Download Resume
Full name
Maian Alken
Title
Creative Director
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Blurb
A passionate writer and reader who finds herself in the world of words.
Biography
Let me tell you my story...briefly.
Born and raised in cold northern Germany, I moved to sunny Saudi Arabia right after graduation, where I soon started following my passion for writing. A passion that then soon flourished into a knack for ideating at my second home J. Walter Thompson Riyadh.
Alright, I'll give you some juicy details.
A proud German citizen of Syrian descent, I was always fascinated by different cultures, traditions, and languages - of which I know two mother-tongue-style well and another two very well. I'm still a beginner in Spanish though - the fifth and latest language I had the honor of learning. But I'm planning to change that status.
It's that obsession with languages that made and still makes me read so much. I just love the way words painted in books create a world in our heads and music for our ears.
When I moved to Saudi Arabia in 2010, adapting to a completely new culture - heck, world - was quite challenging to say the least. But 9. years in, I can honestly say that this crazy journey has not only been extremely enriching on a personal and professional level, but also made me get to know extraordinary people and their astonishing culture - and, yes, language.
I believe that my two very different cultural backgrounds and my experience in the Kingdom and the region overall shape the way I look at things and see the world. And that view - trust me - is truly eye-opening and mind-boggling.
To further satisfy my craving for the unknown, I then took on a new challenge at TBWA/RAAD Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in August 2019. A move that keeps widening that horizon. Thank Goodness, that one has no specs.
Experience
Creative Director
Leo Burnett
Creative Director
Saatchi & Saatchi
Creative Director
TBWA/RAAD
Associate Creative Director
TBWA/RAAD
Senior English Copywriter
TBWA\RAAD
Senior English Copywriter
J. Walter Thompson
Copywriter
J. Walter Thompson
Junior Copywriter
J. Walter Thompson
Education
Creative MBA
Cannes Lions
Participated and graduated from Cannes Lions' first-ever Creative MBA program.
Creative LIAisons Mentee
London International Awards
I was a mentee at the Creative LIAisons, where I had the honour to speak to and be mentored by great thinkers and industry leaders from across the world. It was truly a pleasure.
Master Gunners
TBWA
I was nominated as one of only 15 participants from the global TBWA Network to be part of Master Gunners. A program designed to coach creative leadership for aspiring leaders.
Rare with Google Leadership Academy Graduate
Rare with Google Leadership Academy
Facebook Certified Creative Strategy Professional
Facebook Blueprint
Ideas, Ideas, Ideas
D&AD
The ultimate creative workout that dug deep into the art of idea generation. The result? A load of techniques for producing ideas that don’t interrupt what people love, but are what people love.
Instagram and the World Cup – Ramadan Edition
Facebook Blueprint Live workshop
This workshop is designed to teach advertising professionals all about Facebook’s and Instagram’s available marketing tools, and how to best leverage them for brands.
Storytelling for Brands & Advertising
D&AD Workshop
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of Hamburg
Writing for Advertising
D&AD Workshop
Writing for Advertising
D&AD Workshop
Awards
| 2024 | Gold for Refs for Change in the Social & Influencer category , Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity |
| 2023 | Gold for Refs for Change in the Social & Influencer category , MAD STARS |
| 2022 |
Bronze in Film for The Noble Speech
, Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity
Created for the Womanity Foundation https://thenoblespeech.com/ |
| 2021 |
Bronze in Live Communications for the #FirstArabicCountdown
, The Loeries
Created for the Dubai Government Media Office |
| 2021 |
Gold in Integrated for the #FirstArabicCountdown
, The Loeries
Created for the Dubai Government Media Office |
| 2020/2021 | Bronze in Brand Experience for the #FirstArabicCountdown , Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity |
| 2020/2021 | Silver in Digital for the #FirstArabicCountdown , Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity |
| 2019 | Among Top 10 Copywriters in the region , The Black & White Report |
| 2019 | Bronze and Brand Rebel Award for Jarir’s Back-to-School Blues , WARC |
| 2019 | Bronze in Print Advertising for STC’s ‘Likes Fuel Hate’ , Loeries |
| 2019 | Silver in Film Communication for STC’s ‘What Are We Allowing?’ , Loeries |
| 2018 |
The Most Creative Creative of the Year
, J. Walter Thompson
An internal award given to the most creative Creative in the agency. |
| 2019 |
See it! Be it! delegate
, Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity
I was one of the 10 program participants who were chosen from all applicants in the entire MENA region (from all agency networks). |
| 2019 |
Bronze in Film
, Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity
For STC’s Qitaf commercials titled ‘The one Riyal Flight – Check-in and Gate’ |
| 2019 |
Grand Prix in Film Craft
, Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity
For STC’s Tuby app commercial titled ‘What are we allowing?’ |
| 2018 |
Silver in Youth Marketing (Teens & Adults)
, MENA Effie Awards
For Jarir Bookstore’s Back-to-School Blues campaign |
| 2018 |
Gold in Retail (Non-Food)
, MENA Effie Awards
For Jarir’s Back-to-School Blues campaign |
| 2017 |
Among Top 12 Writers in MENA
, The Black & White Report
Ranked 12th among the top writers in the Middle East & North Africa |
| 2017 |
Bronze in Integrated
, The Loeries
For STC’s Unveil Saudi |
| 2017 |
Bronze in PR
, Dubai Lynx
For STC’s Unveil Saudi |
| 2017 |
Bronze in Integrated
, Dubai Lynx
For STC’s Unveil Saudi |
| 2017 |
Silver in Brand Experience
, Effie Awards MENA
For STC’s Unveil Saudi |
| 2016 | Among Top 10 Writers in the Middle East & North Africa , The Loeries |
Clients
Saudi Telecom Company Flynas Jarir Bookstore Shell Saudi British Bank National Geographic SACO Ma'aden Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority Saudi Aramco Louvre Abu Dhabi Mobily du Nissan UAE Government Media Office KFC Womanity Foundation