The Marketing Bytes

We’re live with Episode 5 of The Marketing Bytes podcast with Maria Dodero!
 
As Season 2 continues to feature Women in Marketing, we celebrate the ideas, leadership, and bold thinking driving change across industries.
 
In this episode, she takes us from Industrial Engineering to P&G, Nestlé, and now Lenskart, exploring the experiences, pivots, and lessons that have shaped her as a marketing leader. At the heart of it all is one powerful belief: the consumer is king.
 
Maria has spent her career building brands that truly connect across the fast-changing marketing landscapes of South America and the Middle East. From global consumer giants such as Gillette, Ariel, Duracell, and Nescafé to the dynamic world of retail eyewear with Lenskart, she unpacks how marketing has evolved from traditional campaigns to experiential, personalised, and AI-powered experiences. She also shares her perspective on the role of leadership, curiosity, and continuous learning in staying ahead. And through it all, she reflects on turning challenges and closed doors into new paths and opportunities.
 
It’s candid, insightful, and full of ideas worth taking beyond the episode.
 
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00:00 - Opening Graphics
00:04 - Podcast Highlights
00:39 - Plug In. Power Up. Press Play. (Montage)
00:42 - Introduction
04:21 - THE JOURNEY
10:23 - INSIDE GLOBAL BRANDS
15:24 - THE LENSKART CHAPTER
22:53 - REALITY OF MODERN MARKETING
33:42 - MARKETING LEADERSHIP
37:57 - FUTURE OF MARKETING
41:37 - SIP OR SPILL
45:46 - Conclusion
47:49 - End Slate
 
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#TheMarketingBytes #UAEMarketing #BrandBuilding #EmiratiAudience #ArabYouth #InfluencerMarketing #GenZMarketing #SocialListening #ArabAudience #MarketingConversations #ConnexionStudio #Luxury #WomenInMarketing #GCCMarketing #MarketingPodcast #ConsumerCampaigns #AIMarketing #FMCGMarketing #Retail #Eyewear

We're live with Episode 4 of The Marketing Bytes with Evgenia Papageorgiou!
Season 2 is spotlighting Women in Marketing, and this one is a masterclass you didn't know you needed.
Evgenia Papageorgiou has spent her career chasing curiosity across six countries and four categories — from Cadbury in Greece to Mars in Australia to Coca-Cola across Asia Pacific, and most recently rebuilding a snacking portfolio from scratch in the UAE. And in this episode, she gets into what it actually means to do marketing that starts with people, not spreadsheets.
She unpacks why the most powerful consumer insight she ever gathered happened not in a boardroom but in the middle of a traffic jam. How launching a world-first product in three months taught her more than a decade of structured processes. Why moving from a global giant to a local business wasn't a step back — it was the hardest, most revealing challenge of her career. And what it really takes to lead teams through change when the category, the culture, and the company are all unfamiliar at once.
Raw, strategic, and rooted in the kind of experience that only comes from actually doing the work.
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We're live with Episode 3 of The Marketing Bytes with Myreine Abdel Massih! Season 2 is spotlighting Women in Marketing, and this conversation is one you don't want to miss.
Myreine Abdel Massih has built her career across consulting, fashion, beauty, and luxury jewelry — from Deloitte to Damas — and in this episode, she gets into what it really takes to lead brand transformation that actually means something.
 
She breaks down the difference between surface-led adaptation and cultural relevance that is truly rooted in meaning. From rebranding Faces across nine GCC countries to driving digital and creative transformation at Damas Jewelry, she shares what it takes to honor a brand's legacy without being held hostage by it.
 
The conversation also goes deep into the human side of change — building internal believers, navigating the messy middle of transformation, and why winning the heart of the consumer will always outlast winning their attention. Honest, strategic, and deeply grounded in the realities of marketing in the Middle East.
 
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We’re live with Episode 2 of The Marketing Bytes with Vishakha Mehra!
 
Season 2 is all about the people redefining marketing — and we're starting with the women leading the charge.
 
Here’s to the women shaping industries, challenging norms, and building brands that actually mean something. In this episode, Vishakha Mehra breaks down what it really takes to market beyond the metrics. From tackling the ever-evolving Gen Z audience to why authenticity is no longer optional, she gets into the real work behind building brands that people trust.
 
She talks about the importance of offering genuine, value-driven products, not just well-packaged campaigns. The conversation also dives into how marketers can use digital insights and data the right way, not just to track performance, but to actually understand customer behavior and make smarter, more human decisions. It’s honest, practical, and cuts through the noise of surface-level marketing.
 
