Leadership with attitude
Posted on September 04, 2025 by Lucie Maluck
Elegance and glamour on luxury yachts, dust in mines – Denise Kurtulus combines two worlds. As head of Rolls-Royce's global marine and mining business, she demonstrates that leadership is a question of attitude.
When Denise Kurtulus walks through the offices of Rolls-Royce Plant 1 in Friedrichshafen, she deliberately takes her time – especially on a Monday morning. "Good morning, how was your weekend?" she asks a colleague and stops to really listen. It is this personal touch that sets her apart and shows what is really close to her heart: people. "This is more than just a workplace for me – it's family," she says.
Golden sunlight dances on the waves of the Mediterranean as a snow-white yacht glides majestically along. At the same time, 4,500 meters above sea level, a 400-ton dump truck battles its way through a dusty mining pit in Chile. Two worlds that couldn't be more different – and yet they are connected by the same woman.
Denise Kurtulus is head of Rolls-Royce Power Systems' global marine and mining business. What really drives her is not just technology. It's the people she works with. She has known many of her colleagues for almost 20 years. Something has grown between them. Her "secret KPI list" is not filled with numbers and data, but with the names of employees whose development she promotes or would like to promote.
Leading when no one is watching
"The owner of a yacht has everything – except time. His yacht has to run. Always. And a dump truck can't stand still either – otherwise the whole mine comes to a standstill."
The topic of service for mtu engines is essential to Denise Kurtulus's business. She knows from her own experience how challenging this business is. For twelve years, she drove the service business of what is now Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division – behind the scenes, without applause, but with the certainty that parts availability means the difference between success and standstill. "Service is essential and ultimately sells engines. But hardly anyone sees that. Even if you manage to achieve 98 percent parts availability, everyone only talks about the two percent that is missing."
These years shaped her, not only professionally, but also personally. She learned that true leadership is quiet and emerges in moments when no one is watching.
Family as a recipe for success
Today, she leads even more efficiently than before. One reason for this is the birth of her daughter seven years ago. Not only did this bring her personal happiness, it also helped her develop professionally: "I am much more efficient today, I have learned to delegate – and my team benefits from this," she says. Because, of course, family comes first at home. Thanks to the perfect setup—her husband, two grandmothers, and one grandfather provide support in a multigenerational household—the 45-year-old masters the balancing act between her family at home on Lake Constance and the big, wide world of the navy and mining in impressive fashion—and with her very own style.
Boutique instead of mass production
"We are a boutique – not a mass producer. Specialized. Personal. With the highest standards."
While competitors focus on quantity, she cultivates the personal touch. Her customers have her phone number. She has known many of them for decades, not only professionally, but also personally. "Our competitors are huge, so the CEO or the head of marine doesn't visit the
customer. I meet with our customers regularly," she explains.
This closeness is no coincidence. It is authentic—and a recipe for success. Because in a business based on trust, personality is the strongest driving force.
Sustainability as a compass for life
"Sustainability is my passion, my motivation, and the driving force behind my actions."
For Denise Kurtulus, sustainability is not just a concept, but a way of life. Her family was already offsetting its flights 15 years ago. Four years ago, she initiated the development of an mtu methanol engine for shipping – even before it became a trend.
For her, however, sustainability means much more than developing products for tomorrow. For her, sustainability also means promoting talent that will lead the day after tomorrow – and taking responsibility today – towards customers, colleagues, and the world.
From manual to attitude
What hardly anyone knows is that her career began in technical documentation. She wrote operating manuals for mtu engines – from A for exhaust valve to Z for cylinder head. What she learned back then was that technology is important in our industry, but people are almost more important.
Her rise to head of the global marine and mining business was no coincidence. It was the result of a clear attitude – and many relationships that have grown across continents and markets.
"Yacht and mining customers are very similar," she says with a smile. "Both want reliability, both human and technical." With a smile, she adds that the yacht world is only glamorous at trade fairs. Behind the scenes, shipyards are just as technically oriented as the companies that build or operate mining vehicles.
Quality with attitude
In a world that is becoming faster, bigger, and louder, Denise Kurtulus focuses on the opposite: personal, consistent, sustainable. She remains true to her attitude: success is not only measured in numbers, but in the people you take with you along the way. For her, it is personal relationships that make the difference. Engine by engine, person by person.
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