More Than a Career: From a Childhood Dream to a Thriving Business
More Than a Career: From a Childhood Dream to a Thriving Business
February 5, 2025 | Navar Maarri
Zahraa Omar’s life changed the day she had to leave her home in Aleppo. She never imagined that what was supposed to be a short departure would turn into years of displacement.
Born and raised in a conservative family, Zahraa always believed in education as her path to independence. She fought to study law, despite her father’s doubts, and eventually earned her degree in 2008. But even with a degree, working as a lawyer was not easy for a woman in her community.
Her life took a heartbreaking turn when she witnessed a childhood friend lose her life because she was seen speaking to a young man. The tragedy shook her deeply and fueled her determination to become a lawyer, hoping to defend those who could not defend themselves. But her father insisted that her education was only for knowledge, not for practice. Still, Zahraa persisted, offering legal help from home until a client praised her work in front of her father, changing his perspective forever.
Then came the war. Zahraa and her family fled to Gaziantep, Türkiye, with almost nothing. The only thing she carried with her was a bag with her certificates. Life in a new country was not easy. They had little money, and Zahraa and her sister worked in sewing workshops to support their family.
Determined to regain control over her life, Zahraa took a risk. She borrowed money from a kind Turkish shop owner and started a small trade in jeans. She worked tirelessly, repaid the loan within two months, and even made a profit. Encouraged by her success, she expanded into fabric trading, working closely with Syrian workshops. However, when border restrictions increased, she had to halt her trade activities. After stepping away from trade, Zahraa started her own consultancy business, providing services in contract law, trade agreements, and business regulations. Over time, she built strong connections with both Syrian and Turkish clients, helping bridge the gap between the two business communities. In 2022, she officially registered her consultancy firm, Zahraa Danışmanlık.
During her marriage, Zahraa developed another passion—plants. She filled her home with 92 plants, creating a space that brought her a sense of calm and peace. However, the 2023 earthquake destroyed everything she had nurtured. Despite the loss, she started again, rebuilding her collection and turning it into a home-based plant nursery. What started as a personal interest gradually grew into a small business.
Today, Zahraa continues to run her consultancy firm, advising businesses on legal and trade matters, while also operating her plant nursery. She employs four staff members.
Through her struggles, Zahraa became the main provider for her family when her husband lost his business. She balanced supporting her household and helping her parents while continuing to build her dreams.
Zahraa joined Building Markets and Islamic Relief USA’s program to support women-owned businesses in earthquake-affected regions. One of the key services she benefited from was financial mentorship, which helped her identify accounting errors affecting her business. By addressing these issues, she increased her profits by 30% and recovered $4,000 in unnecessary losses within just one and a half months. With better financial management, she was able to reinvest in her business and plan for expansion.
Now, Zahraa dreams of expanding her nursery and starting mushroom production. At the same time, she sees a growing need for legal and trade consultancy services in Syria and plans to expand her consultancy firm there. Once conditions allow, she aims to establish a presence in Syria and link it with her operations in Türkiye, helping businesses navigate cross-border opportunities.
Her message to other women is clear:
"When I arrived in Türkiye, I had only the clothes I was wearing and a little money. I had no choice but to find a way to survive. As the eldest daughter, I knew I had to support my family. I learned that when you pay attention to the needs around you and work hard, opportunities will come. Life changes, and we must change with it. Even if you start small, work gives you dignity, independence, and the strength to build a future for yourself."
Today, her father, who once doubted her, is now one of her biggest supporters, standing proudly by her side as she continues to grow.