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We’re live with Episode 1 of The Marketing Bytes with Lara Sous!Season 2 spotlighting Women in Marketing — and what better day to launch than International Women’s Day. Here’s wishing all the incredible women leaders a very Happy Women’s Day.In this episode, Lara shares her honest perspective on what it takes to stand out in a room — especially in industries that are often male-dominated. She talks about the power of storytelling and PR in building strong brands, what marketing to creators really means today, and unpacks the unique dynamics of the Middle Eastern market — along with the unfiltered realities of modern marketing.Plug in. Power up. Press play.

How do you scale a homegrown brand in the UAE?It’s not just about launching or getting noticed—it’s about growing it in a market that moves fast and expects a lot.In the latest episode of The Marketing Bytes, our guest Yavar Khan breaks down what it truly takes to build and grow local brands in the region.He talks about the realities of the UAE market and how trust and loyalty are built here. He also shares his own experiences, lessons, and mindset shifts that matter when scaling in a competitive space.#TheMarketingBytes #UAEMarketing #BrandBuilding #EmiratiAudience #MarketingConversations #ConnexionStudio

Episode 05 of The Marketing Bytes with Shamim Akhtar is now live.In this episode, Shamim shares insights from his journey of growing e-commerce brands in the GCC. He speaks about the role of logistics in earning customer trust, the idea of One GCC and how community and influencer-led commerce are driving real sales in the Middle East. If you are looking to understand what scaling e-commerce in this region truly involves, this podcast is for you! Plug in. Power up. Press play.00:00 - Teaser00:49 - Introduction & Guest Welcome01:46 - Shamim’s Professional Journey04:44 - Transitioning to E-commerce05:38 - Business Growth: Then vs. Now06:55 - Key Marketing Metrics for Profitability08:14 - Defining E-commerce Success09:18 - The Role of Influencers10:31 - Driving Decisions with Data & Localization11:17 - Balancing Sales Volume & Profitability12:40 - AI & Automation in Business14:11 - Examples of AI Efficiency15:25 - AI & The Future of Jobs17:00 - Understanding GCC Consumer Behavior18:47 - Adapting Strategy: UAE vs. Saudi Arabia20:30 - Trends Reshaping E-commerce22:51 - Future Opportunities in GCC E-commerce23:44 - Is There Room for New Brands?25:09 - Logistics: The Core of E-commerce27:25 - The Importance of Back-end Tech28:24 - The Next Breakthrough: Tech or Logistics?29:38 - Operational Pitfalls in Hyper-Growth32:34 - Leading Teams Through Change33:37 - Rapid Fire 37:16 - Advice for Aspiring E-commerce Entrepreneurs37:54 - Closing#TheMarketingBytes #EcommerceGCC #EcommerceMiddleEast #GCCBusiness #EcommerceScaling #LogisticsFirst #InfluencerCommerce #CommunityDriven #MarketingPodcast #BusinessGrowth #RegionalScale #UAEBusiness #dubaimarketing

Episode 04 of The Marketing Bytes with Abhinav Daharwal is now live!In this episode, Abhinav uncovers what truly shapes loyalty today. He dives into how customer behaviour is shifting, why personalisation matters more than ever and what brands must get right to keep customers coming back. He also shares how to design meaningful CRM journeys, create seamless omnichannel experiences, and use data and automation to make smarter decisions every day.If you’ve been trying to understand how different channels can work together to create meaningful customer experiences, this one is for you! Plug in. Power up. Press play.00:00 - Intro 00:00:48 - Introduction of Host & Guest (Abhinav Dharwal) 00:01:44 - Abhinav's Career Journey: From Merchandising to Marketing 00:03:55 - The Art & Science of Marketing: Data vs. Storytelling 00:05:34 - Why UAE is the Most Rewarding 00:07:44 - Centerpoint vs. HomeBox00:09:36 - The Future of Customer Loyalty: Hyper-personalization & AI 00:11:28 - Top 3 Must-Haves for a Successful Loyalty Program 00:12:57 - Omni-channel Retail00:15:39 - The Role of Traditional Marketing (ATL/BTL) 00:18:43 - Pre-Ramadan Strategy & Execution 00:22:54 - Mastering CRM in an Omni-channel Environment 00:26:10 - Aligning In-Store & Digital Teams 00:27:25 - AI, Automation & Creating "Customer Personas" 00:30:33 - Old School Market Research: 00:33:13 - Rapid Fire Round 00:35:49 - Advice for Aspiring CRM & Loyalty Professionals 00:37:20 - Conclusion#TheMarketingBytes #MarketingPodcast #CustomerLoyalty #CRMStrategy #MiddleEastMarketing #MarketingInDubai #Omnichannel #ConsumerBehaviour #RetailMarketing #Personalisation #MarketingInsights #BrandGrowth #MENAIndustry

