LARA SAYINSOY DORNER

Lara Sayinsoy Dorner is a seasoned executive with a track record of developing and executing innovative concepts in the entertainment sector. Through a progression of start-up businesses that have increased in size, scope and complexity over Lara’s nearly 20-year career, Lara has achieved a reputation with sponsors/investors as well as building a strong network of specialty designers and suppliers enabling rapid project execution from concept inception through to operations and revenue generation. Having lived and worked in 4 continents, Lara has a passion for highlighting local nuances in concept design while ensuring a broad appeal for multi-cultural audiences.

As CEO of Caspian Entertainment, Lara was responsible for the creation of a new youth and entertainment company within Pasha Group, one of the country’s biggest conglomerates. This three-year assignment was entailed the conceptualization, design and development of multiple distinct independently branded facilities ranging from 500m2 to 8000m2, including: two pre-schools; several kids’ parks, Amburan Kids, Go Carting, Laser Tag, Virtual reality games, Baby Gyms; and its flagship role playing interactive parks, Kinderland and Kinderland Shuvelan Mini, all delivered on an aggressive timeline and with budgets from $2million to $20 million. In addition to launching the venues mentioned, a pipeline consisting of two more entertainment parks, a city aquarium, a science museum, a Maker lab and multiple city play parks were also designed along with financial business plans, but were placed on hold due to the pandemic. Lara’s success in managing the complexity of multiple projects concurrently with vendors and team members across multiple countries during a pandemic was made possible through a strong team and effective communication with the sponsors, equity holders as well as governmental authorities.

Prior to Lara’s experience in Caspian Entertainment, she was the CEO of KidZania Turkey where she was responsible for the design, construction and operation of KidZania Istanbul which became the most successful indoor theme park in Turkey winning multiple awards. Prior to KidZania, Lara held progressive responsibilities at Kemer Golf and Country Club and its associated gated community.

Lara began her career in business in media and entertainment, working in Dogus Media Group (one of Turkey’s largest conglomerates), then working with the SEEF Private Equity Fund (Soros-OPIC’s South East Equity Fund) and subsequently Mars Entertainment Group, a private equity sponsored group with the largest cinema chain and gym network in Turkey.

Lara graduated with a Master’s degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance from City University Graduate School of Business, London and an undergraduate degree from University of Vermont. Lara is fluent in English, French and Turkish and proficient in Spanish.