From Global Branding to Local Growth

Antoine Geadah, Managing Director of Ogilvy Qatar, shares his perspective on how world-class branding, creative strategies, and data-driven thinking can empower even the smallest businesses to punch above their weight.


“If you're doing well, I'm doing well.”


At the heart of Antoine’s message was a deep belief in shared growth: “One hand cannot clap by itself. We need to enable others to grow—because when they grow, we grow.” Ogilvy’s partnership with DHL4SMEs is built on this principle: contributing not just creativity, but experience, frameworks, and tools to elevate the wider ecosystem.

 

Growth Is a Mindset—Not Just a Target
Antoine’s leadership philosophy? “Growth is a mindset.” Since joining Ogilvy Qatar five years ago, the team has grown from 70 to 120 people—proving that scale starts with attitude, adaptability, and action. For SMEs, that means not being afraid to pivot and embracing frameworks that drive forward momentum.

 

Brand Building Frameworks—For Everyone
Ogilvy will soon host an exclusive event for DHL4SMEs members, unveiling their proprietary Operating System (OS) for brand building. Whether it’s Coca-Cola or a local startup, the same structure applies: quarterly brand activations, consistent messaging, and audience-first strategies.

“Don’t just give a hungry man a fish—teach him how to fish. That’s what we want to do with SMEs.”

 

Data, Not Guesswork
Antoine emphasized the shift from “fluffy work” to ROI-driven branding. With Ogilvy launching its “Ogilvy One” experience arm in Doha in 2025, data will play a central role in helping SMEs target smarter, act faster, and market more efficiently. From CRM systems to AI-powered insights, the agency’s next chapter is all about precision.

 

AI: Friend, Not Foe
Rather than fearing AI, Antoine encouraged SMEs to learn “the art of the prompt”—a skill he believes will shape the future of branding. “If you know how to prompt AI, it will be your best friend.” Ogilvy is already using AI in production, localization, and research to shorten time-to-market and sharpen messaging.

 

Community Through Authenticity
Asked why he joined the initiative, Antoine’s response was simple: “Because it’s genuine.” He credited the program's open, collaborative approach and its potential to uncover the next wave of unicorns born in Qatar.


What’s Next?

Ogilvy is preparing an in-depth session that will inspire SMEs with global examples and local applications—covering everything from visual identity to storytelling, market positioning to campaign execution. The goal? Help every SME become top-of-mind in their industry.

 

Antoine’s Final Word:

“We’re not here to just share what we know. We want to learn too. From each other. From the market. From SMEs. That’s what community looks like.”

 

Don’t miss Ogilvy’s upcoming session on the DHL4SMEs platform—this one could change the way you think about your brand forever.



As always, the DHL4SMEs platform is committed to making this type of valuable knowledge accessible to Qatar’s SME community. 

All presentations and recordings from our live events are available in the events section. 


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