Ana Júlia de Oliveira, Manager, Strategy & Insights, Publicis Groupe ME #30under30
I am obsessed with the Olympics – seeing what humans are capable of, overcoming physical and mental limitations, fascinate and inspire me.
I am not capable of putting my thoughts into a deck unless I design it slightly to make it more inviting to myself.
I shall be the best strategist that I, Ana Júlia de Oliveira, can possibly become.
I shall not be the one to shoot down ideas; instead, I'll always look for ways to build on them.
I like it when I am surrounded by a supportive environment where everyone feels safe to share their thoughts openly. In advertising, this kind of trust and collaboration is where the real magic happens.
I dislike it when my workspace is unorganized – it disrupts my thinking.
My biggest ambition is to see my strategic thinking and guidance make a real difference for brands over the long run.
My biggest worry is that self-doubt will creep in on the projects I’m most passionate about, holding me back from fully showing what I’m capable of.
I am most proud of how much I’ve grown in my presentation skills. I went from struggling to present a single benchmark slide, to being part of a panel at the MENA Effie Thought Leadership Program last year.
I am a bit ashamed that I haven’t learnt how to speak Arabic fluently although I have lived in the UAE since the age of 5.
Looking back, probably I should have voiced my interest and stepped up for projects I wasn’t assigned to simply because I’m not from the region. Living here makes us all inherently part of its culture.
Looking back, probably I should not have let the fear of making mistakes stop me from tackling projects beyond my comfort zone and experience.
It all fell apart when I thought I had cracked a rad space, only to realize someone had already thought about it and brought it to life first.
Things made sense when I wrote them down on a word document.
Eventually things will always fall into place – just like my strategies do - eventually.
Eventually things will not change unless we play our part—whether at work or in life, we all have a role to play, no matter how big or small.
Someone once advised me that "If you don’t make time for life, your work loses its spark" - It's the richness of my experiences and encounters with the world that fuel my creativity and help me bring real value to the brands I build.
I once advised someone that being you is what makes you irreplaceable—no one else thinks or sees the world exactly as you do. We each bring our own unique value.
If I had a superpower, it would be the ability to build and design decks instantly as my thoughts take shape.
My superpower in real life is processing information quickly and drawing multiple (sometimes too many) conclusions.
The word I use most is “Is that true?” - I anchor my thinking in truth, data, and real-world insights, believing that impactful brand results come from rooting communications in real human insights.
The word I dislike most is "strategy"—the way it’s often used in today’s industry ignores the nuances and unique forms it takes to meet each brand’s specific challenges and objectives.
This too shall pass everything – nothing in life is permanent—not brands, people, or situations. Every moment, good or bad, will pass, so I try to make the most of each.
most treasured passion is making sense of information. I live for the cathartic feeling of seeing all my thoughts and findings converge into one single statement.
People should be more empathetic.
People should not be as proud as they are.
I wish to thank God for blessing me with the right people at every stage of my life—my family, friends, and mentors who have supported me along the way.
