Meet Adela Fataliyeva, Junior Creative at MullenLowe Dubai
From a tiny country named Azerbaijan at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, Adela started her studies in Fine Arts before switching to a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication, where she stumbled upon advertising. Years later, she ended up in the Miami Ad School. There, she met many talented people with whom she created fun projects that got awarded in shows like D&AD, One Show, and Clio. Adela then interned in Madrid, Copenhagen, and New York, before landing in Dubai.
Why did you join this industry?
Advertising allows you to try yourself in as many fields and roles as possible, which is pretty cool. You can decide what works better for you in this infinite creative spectrum.
How did you land your first job?
During the pandemic, One Show for Creativity posted a list of vacancies around the world. Being a firm believer in knocking on every door, I applied to MullenLowe, had an interview, and now I am here.
Who do you look up to?
I learn from the many people I meet on my way. It is important to find a mentor who believes in you and lets you fail, get up, and grow. So, in every agency interned/worked in, I try to find this kind of person.
What’s the best advice you have received so far?
Learn to ask for help.
What’s the best advice you have given so far?
Being an introvert, I haven’t done that yet and likely won’t. Plus, you never know if your advice is the best because you are not the one following it.
How do you feel about the stigma sometimes associated with Millennials and Gen Z?
I don’t think there is any particular stigma about these generations. Yes, they are different; how- ever, we just need to stay open and learn from each other. Old school often makes a comeback.
What do you think you specifically bring to the organization you work for?
My extensive archive of research, that I keep for fun; love for always looking for new stuff and trying it out in the agency; being open to delving into different spectrums of work I’ve never tried before; listening skills, that are quite important to be a true team player.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned at work?
Egos should be left outside the office. Not every day do you create a masterpiece. Jokes aside, I am still learning...
What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?
The actual process of creation; a lively brain that finds solutions to problems people do not even know they have. It excites you, gives you goosebumps, angers you, makes you jealous, makes you mad. If you are creative, you are different, you are weird, you are a loser, you are a genius.
What’s the most frustrating thing about your job?
Impossible deadlines with timelines far more confusing than in [Christopher] Nolan’s movies.
If not this, what would you be doing?
I would probably be creating stage designs; I follow many channels on scenic and event designs. I love looking at space transformations that immerse people into different worlds.
Would you start your own venture in the future?
What the last year taught us is not to plan that far ahead. However, if I have a cool idea and a team of people who believes in it, then why not?
