It’s What I Do: Mariad Akil and Noel Yap Labrador

Mariad Akil

Digital Marketing Executive

Mediaquest Group

Dubai, UAE

What do you do for a living? Please describe your job briefly.

I work as a Digital Marketing Manager for a media publishing company in Dubai. I’m in charge of managing digital campaigns for various clients; from concept creation to content mapping and data mining. My day usually consists of managing activities on digital platforms. Some of my duties involve managing campaign analytics, optimization and results reporting.

My job allows me to translate data into creative ideas. It entails me to speak and gather feedback from various teams and clients in order to deliver seamless results that tie in with business objectives.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

My team always reminds me of the value we bring to our jobs. Filipinos will always be preferred when it comes to working on details as it is in our innate nature to be well organized, brave and adventurous. We are also conduits for positivity, bringing happiness to other people around us.

Your message to Filipinos out there:

Work hard, but don’t forget to be kind to yourself too. It isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but we are resilient people that always push through at the end of the day.

Noel Yap Labrador

Fleet Sales Advisor – Ford

Abu Dhabi, UAE

What do you do for a living? Please describe your job briefly.

I currently work with Ford Premier Motors under the umbrella of Al Tayer Group as a Fleet Sales Advisor. My main role involves planning, initiating and conducting the sales process with our corporate clients – working towards achieving our sales targets and other KPI’s. I identify and qualify customer needs, perform vehicle demonstrations and propose various solutions to them based on their many requirements. I admire my employer and its facilities! The values of Integrity, Quality, Reliability and Diversity are apparent everywhere in Al Tayer Group. 

Please describe your typical working day.

My day won’t start without coffee and bread. I’m a person who always sets up plans prior to the workday. Daily, I explore market opportunities and identify corporate customers who can bring in potential business. I typically set appointments in advance, and I gather customer feedback and market data from external sources in order to keep an eye on market trends and stay ahead. During my time off, I work on my master’s degree modules, play football (with my club, Philippine Football Club) on Thursdays and go running on weekends.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

Aside from meeting my wife in the workplace, I’ve received countless of blessings and personal development achievements. I was also able to pursue learning Arabic reading and start my master’s degree in Development Communication in the UP Open University. I believe that we have to strive, invest and save as much as we can – developing ourselves to the fullest while still young.

 Your message to Filipinos out there?

Never doubt your abilities as a Filipino. We are known to be skilled, adaptive and resilient. The only limitations we have in life are the ones we place upon ourselves. Self-belief is the cornerstone to success. The sooner you start believing, the better.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.” 

-Henry Ford 

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