Hamdi Ulukaya Quotes

Powerful Hamdi Ulukaya for Daily Growth

About Hamdi Ulukaya

Hamdi Ulukaya, a renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, was born on September 15, 1972, in Turkey. Raised in a small village named Kahramanköy, he grew up with a deep appreciation for the values of hard work, resilience, and empathy that were ingrained in his community. Ulukaya's journey began when he moved to the United States at 20 years old with just $400 in his pocket. He settled in New York City, working various jobs while attending college. His experiences during this time instilled in him a strong sense of determination and a desire to create opportunities for others. In 2007, Ulukaya founded Chobani, the world's top-selling Greek yogurt brand. This was not just a business venture but a mission to bring high-quality food to more people while maintaining a strong commitment to social responsibility. Under his leadership, Chobani prioritized sustainability and community involvement, becoming one of the most admired companies in the world. Ulukaya's influence extends beyond the realm of business. He is an advocate for immigrants, refugees, and underrepresented communities, using his platform to promote inclusivity and equality. In 2016, he pledged to donate at least half of his wealth to charitable causes through The Ulukaya Foundation. Today, Hamdi Ulukaya continues to inspire with his entrepreneurial spirit, social consciousness, and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world. His story serves as a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams, no matter where life begins.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I believe business is about people, not numbers."

Hamdi Ulukaya's quote emphasizes that in business, relationships with people are more valuable than mere numerical data or financial gains. He suggests that a successful business thrives on the well-being of its employees, customers, partners, and communities. This perspective encourages empathy, mutual respect, collaboration, and long-term sustainability rather than prioritizing immediate profits at the expense of people. By focusing on people and fostering positive relationships, businesses can create a meaningful impact in society, making them more resilient, innovative, and ultimately, profitable over time.


"The way to have a strong company is to start with the people."

Hamdi Ulukaya's quote emphasizes the importance of prioritizing people as the foundation for building a robust and successful company. This perspective suggests that a company's strength lies not just in its products, services, or financial resources, but primarily in its workforce. By nurturing and empowering employees, a company can foster an environment conducive to creativity, innovation, and ultimately, business growth. In essence, this quote highlights the interconnectedness between people and the prosperity of a company.


"We can create a better future for our employees and our communities through business."

Hamdi Ulukaya's quote emphasizes the dual role that businesses play in shaping both their workforce and the broader community. It suggests that successful businesses, rather than simply focusing on profits, have the power to positively impact their employees' lives and the communities where they operate. This perspective underscores the idea that businesses can be a force for good by creating opportunities for personal growth, fostering strong relationships within the community, and contributing to sustainable development. In essence, Ulukaya proposes that businesses should strive not just for financial success, but also for social impact and responsibility.


"When you empower the individual, you empower everyone."

This quote highlights the idea that when an individual is given power or resources to make decisions, take control, and grow, it not only benefits them but also has a ripple effect on their community as a whole. Empowering individuals fosters self-sufficiency, stimulates creativity, and encourages social development, leading to a more robust and equitable society. The principle of empowering the individual transcends into collective growth and progress.


"Being an entrepreneur means being willing to step into the unknown."

Hamdi Ulukaya's quote emphasizes that entrepreneurship involves taking risks, venturing into uncharted territories, and embracing uncertainty. It signifies a readiness to explore new ideas, markets, or approaches, which is essential for creating something innovative and successful in business. Entrepreneurs are those who dare to challenge the status quo and strive to make their vision a reality, often against all odds. This mindset not only drives progress but also fuels economic growth and societal change.


