Cansu, Global Senior Distribution Planner at Bottega Veneta

The creative mind

Born and raised in southern Turkey, Cansu describes herself as “deeply Mediterranean”. After moving to Istanbul for her bachelor's degree, she knew that her first international experience had to be in southern Europe. “I’ve always felt the need to live in a culture that’s warm, expressive, and full of life—somewhere that shares the Mediterranean spirit I grew up with.”

She arrived in Milan in 2014 to study management engineering at Politecnico di Milano. At the time, fashion wasn’t really on her radar; an avid museum-goer and amateur painter, Cansu’s areas of interest were mostly design and architecture. In her second year, she specialized in Design, Management and Entrepreneurship. “These majors are a good representation of my personality: I am an engineer, but I am also passionate about the world of design and its application in business.”  

Moving to Milan opened up a new world: “I was deeply influenced by the city. Fashion is such a big part of life in Milan: it’s a huge industry, there are so many brand headquarters and flagship stores. It really sparked my interest.” Cansu joined Bottega Veneta in 2020; though unfamiliar with the brand at first, she quickly immersed herself. “Of course, I’d seen the branded bags before! But the longer I work here, the more I feel connected: you get to see the bigger picture, witness the new iconic pieces come alive, see the marketing campaigns and fashion shows… It really brings you in.”  

Five years later, Cansu is now the Global Senior Distribution Planner at Bottega Veneta, overseeing the replenishment of Women’s Handbags and the distribution planning of collection launches. She operates in a dynamic environment involving many stakeholders, collaborating closely with the Merchandising, Production, and Supply Chain teams to ensure seamless distribution.

She enjoys the work environment at Bottega Veneta, which is filled with “young, dynamic and passionate people”, and particularly loves the House’s deep connection to art. Employees are invited to events, gallery visits and exhibitions: “Having access to all of this makes you feel truly immersed in Italy’s cultural heartbeat.”  

During her time at Kering, two people stood out to her: her former manager, who helped her to grow and gain confidence, and the Chief Intellectual Property Manager at Gucci, whom she met through a Kering mentorship program. “He works in a completely different field, which made our conversations eye-opening. He challenged me to think broader, trust my instincts, and speak up more. That support gave me the confidence to evolve.”

Today, those words of encouragement resonate more than ever as Cansu steps into a leadership role, preparing to recruit her first direct report. “I want to lead with purpose. I’ve always been on the receiving end—now it’s my turn to guide, support, and inspire. One day, I hope to become the kind of mentor who opens doors for others.” 

Cansu in 6 questions

Dream job as a kid? I wanted to be an archaeologist. I imagined discovering unknown places, starting to dig and finding something historical and interesting. It seemed like a mysterious and fun job to do.  

Favorite place in Milan? My new apartment. I spent weeks carefully curating it, piece by piece, it’s my cozy place.

My passion? Cooking. I love hosting friends for dinner. My signature dish? My mom’s bulgur bowls with a rich tomato sauce.

Current state of mind? Balanced. Between work, travel, family and friends, I’m learning to make space for everything that matters.

Talent that you wish you had? To be sportier!  

Greatest achievement? Having the freedom to build the life I want to live.