By Stephanie Verheyen, Producer
GPJ’s global footprint provides value and opportunities for both clients AND employees. On occasion, high performing GPJers explore the possibility of transferring within the agency to another global office. Stephanie Verheyen is a Producer, Integrated Production who has been with GPJ for three and a half years, and is one of those individuals. Previously based in our Nashville office and a core part of the IBM team, she expressed interest in moving to the Middle East in 2023. Fast forward to today and her energy and vision are contributing directly to GPJ’s expansion in the MEA region from our Dubai office with her work on some of our key global clients. Stephanie has shared with us some insights into her transition to Dubai and what she has learned in her first year in a new region.
When I was able to widely share the news of my move to Dubai in April 2024 the reactions were varied and full of curiosity. I received a myriad of questions from friends and colleagues, including more than a few about conflicts in the region and cultural norms. It didn’t help that Dubai had just been in the news for the worst flooding in its history after several days of non-stop rain. Despite the uncertainties, I was so excited to start a new chapter in a city known for its innovation and its thriving international community.
Three months later, after one rescheduled flight, one missed flight, and one severely delayed flight with a connection I barely made, I finally arrived at DXB in 40-degree heat (about 104F) and without all my luggage. At that point I was absolutely questioning my life choices – I had literally leapt out of my comfort zone – out of my cozy house in Nashville, leaving my family, my dog, and my friends behind, and starting completely new in a place I had never been before.
Within a few days, though, things began to normalise. I started at the GPJ Dubai office and was made to feel so welcome by all my new colleagues, learned about all the clients we were serving in the region, and kicked off my first project. Pretty soon I learned that Dubai is the city that never sleeps. It’s a lot more fast-paced than what I was used to in the US and the expectation in this region is that the answer is always yes. While it can be difficult to manage work-life balance here, it’s also a place of endless opportunity and seeing what we can achieve in our events is truly incredible. The talent among the Dubai team is unmatched and the grace with which these individuals overcome challenges you couldn’t come up with in your wildest dreams is truly what our core values of “Passionate, Collaborative, Fearless” are all about!
As I complete more projects and strengthen my relationships with clients and suppliers in the Middle East and Africa, I can clearly see what an asset it is to understand how different regions operate. Now that we are seeing more clients develop their event strategies on a global basis, and we are lucky to be winning a lot of this work across multiple GPJ offices, it’s important that we can offer them continuity. Brands want to show up in a similar way in every region, but there are nuances to how this is achieved. From how far a dollar will go, to how far in advance we need to approve production files, to how closely we need to supervise finishing on site, I feel I can serve our clients so much better when I can give quick guidance and set expectations based on my growing international experience.
“We’re so glad to be able to leverage our global network to empower employees in their exploration of new roles, regions, and cultures. Stephanie has hit the ground running with her work on our growth accounts and is a great example of an emerging leader helping solidify GPJ Dubai’s presence in the MEA region.”
– Oliver Ehmke, Managing Director, GPJ MEA
I’m very lucky to have grown up in several different countries around the world so I’ve already had a lot of international exposure, and that’s what inspired me to pursue this move – actually, part of the reason I applied for the job with GPJ in the first place back in 2021 was the knowledge that we had offices all over the world! I have to give credit to the GPJ mentor program, because my mentor was the one who made the necessary introductions for me with the Dubai leadership team. I also received so much support from my managers; I couldn’t have asked for a better team during my time in the US and through the transition. And of course, I am thankful to GPJ MEA leaders Dirk Paetzold and Oliver Ehmke who believed in me enough to bring me over here, and to the entire GPJ Dubai team for welcoming me in.
I’d be remiss not to debunk the concerns of friends mentioned earlier, because Dubai is an incredible place to live. I always feel safe, am treated respectfully, and can wear pretty much whatever I like. There’s been no more flooding (in fact, it has only rained twice in the year I’ve been here) and despite some recent tensions in other parts of the region, Dubai and the UAE strongly promote peace and tolerance.
Moving abroad is not for the faint of heart. It’s the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life – emotionally, physically, and professionally, but I have learned so much about myself in the process and my growth in my role at GPJ has made all the sweat (figurative and literal) worthwhile. Now, having just recently celebrated my first anniversary in Dubai, I have absolutely no regrets and I can’t picture myself anywhere else at this point in my life. I’m proud of myself for taking the leap and I’m so grateful to play a part in growing GPJ’s global legacy in the MEA region!
