My professional journey and defining milestones

The best things in my life have happened because of curiosity, especially in my career.

My journey in advertising and marketing started unexpectedly. I attended an open-day interview simply to support a friend, but a few days later, I received a job offer myself. Fresh out of university, with only a few internships in banking, I had never imagined working in a media agency. But I genuinely loved it. That is how my career began in my home country.

A few years later, curiosity led me even further. I moved to Dubai, driven by the question: What if I could work in a different region, apply what I already know and learn what I don’t know yet? I joined a media agency in the UAE, and I will always be grateful for that opportunity. Living and working in the UAE accelerated not only my professional development but also my personal growth.

The UAE taught me that everything is possible. Even if you come from a small city and graduate from a university that few people in your country have heard of, you can still prove (first to yourself!), that you are capable of delivering success for the region’s top advertisers.

Today, I lead partner relationships at Yango. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I have been to work with different leaders throughout my journey. They each had very different management styles, but over time I came to understand that the strongest leaders are often united by the same core values, even if they express them in different ways.

The values that drive my leadership are anchored in authenticity. For me effective leadership starts with a clear understanding of who you are, what you stand for and how you show up for others. For me, authenticity at work means leading in a way that is aligned with my strengths and principles, while creating an environment where others feel empowered to do the same. This approach builds trust, strengthens accountability and enables people to contribute with greater clarity, confidence and impact.

In my country, there is a saying: “Do good and throw it into the sea”, meaning do good without expecting anything in return. For me, this reflects the meaning of “Give to Gain.” Real growth starts with what you choose to give first your effort, trust or support to others. I believe that the more genuine value you bring the more opportunities come back to you over time.

Advice to the next generation of women

Don’t let others define success for you. Know what you want, stay authentic and be consistent. As simple as it may sound, it took me time to find my own voice in media and advertising and that journey taught me how important it is to build a career that feels true to who you are.