Ghida Younes started her advertising career with Leo Burnett in 1997 as an Arabic copywriter. In 2009, she became the Creative Director of the Beirut office but left the agency in 2010 to study screenwriting at the New York Film Academy. She came back to Lebanon and produced her own TV show before joining Grey in 2013, as a Regional Creative Director working on Pantene amongst other local and regional clients.Through this fun Q&A, we pick Ghida's brain to find out not only what her swift, agile brain is made of but also what makes this extravagant creative tick.
What gets you up in the morning?
My cat Tweety
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love that it feels like role playing. Taking a brand, putting yourself in people’s shoes, how they think, what they feel, what they want and need, and just letting your mind and heart do the rest.
Who do you ultimately want to become?
A better me.
What’s your motto in life?
‘Id7ak tad7ak Laka al Dounia’ (laugh and the world will laugh for you).
What inspires you most?
I am inspired every time I walk in a neighborhood in Beirut. Every encounter I make, every balcony I see and every conversation I hear.
What can we find on your phone?
My wallpaper has Myfatlady, the character I created that I’ve been drawing for the past four years. She’s fat and fabulous.
Who would you like to sit next to on a seven-hour flight?
Jerry Seinfeld
What do you consider to be the greatest headline of all time?
“You never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation.” I love how this slogan that has lived for so many years, managed to establish the timelessness of the watch and has managed as well to create a character for a watch that ended up being handed from one generation to the other. (by the way, I don’t own a Patek Philippe).
What business tip would you give the newbies?
Go out and play.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A doughnut.
What is the one word you catch yourself saying too often?
‘Ya dilleh’.
What would you like to be doing five years from now?
Lying on the beach on an island. That would be my work station.
WHO ARE YOU?
I am... Ghida Younes
I like… doughnuts
I want... doughnuts
I have... great friends
I wish... I was a little bit taller
I hate... denial
I fear... snakes
I Google... everything
I wonder… All the time.
I regret... nothing
I love... my life
I need... my freedom
If I ruled the world... I would resign 1 day later.
I dream… in technicolor
My Favourite…
Dream Destination: my bed
Restaurant: Chez Ghida
Hotel: Hotel California
Meal: karabij (Lebanese sweets that I could skip lunch and dinner for)
Quote: “do something today that your future self will thank you for”
Book: Maguy Farah yearly horoscope
Movie: Pixar’s inside out
Flower: Zanba’
Animal: Koala
Poet: Nizar Kabbani
Music/band: Pet Shop Boys
Painter: Niki de Saint Phalle (she’s more of a sculptor but I love all her art)
Heroes: every day heroes
