This week, spoke to Myrna Ayad, Cultural Strategist and Art Advisor based in the UAE. Welcome to the Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as..
.’ where we speak to some incredible and business women both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome. Based in Dubai, Ayad established her namesake consultancy in 2018, focusing on art advisory, cultural strategy and publishing.
Overall, she develops cultural strategies and support brands and organisations to embrace art and culture within their frameworks. This way, brands stand out. Her expertise sees the many intersections between the worlds of art and luxury.
Both forms of creation influence one another and present enduring experiences. English, Psychology and History. At a now-defunct publishing house.
I started off editing one weekly student paper, Campus Journal and then launched Campus Journal in Kuwait and then came The Buzz, a Village Voice-type weekly. The invasion of Lebanon in 1982. My maternal grandfather owned some of the UAE’s first hotels, so we came here ‘temporarily’ and here we are, at home.
Stories. Art and people tell stories. I work independently as a cultural strategist and editor with a focus on art and culture from the Arab world and Iran.
Telling stories essentially. I advise organisations on what they should do.