from the University of Leicester, specialized in Employee Relations, and she coaches in both Turkish and English.
With 25+ years of experience in global HR leadership and 15 years as a coach, Banu has worked extensively in the tech industry and often found herself as the only woman in the room—experiences that taught her to navigate complex environments with grace, while never compromising her authenticity. As she puts it: “Real leadership is showing up as a woman, not dressing like a man.” Along the way, she’s helped many other women rise, lead, and stay true to themselves.
As a proud mom to an endlessly curious young adult, Banu continues to grow in ways she never anticipated—laughing, learning, and staying deeply connected to what matters. Her happy place is the kitchen, where she loves to cook for friends and family usually with her furry sidekick Dost nearby, ready for a taste test.
Yoga grounds her, and road biking energizes her—a lifelong passion that picked up speed after she moved to the U.S. When it’s time to unwind, she’s all in for a gripping mystery, especially anything with crime, clues, or a touch of Dan Brown–style symbolism.