- Tell us about yourself & what did you study:
I’ve been into art and writing ever since I was young. I’ve always believed in the power of expression with visuals and words. I spend most of my time designing, drawing, and writing as it helps me express myself and connect with others in a unique way. I’m really blessed that I grew up living in the east and the west. The fact that I had the chance to experience and live among the diverse cultures of both worlds has definitely enriched my passion to connect with people from different backgrounds. When I’m not working on a brand or a visual design, I’m indulged in writing articles, or sketching jewelry and clothing designs. Definitely, and always have been my favorite things to do and that has grown into a career for me. Today, I enjoy supporting people and brands, and creating creative communication ideas that have a positive impact on people.
Earlier in my life, I studied Graphic Design and I am currently studying Science of Communications. Both majors are my strongest areas and complement my passion for design and writing. I feel both areas complement each other and creates a more significant impact. My career started off in Dubai in Marketing & Communications where I took a special interest in digital marketing, media relations, and brand management in a multinational arena focusing primarily on the Middle East and Africa. My career was in line with what I love to do and definitely added so much to my experience, career journey, and myself as an individual. I am very happy to have had the opportunity to work for significant brands and serve great customers. Now starting up Emoteyes, I hope to take one step further and fulfill more of my dreams.
- Can you tell us a little more about your Startup?
Emoteyes is a full-service marketing firm specialized in content marketing, social media management, email marketing, and web development, and we complement all by having the right media and public relations. At Emoteyes, we work passionately to find the right identity and personality for each brand we serve; we don’t just help create any content for them, we humanize brands to distinguish them. We, also, strive to inspire authentic connections with their audience through creative communication ideas, using digital tools for improved efficiency.
The company was born in Chicago, earlier in 2020, and we are excited to serve different types of customers around the world. Our aim is to be a marketing & communication one-stop-online-shop for all brands across the different industries, and to help meet all their marketing and communications needs without devaluating any aspect of their brands. Our philosophy is grounded in the belief that for our customers to stand out in this fast-paced digital world, they have to win the hearts and minds of their audience. For that, we place human connection and creativity at the center of everything we do, and we realize that we can’t do that without creating a work environment that values integrity, empathy, and impact, and believes in creativity with purpose.
The meaning of Emoteyes [Ih-moh-tize] is to evoke emotion or feeling in visual design, leaving a lasting impression.
- How did the idea of your startup come up?
I worked in the marketing and communications field for over 14 years (customer side), and I had the privilege to work with many different agencies and marketing firms throughout the years. I was inspired by each and I believe in the critical role they can play in supporting businesses and brands, especially start-ups and small businesses that deserve an equal chance to be known. However, I also noticed that the marketing & communication space is too big and that there’s a lot more to be done amidst the massive digital transformation the world is going through.
The list of supportive digital tools that are available online today are endless, and consumers are being bombarded with content on a daily basis. I saw an opportunity to make the most out of today’s digital landscape without losing the personality and identity of brands or prioritizing quantity over quality. By launching Emoteyes, I aimed to create a space where digital & creative meet.
In 2020, with the closure of many small businesses and the increase in job losses, I felt I was late – too late to start something I’ve always been passionate about. I took a decision and left a stable career for a vision and a dream of building a connected content marketing factory where human connections are the heart of creativity. My passion for creativity, digital marketing, supporting good causes and brands, and creating an environment where women are empowered has led to Emoteyes.
I never seem to get enough of creating ways to enhance communications. I thought why not make it a reality and serve as many brands as possible by providing them with the best I could.
It took me two months to find the right name for the brand and after that, everything fell into place as I envisioned it to. The formation of the brand identity, culture and all related matters just followed smoothly and we were ready to announce and introduce the company immediately.
We work with market leading companies in different geographic locations, and we hope to work with more customers across the globe, and that are part of different industries.
- What is your secret sauce to getting to where you are?
Believe me it’s very simple and yes it is cliche but so true. Love what you do, and do what you love – life flows onwards from there.
I love creativity and working for a purpose and I enjoy every second of it; I do it with passion. It fills me with energy and enriches my mind with ideas. Often times you know you’re on the right track once you focus all your energy to achieve a certain goal you’re extremely passionate about. My advice would be to wake up early and excited, practice self-discipline to remain focused, get enough rest, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to fuel yourself adequately for the required work. If I have to share one recipe I’d say; a vision you obsess with, self-discipline, and energy management. Success is found in getting all three simultaneously.
- What would you advise people that are currently struggling to do something with their passion?
I would tell them, please don’t be late. Do it while you still can, and enjoy the ride. An idea is what crosses your mind once or twice, but a dream or a vision is what occupies your mind for years. Never give up on your dreams, by doing this you’d be giving up on yourself. There’s no such thing as failure, there’s enough space for everyone and every good idea, as long as you maintain the momentum and spirit to keep going. Giving up is the only failure and perseverance will always lead you somewhere. Give it a try and keep on trying.
- Where do you see your startup in the next 10 years?
A thriving and trusted one stop global connected content marketing factory with a growing team of like minded passionate experts known for humanizing brands and creating lasting impressions.
- Who is your biggest inspiration?
I was inspired by many people in my life. Some of whom I knew personally and others I never met. For my humanitarian and personal perspective, I am often inspired and moved by amazing women who work tirelessly to make the world a better place everyday. I love the journey of Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan; her passion to support quality education and empower more women is beyond extraordinary. I admire Oprah and how she used the power of media for good and inspired millions of women on a daily basis to become strong and independent. I am also often inspired and touched by the women in my own family and I wish I could name everyone.
On a professional note, I have a severe crush on Steve Jobs, his story and words move me every single time I read about him. His vision, perseverance and continuation despite all the challenges he faced is what brought apple into the homes of millions of us. He foresaw beyond his customers’ expectations and always managed to get the entire world excited for every product launch.
- Could you tell us what skills people need to have to be where you are?
Energy management. We give life to what we give energy to. If we manage our energy well, then we manage our time, become more self-disciplined and determined, and persevere the things we do, which in the end leads to achieving goals. It’s simple really. If you think about it, the more energy spent stressing over an issue and asking why me and what if, this energy can be channeled to thinking of the opportunity in every difficulty and the lessons we learn to grow and become strong. I’m a strong believer in everything happens for a reason and it’s always for the best.
- If you would go back to high school & college today what would you do differently that would help you in your career right now?
I wouldn’t change anything; I’d still like to study both Graphic Design and the Science of Communications. The reason I love what I studied and what I am studying is because it gives me the ability to both create and communicate which assists me in showcasing and expressing my ideas better. I’d feel limited without these abilities and skills. If I get the chance to study one more major in the future, I would love to study psychology as an interpersonal skill. While the Science of Communication is a lot about human sciences and covers many sociology and psychology topics, I would love to go into it with more depth.
For more details on Maya’s Startup, feel free to visit her @:
Social media channels:
themillennialstage.net 