Market entry
Test market potential, regulatory and institutional conditions, competitive dynamics and viable routes to entry — producing a grounded assessment and clear basis for a go, pause or redirect decision.
Independent global advisoryInternational perspective · Commercial judgement
Cross-border growth,
judged in context.
Arslanga supports boards and leadership teams with market entry, strategic alliances and commercial growth — particularly across pensions, financial services, regulated markets and AI-enabled transformation.
The mandate
01 / 06The right answer changes from market to market.
Cross-border growth is shaped by more than market size. Regulation, institutional structures, commercial incentives and relationships determine what is possible — and what will endure.
Arslanga brings an independent, senior perspective to the decision: challenge the opportunity, read the local context, align the parties whose support matters and establish a credible route forward.
For pension organisations, financial-services firms, regulated technology providers and internationally ambitious specialists facing a consequential growth decision.
What we do
02 / 06Advice organised around consequential decisions.
Strategic alliances
Map and assess potential partners, create a focused shortlist and shape the shared proposition, commercial model and governance required for mobilisation.
Cross-border growth
Prioritise markets, define the growth thesis and translate ambition into a sequenced commercial roadmap that accounts for local market realities.
AI-enabled transformation
Assess where AI can improve propositions, decisions and operations, then set the governance requirements, priorities and adoption roadmap needed to proceed responsibly.
Areas of focus
03 / 06Experience where context and trust carry weight.
The perspective is international, but never abstract. Advice is grounded in the institutional, regulatory and commercial conditions surrounding the decision.
Pensions & retirement
Institutional structures, long-term outcomes, distribution, technology and the practical realities of reform.
Financial services
Complex propositions, partnership models, regulated distribution and international commercial development.
Regulated growth
Expansion where policy, oversight, stakeholder alignment and reputation materially shape what is viable.
Enterprise AI
Adoption where governance, operating capability and buyer confidence determine access to the market.
How we work
04 / 06From open question to considered action.
Define the decision
Clarify the ambition, the choice it requires and the constraints that could change the answer.
Establish the context
Build a grounded view of regulation, institutions, stakeholders, incentives, competition and culture.
Create alignment
Bring the relevant parties into the conversation, test assumptions and shape an approach able to earn support.
Set the route forward
Turn insight into choices, priorities, responsibilities and a practical sequence of next moves.
The adviser
05 / 06Founder, Arslanga · International growth adviser · London
Songül
Arslan
Songül Arslan founded Arslanga as an independent advisory practice focused on cross-border growth, partnerships and regulated markets. Alongside this work, she is Head of International Business Development & Strategic Alliances at Strawpath. Her Strawpath role and work published through Strawpath are identified clearly on this site.
Her experience spans the UK, the Netherlands, wider Europe, the US and Africa. Earlier roles include Financial Projects Manager at PwC, Loyalty Manager at Shell and Strategic Account Manager & Business Development at CTC Pensions Technology.
Education
Strategy, economics and international politics.
2009–2010
Leiden University
MA, International Politics
ThesisThe relative decline of the US — Paul Kennedy’s predictions on the rise and fall of great powers revisited in 2010
2006–2009
Leiden University
BA, International Politics
ThesisSuccesses and failures of democratization in Burundi
1993–2009
Radboud University
MSc, Business Studies with a specialisation in Strategy
ThesisInternational Diversification and Firm Performance — what internationalization strategies are successful?
1992–1999
Radboud University
drs., Financial Economics
ThesisAsian Capitalism — A curse or a blessing? With a subtheme on the Asian financial crisis of the nineties
Languages
Seven languages, from native fluency to elementary proficiency.
- Dutch · English · TurkishNative or bilingual proficiency
- GermanFull professional proficiency
- French · SpanishProfessional working proficiency
- RussianElementary proficiency
Research & perspective
06 / 06Ideas for the decision before the mandate.
Evidence, systems and market judgement.
Selected research
Research co-authored by Songül Arslan, presented here in its original published form and with complete attribution.
The Unseen Giant in Finance: Transformation and Innovation in Pensions
An analysis of global pension trends and technological innovation, with a spotlight on Sub-Saharan Africa and the practical lessons emerging across pension systems.
- Authors
- Andrew Mugoya, Songül Arslan and Lauretta Akwule
- Original publisher
- Strawpath
The Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP)
A study of the EU’s portable pension framework, examining technology, innovation, engagement and the conditions required for cross-border adoption.
- Authors
- Andrew Mugoya and Songül Arslan
- Contributors
- Dr Francesco Briganti, Jorik van Zanden and Gianluca Mauro
- Original publisher
- Strawpath
Further perspective
Short-form analysis on the commercial questions surrounding regulated growth.
0102
Enterprise AI · Market access
Trust is the new market access
Why governance evidence, accountability and buyer confidence are becoming commercial qualifications — not matters to address after traction.
Pensions · Cross-border systems
Portability requires an execution layer
A view on pan-European pensions: regulatory design matters, but continuity across fragmented systems determines whether portability works in practice.
Start a conversation
Bring the decision, not a polished brief.
A first conversation can test the opportunity, expose the questions that need answering and establish whether Arslanga is the right fit. No predetermined model and no hard sell.
Contact Songül on LinkedInUntil a dedicated Arslanga email is introduced, LinkedIn is the published contact route.
Arslanga on LinkedIn ↗