After her primary, middle and high school education in Ankara TED College, Özlem Önal, who was born in Ankara in 1969, graduated from the Middle East Technical University in the Department of Economy. 

Besides the Hotel Management she has done in New York for a period, she also worked in different departments of Dedeman Holding. She is still Dedeman Tourism Investors A.Ş. Board Member and works as Umut Foundation Founding Trustee.