I came to the U.S. in 1994 to learn English and go to business school, but I took only a few business courses at the State University of New York at Albany and didn't finish.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

New, Courses, Took, State University

For a startup, you need to stay small so the others don't attack, or you aim to be one of the big guys. If you don't do it right, you might lose everything.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Small, Aim, Big, Big Guys

There are a lot of studies about small businesses and how they make a difference in their community and create a lot of jobs and values. So we need to focus on small businesses or entrepreneurs who want to start manufacturing or making things.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Values, Small, Entrepreneurs, Manufacturing

A manufacturing resurgence is what will give local communities and small towns across America a fighting chance for survival. Many of today's American entrepreneurs come from those very places but make their wealth elsewhere. We need to change that.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Small, Very, Entrepreneurs, Manufacturing

Unlike the objective of far too many companies, manufacturing is not about a quick 'exit.' It is centered on long-term value creation.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Quick, Centered, About, Manufacturing

Growing up in eastern Turkey, I was not really involved with the family business - sheep and cow farming, yogurt and cheese making. But I think I learned from my father the unspoken business language or instincts that go back thousands of years.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Father, I Think, Yogurt, Thousands Of Years

We took a plant that was being closed by a big company thinking there was no good use for it, and we came in with a different perspective. We bought some used equipment, as simple as we could.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Big, Some, Took, Big Company

Entrepreneurship is seen as if you're in Silicon Valley or New York City and starting an app business or a social-media business, which is cool. But what we really have to focus on is people who make things, and how can we fund them, and how can we encourage people to stay in their community and make a difference in their community.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Focus, City, New York City, Make A Difference

I didn't have a business degree. I didn't have experience to work in somebody else's office. I never built or ran a department. So I was on this journey, and when the time came to make a decision, I was just going with my gut.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Experience, Office, Gut, Department

Everyone asks me why someone Turkish is making Greek yogurt. In Greece, it is not called 'Greek yogurt.' Everywhere in the world it is called 'strained yogurt.' But because it was introduced in this country by a Greek company, they called it 'Greek yogurt.'

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Country, Greek, Yogurt, Turkish

I was always told yogurt had to be sweet to appeal to Americans. But when people go to Turkey or Greece, within 15 minutes of their return, they start talking about how much they enjoyed the yogurt there.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Yogurt, About, 15 Minutes, Greece

I brought in a yogurt master from Turkey. I went to Greece. I was always going back and forth, from New York to Turkey and Greece. The recipe we use has been around hundreds and hundreds of years. Growing up in Turkey, not a day would go by that we wouldn't eat yogurt like this.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Been, Yogurt, Brought, Greece

A closed plant is like a cemetery; it really is. The walls will talk to you; the machines will talk to you if you really talk to them.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Walls, Will, Like, Machines

You can find Chobani in every major supermarket, in club stores, convenience stores and airports. But we're not everywhere yet. We have been struggling with keeping up with demand.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Stores, Been, Keeping, Supermarket

Just about anyone can make a good product, but it's the people that count. In the end, it's the employees who will take it from a kitchen-table idea to the next level. There are a lot of important things in business, but the people portion comes first.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Next, Idea, Portion, Next Level

I started a feta cheese company, Euphrates, in upstate New York in 2002.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

New York, New, Upstate

What happened was I saw this ad for a yogurt plant for sale. It was in my junk mail pile, and I threw it into the garbage can. And then about half an hour later, with the dirt on it, I picked it up from the garbage can, and I called out of curiosity.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Mail, Yogurt, Half, Junk

Every small business will give you an entrepreneurial way of looking at things. I guarantee you that for every plant that closes, if you gave it to one small-business person in that community, he or she would find a way to make it work. The small-business attitude is you always find a way to make it work.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Small, Small Business, Would, Entrepreneurial

Most Americans descend from the very people who built this country with their bare hands.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Hands, Country, Very, Descend

My mother used to make the most amazing yogurt.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Mother, Amazing, Most, Most Amazing

On the tech side, little start-ups can do something magnificent. They don't need too much in terms of plants and infrastructure.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Need, Side, Magnificent, Tech

Fage does not make great yogurt.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Great, Does, Make, Yogurt

I'm not somebody who is going to build something for a few years, sell it, and then go off and just have fun.

- Hamdi Ulukaya

Go, Going, Sell, Have Fun

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