Her Story
About Gulcin
Gulcin Ozsaylan is an internationally recognized theme park designer, architect, and creative leader whose career is defined by innovation, resilience, and a passion for creating immersive experiences. Originally from Turkey, she graduated first in her class from Balikesir University’s Faculty of Engineering and Architecture and went on to design the country's first theme park early in her career. After gaining experience in residential and commercial architecture, she made the bold decision to relocate to the United States alone, arriving in New York with limited resources, no professional network, and no English language skills. Through determination and continuous learning, she mastered the language, adapted to the U.S. construction industry, and built a successful career in one of the world’s most competitive design markets.
Over the past two decades, Gulcin has established herself as a leader in architecture and themed entertainment design. Her architectural portfolio includes contributions to landmark developments such as Hudson Yards in New York and the world-renowned Atlantis resort destination. Driven by her lifelong passion for themed entertainment, she transitioned into the attractions industry, where she has spent the last five years leading the design of major international theme park projects. Her work has included world-class destinations such as Ferrari World and other large-scale entertainment developments, and she currently contributes to the design of the highly anticipated Dragon Ball Z Theme Park. Today, as Creative Design Manager at Meinhardt Group, she leads multidisciplinary teams in delivering innovative, large-scale projects that combine storytelling, architecture, and guest experience design.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Gulcin is the founder of Goen Nest, an experiential events company dedicated to creating meaningful human connections through immersive gatherings and shared experiences. Her entrepreneurial work reflects her belief that great design extends beyond physical spaces to foster authentic relationships and community. A passionate traveler who has explored more than 50 countries as a solo adventurer, Gulcin also expresses her creativity through professional dance and acro yoga. Her unique combination of global perspective, creative vision, and personal perseverance continues to inspire others while shaping memorable experiences for audiences around the world.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Gulcin
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my side business where I design and organize immersive events focused on human connections. My main idea is creating really unique experiences that people don't come across during a normal day or in normal events. My main focus is about connection - how can you connect with someone, with a stranger, without feeling anxiety or feeling shy. If you're a really good organizer and if you are really good at creating that immersive, interactive environment for people, they don't even have to do anything. You're just creating the environment for them, they just need to show up, and by the end of the event everyone is already finding friends, everyone is connected to multiple people, and they're really happy to join every single time. That's what drives my success - seeing people leave genuinely happy and deeply connected.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When I first transferred from a residential project to a theme park project after a really long time, I was having imposter syndrome because the project was so big and everyone in the company was extremely talented. My mentors were the main designers in Disney and Universal Studios for 30 or 40 years, and they are really big names. I was really scared and having that imposter syndrome working with them on my first theme park project. My manager told me: it doesn't matter where you're at - if you get in from the door, you came in, and you bring your own taste, your own colors, and it's never gonna look like other people. Even though they look shinier or more colorful, that doesn't matter, because what makes you you is your unique talent and unique experiences. You have to trust yourself and your own unique tastes and experiences first. You need to focus on how to bring your own color to the canvas, and how can you find your own place in that canvas, and then combine your colors with the others. We always get so scared when we see something better or when we look up to someone, we always think what we have is not enough, but when they were at your age, that wasn't enough for them as well. Everyone actually starts from the same place, and what you bring is actually enough for that point, and then you're gonna improve and add more colors every single time. But don't be scared to put your voice in it, put your colors in it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in the theme park industry are that it's a really complex and big project, but the industry is really small because there are only a handful of theme parks you can design around the world. There are so many talented people that everyone is fighting for the same position, and one position maybe opens every two years. It's a really tough industry and it's really hard to stay there as well. Even when a project starts, the budget is not enough, or we're having a lot of problems because of the war since our projects are in Saudi Arabia, and that affects a lot of things. It's really hard to stay in the industry because it's such a really small niche. As for opportunities, they are really hard to find in the theme park industry, but with the new AI taking over things, I think way more opportunities are coming for two reasons. One, the technology is really high level right now and can create a lot of really incredible immersive experiences for people. And second, and the bigger aspect, is that since AI is taking over, people will have a lot more free time and will turn into a lot more creative or using their skills or handmade or more immersive experiences. Human connections are gonna be the most important thing that we're gonna crave a lot because everything is turned into digital. There are a lot of new opportunities coming to create those environments to connect people and make more interactive experiences for them so they can connect and interact with each other.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Self-development is the most important thing for me. I never compare myself with someone else, but I always compare myself with my yesterday self. If I get better, if I learn better, and if I enjoy every moment, every present moment more in a more conscious and intentional way - for me, that's the takeaway. I'm trying to create that environment or teach people how to reach their maximum joy and get better at anything they do, and not compare themselves with other people as well. I think that's the most important value I hold.
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