Priya D'Souza

Experience

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  Print Communications

  May 2004 - Mar 2009

  Managing Editor, Business Qatar magazine

  Launched Business Qatar as Qatar’s first B2B publication; worked closely with clients from Ministries to Trade Missions for content; oversaw content and design; commissioned writers and contributors; directed the voice of the magazine. Also assisted sister company DPI Advertising and wrote and oversaw work on annual reports for clients like banks, oil & gas companies; holiday brochures for airlines; wrote press releases for clients as well as speeches, besides doing other copywriting and content creation.Abode is Qatar’s first lifestyle publication and I was brought in to revamp the magazine, its content and design to make it more relevant to the Qatar readership – oversaw content, design; commissioned contributors and was successful in turning Abode into a monthly from a bimonthly publication within my first month at Abode. Show less

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  Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar

  Jan 2009 - Sept 2014

  Media, PR, Internal Communications Manager

  VCUQatar is a branch campus of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Richmond, Virginia, USA, consistently ranked the #1 public university school of arts and design in the USA by US News & World Report.• Was responsible for content creation for external, internal communications and promotional collateral; hosted press conferences and co-hosted events • Worked on strategic communications and oversaw both external and internal communications including marketing, while working closely with the design studio; oversaw content across digital media platforms• Worked closely with local, regional and global media (print, radio, digital and broadcast); was responsible for creating and maintaining various databases (media, partners, scholarship and internship sponsors)• Managed relationships with various PR agencies in Qatar and the USA as client; implemented and co-managed various CSR initiatives • Worked directly with the Dean’s office and the President’s office (VCU Richmond); attended JAB meetings preparing reports for Her Highness’ Office, Qatar Foundation and VCU Richmond; worked closely with the other Communications directors and offices across QF; worked closely with QF leading, planning and implementing various aspects of communications, research development, reports and crisis management• Represented VCUQatar on various committees within VCUQatar, QF and the government of the State of Qatar; represented VCUQatar on the Qatar National Vision Strategic Planning Committee; and internal VCUQatar Strategic Planning Group whose aim was to align the vision of the university with the QNV 2030; was on various other committees for compliance and strategic planning of various policies and initiatives• Wrote speeches for the President and Dean; worked closely with the various departments at the university on external relations and collaborations (external projects, finding donors, sponsors); participated in search committees and juries Show less

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  Variety Arabia

  Nov 2010 - Jun 2011

  Associate Editor

  Launched the Arabia edition of the global entertainment giant, Variety magazine, for the publisher as associate editor, managing writers and staff in 17 Arab countries; created content to suit region and the Variety brand – was brought on board to help launch the magazine and resigned when a team, which I helped recruit, was established in Dubai (I was based in Qatar).

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  Gulf Star Group

  Oct 2012 - Aug 2016

  Editor-in-chief, BQ magazine and BQ Plus

  Launched BQ magazine, a monthly investigative, analytical B2B magazine featuring 22 industry specific sectors in every issue (from energy, economy, infrastructure to retail, trade and entrepreneurship) focused on Qatar and the GCC. • Responsible for the overall performance and progress of the magazine; managing a team of editors, journalists, designers, foreign correspondents; overseeing sales, marketing and circulations staff;• Overseeing the content on both print and digital platforms (BQ magazine and bq-magazine.com) as well as other publishing projects• Supervising design and marketing of BQ via different channels including social media • Recruiting staff; working closely with auditors, lawyers for budgets and other compliance policies • Directing the voice of the magazine – working closely with clients locally, regionally and globally, ministries and government bodies besides the private sector, also through partnerships and collaborations with over 50 regional and global conferences and exhibitions, in keeping with the aim of the magazine – to be a platform for businesses interested in investing in the region or for regional businesses looking at investments globally. The magazine is consistently responsible for promoting various projects and finding investors for contractors/subcontractors.• Setting up various networking channels for businesses to meet potential partners, collaborators, investors • Working closely with PR agencies and media buying regionally and globally; working closely on CSR initiatives with partners.• In April 2016, launched the second title, a lifestyle magazine, with the same job responsibilities as BQ magazine but from a lifestyle aspect. The magazine covers fashion, dining, travel and R&R, local celebrities, homes & interiors, culture & entertainment, health & fitness and retail/consumer finance.• Have also put into place processes for the creation of four new magazines in the next two years Show less

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  Call of Travel - travel blog

  Nov 2016 - now

  Co Author and Freelance writer

  www.calloftravel.com is a travel blog and more. Besides talking about all the amazing places we've been to, the incredible things we've done and the wonderful people we've met, we also address issues we feel are socially relevant in the places we've had the opportunity to spend more time in.

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  Priya DSouza Communications LLP.

  Dec 2016 - now

  Co-founder & Managing Partner

  The Consultancy offers communications consulting mainly to publishing houses and in-house communications teams, working with every aspect of corporate communications across print and digital platforms. The Consultancy also focuses on Qatar- and GCC-specific business intelligence and research.The Consultancy’s Qatar Untold blog serves to highlight PDC’s insight and deep knowledge of Qatar’s society and business landscape; it further features some examples of the kind of research we do, and our 8,000+ subscribers include members of Qatar’s Shura Council, Qatar Chamber as well as CEOs and board members of leading Qatari companies.Some of our Qatar Untold reports have been used by the BBC; Forbes; CNN; Al Jazeera; de Volkskrant and Slate, besides other global print and broadcast media, as well as Western academia and think tanks, in their features and research on Qatar. www.priyadsouza.com Show less