Leaders
The PR industry is all about creating rapport and increasing the credibility of brands in and around the world. With a hands-on experience in PR & Social media combining Digital Marketing Solutions, Alisa PR provides a perfect blend of Strategic Thinking, Creativity, Innovative Solutions, and building credibility across all verticals of business in the UAE and Middle East. Under the leadership of Alisa D’Souza, the firm is bringing out the voice of people to understand their vision and help them grow exponentially. Alisa PR understands the importance of connecting with the people and creating opportunities for them to spread their vision and message across the stakeholders.
Alisa D’souza has grown up living in Dubai for 40 Years. She finished her O levels at St. Mary’s Catholic High School, Dubai and later pursued her Bachelor's in Commerce at St. Andrews University in Bandra, Mumbai and IT Engineering. Soon after graduation, she returned to Dubai to start a career. Her first job was as a receptionist for an Advertising and PR agency and during this tenure, she discovered writing, creative thinking, brands, and a passion for people. Her skill set and passion for work got her promoted to the PR department as PR Executive, and soon she started working across two more blue chip agencies as PR Manager and then PR Director. After getting a significant amount of experience in the PR industry, she started her own agency in the year 2017.
Alisa D’Souza engages in an exclusive interaction with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine.
What motivated you to establish Alisa PR? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the venture.
With an experience of over 20 years in the PR industry I gained a wealth of knowledge that led me to do it on my own. I have worked with bosses who taught me all the skill sets required in the industry. They were my mentors I still admire and the way they have created a legacy inspired me to establish my own firm.
Building an agency of minds excites me very much and I believe there is value to be absorbed by all generations working together. The baby boomers, millennials and generation-Z can impact the world of innovation and creativity. Evoking stimulating questions and challenges not just on a macro level but on an individual one can show your legacy as someone who values inclusiveness, diversity and forward thinking.
"Your imagination is one of the keys to living life on a new level. You will never go to any place without first seeing it within your mind"
Tell us about the various responsibilities you shoulder as the Founder of Alisa PR. What are your current priorities in terms of driving growth for the brand?
Currently, I shoulder the responsibilities of client delivery and how to meet their expectations. In terms of driving growth for the brand, we have a team of professionals who supports great work. Imagination is our strength and in a world of power, we keep it simple. We are not the global agencies of fame and fortune but a boutique with elegance and pride. Our clients reflect the character of who we are and what is our positioning in the industry. We choose quality and character for maximizing collaborative and economic potential.
Tell us about some of the challenges you encounter as a business leader in the Dubai business landscape and how you overcome them.
In the PR industry, roadblocks and challenges occur when clients do not understand the direction, we are taking them in, and that is when their expectations do not meet. They sometimes do not realize that media needs investment as well and PR cannot always salvage that glory.
The strategy to overcome this challenge is to build relationships of trust. To educate and be honest about who they are, what their objective is, and how we can seed it into the public eye to gain that recognition.
Tell us about some of the key milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey. What has been your Mantra for success as a business leader?
I believe that my key milestones have been to set the plan tactics into practical, concrete terms, with real budgets, deadlines, and management responsibilities. To always ensure specific checkpoints that help you measure your progress and ensure that you reach your goals.
Climbing the corporate agency ladder to the Founder of my own firm, Alisa PR, I believe I reached my milestone and perhaps it’s not the end. As there will be more discoveries and opportunities to explore. No Pain, No gain. Struggles and challenges are only natural that we all go through in life at the time of building our legacy, and that’s how I built and empower myself.
What advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs?
The advice I would give is to believe in yourself and empower the light and imagination within you.
Alisa D’souza, Founder, Alisa PR
A perfect blend of professionalism, strategic perspective, and hard-core PR operations, Alisa D’Souza who believes in her own imagination, is helping various brands to grow their credibility in the market.
