Zehra Aksu lives by the phrase “Life isn’t about what you know, it’s about where you go.” The ambitious yacht broker and founder of Superyacht Consulting and Luxury Events LLC seems to go everywhere in style, incorporating her passion for the yachting industry on her various travels. While on a business trip to New York City, Aksu decided to creatively advertise one of her listings M/Y KATINA. YATCO received the exclusive story on M/Y KATINA’s Time Square billboard debut.
When asked what inspired her to advertise in Time Square, Zehra, originally from Istanbul, explains the feel of Manhattan is similar to her beloved Bosphorus City.
“I remember the first time I stood at the red stairs in Time Square 13 years ago. I watched the big billboard ads running for hours and I dreamed of my face being up on one of those billboards one day. Because M/Y KATINA is my number one priority in my yacht broker career, I decided to run an ad in Time Square while I was on a short business trip to Manhattan.”
Aksu has previously run ads in publications such as New York Weekly and US Insider and reached out to the same public relations team to assist her in this endeavor. Ms. Aksu produced the idea for the billboard while boarding her flight to NYC, noting “it was pretty stressful for the PR team to make it happen on such short notice.” Nevertheless, her team pulled it off and, after passing a few hurdles herself, Zehra was able to see the Time Square billboard in person.
“As ridiculous as it gets,” said Aksu, “I missed the first billboard time at 3pm! I was squeezing in this billboard photo shoot in between business meetings and did not plan for the chaotic traffic of Manhattan so we had to run the ad again at 5pm.”
Ever the entrepreneur, Aksu conducted a business call while waiting for the second showing of the billboard. Ready for her photo op, Aksu brought a photographer with her to capture the viewing.
However, due to a Friday afternoon crowd, posing for a photo became a challenge. As they counted down the seconds before the M/Y KATINA ad was set to appear, sightseers continually walked in front of the camera.
Zehra notes she called out to tourists, “please, go around the photographer!” and fortunately, they listened. “The people [in Time Square] were very sweet. They [assumed I would be appearing on a] billboard and they played along, smiled, and celebrated with me. It was a fun and exciting 15 seconds.”
Aksu said she did not grasp the gravity of the moment until she saw her face on the billboard.
Although short, Zehra made the most of her Time Square billboard experience saying, “In the end… one more dream of mine came true and more unforgettable memories [have been] written in my life story.”
Although she is keeping future creative plans clandestine, Aksu affirms she has additional unique advertising locations in mind, in addition to exclusive private events and guest experiences onboard M/Y KATINA. With what Zehra knows about the business, it is certain she will go far in the yachting industry.
For inquiries on M/Y KATINA, contact Zehra Aksu.
Read Aksu’s previous features in YATCO’s Broker of the Month, Women in Yachting, and Next Generation in Yachting series.