We’re live with Episode 03!From localising global fashion brands to creating collaborations that genuinely connect, this episode with Maud Labro Grison explores what it really takes for fashion brands to resonate in new markets.She takes us behind the scenes of global fashion, from how she’s helped brands like Benetton, Guess, Diesel, Scotch & Soda, Fred Perry, Pinko, and more find their cultural voice in the Middle East, to how retail experiences, collaborations, and events become powerful storytelling tools.Watch it now — Plug in. Power up. Press play.00:00 - Intro 00:00:43 - Introduction of Guest: Maud Labro Grison 00:01:23 - Maud's Journey: From Accounting to Fashion 00:03:33 - Moving to the Middle East & First Impressions 00:04:24 - Passion for Fashion00:05:44 - What Unites Fashion Lovers Across Cultures? 00:06:57 - Brand Positioning: Why the Middle East is Unique 00:09:03 - Understanding Diverse Audiences: Middle East, Africa, CIS 00:10:19 - Memorable Brand Collaborations00:12:17 - What Makes Partnerships Meaningful? 00:13:31 - Choosing the Right Local Partners00:15:35 - Impactful Campaigns00:17:22 - Fashion Shows, Pop-ups & Creating Experiences 00:20:30 - Balancing Global Brand DNA with Local Relevance 00:26:21 - Operational Challenges00:28:33 - Managing People: Training & Cultural Alignment 00:30:57 - Turning Challenges into Opportunities00:33:10 - Sustainability in the Middle East Fashion Market 00:35:52 - Rapid Fire Round 00:37:04 - Conclusion & Advice for Aspiring Fashion Professionals#FashionMarketing #GlobalBrands #BrandLocalisation #CulturalMarketing #MiddleEastMarketing #BrandStrategy #FashionBusiness #RetailExperience #BrandStorytelling #CreativeThinking #MarketingInsights #MarketingCommunity #GlobalFashion #MarketingInDubai #brandrelevance

On this episode of The Marketing Bytes, we're joined by Ayesha Shaheen, a marketing powerhouse whose career journey is as diverse as the regions she's worked in. She shares fresh perspective on how to create compelling brand communication that resonates with different cultures and audiences. We also dive into the balance between performance-driven marketing and creating genuine customer experiences, while uncovering her passion for CSR initiatives. Whether you’re exploring branding in Dubai or looking to scale across regions, this episode is packed insights you won’t want to miss.Watch it now — Plug in. Power up. Press play.00:00 - Intro 00:00:26 - Introduction of Guest: Ayesha Shaheen 00:01:04 - Ayesha's Unconventional Career Journey00:02:16 - First Marketing Stints: Family Business & Pharma 00:05:03 - A Day in the Life of a Marketing Powerhouse 00:06:09 - Managing Marketing Strategy Across Diverse Markets 00:08:18 - Creating Regional Content: Adapting for UAE, India, & Saudi Arabia 00:09:07 - The Shift to Performance Marketing & Data-Driven Strategies 00:11:17 - Building a Performance Marketing Stack from Scratch 00:13:06 - Affiliate & Influencer Marketing 00:13:55 - Measuring Campaign Success: Social Listening & Sentiment Analysis 00:17:01 - Marketing Technology 00:20:27 - Internal Communications & Company Culture 00:21:41 - Customer Experience: Everyone's Responsibility 00:22:15 - CSR & ESG: More Than Just a Checkbox 00:25:23 - The Evolution of the 4 Ps to 7 Ps of Marketing 00:27:05 - Advice for Marketers Feeling Stuck 00:28:12 - Rapid Fire Round 00:30:19 - Conclusion & Advice for Young Marketers#MarketingPodcast #MarketingInMENA #MiddleEastMarketing #DubaiMarketing #SaudiMarketing #CrossCulturalMarketing #ConsumerInsights #MarketingStrategy #BrandLeadership #BrandCommunication #CustomerExperience #PerformanceMarketing #MarketingTrends #MarketingCommunity #MarketingConversations #MarketingLeaders #DigitalMarketingInsights #MarketingProfessionals #MarketingGrowth