8 MEA MARKETS / 2020 UAE Business Awards , and easily to just about any client requirement. It is a lean management team, so there are no lengthy approval processes or stumbling blocks that stand in the way of getting things done for a client. This is particularly beneficial within the technical aspect of market-i’s offering, as it allows the firm to tailor-make software solutions on the fly. Another aspect that continues to make market-i stand out as a truly unique business, at a time where every business is looking for digital expertise, is the truly cross-functional team that is brought to every engagement. With marketing, technology, brand communications, data science, and graphic design professionals all working in tandem, market-i is a melting pot of talent that constantly works hard to deliver success for every client. Not only that, but the absence of silos means that there is seamless communication both on an internal and external level, yet another facet that makes engaging with market-i more than just unique; it makes it absolutely brilliant. Collaboration is key for this firm, which stretches beyond the services and offerings it provides to clients. The culture at market-i is a hybrid of blending together a clan culture and an adhocracy. As a clan, the atmosphere at market-i is friendly and collaborative, akin to a large family. Staff turnover is very low, as everyone is welcomed into the fold from the moment they arrive, and then retained through a deeply emotional connection that is formed through collaboration and open communication. The term adhocracy evokes a sense of dynamism and innovation, where team members are encouraged to take risks without a fear of failure or ridicule. That previously mentioned lean senior management team serve as inspirational leaders; individuals who are willing to challenge the status quo in offering employees a place to work that they genuinely look forward to coming into every day. Retaining that staff engagement is not hard, not least thanks to The working style that has been cultivated at market-i stems from design thinking. It inspires and grounds every decision and project, from first engagement to final completion. When the team first engage with a client, there is always a deep dive done, in order to ascertain the strategic objectives from the perspective of all the key project stakeholders. Not only does this give the team a good indication of where everybody is in terms of the project, but it can widen the horizon to encompass any further strategic objectives. market-i also work with clients to understand organizational constraints so that any recommendations that are made are realistic, achievable, and viable in the context of each client. There are few things worse than receiving an excellent solution to find out it is vastly too expensive or unobtainable. This design thinking approach means that market-i encourages its clients to form cross-functional teams that are essential to project success. A major project always begins with a stakeholder meeting where company and client together define the project objectives and success criteria, before then progressing on to the latter stages of target audience research. Using that research, market-i and the client then jointly decide on the most valuable insights that are required to bring a strategy to life. In practice, this means that project stakeholders are part of the journey throughout the duration of an engagement. That way, when the successful completion finally comes around, there are no surprises at the end for anyone involved, especially the project stakeholders. What makes market-i unique however, is its status as a boutique. The senior management always get very involved with every client, meaning that every project’s success is far more than just a job or a target. It is at the heart and soul of the business, distinguishing market-i from the rest of its competition. That uniqueness also extends to the agility of the company, given its ability to work and adapt rapidly the work itself. Digital landscapes are changing all the time, and the ever-growing demand for digital marketing and consultancy services means that there is always a new project or something fresh to keep life at market-i interesting. There is also a strong desire to keep staff engaged and connected with one another. The leadership team at the firm is renowned for its crazy and lucrative team building events, making full use of theatre and visual arts. Recently, random teams were created and each had to perform a scene from their favourite musical. Whilst most of the staff won’t be giving up their day jobs to venture off in search of a career on Broadway or the West End, staff enjoy the humour, the camaraderie, and the all-around fun that is encouraged, and will remain a part of the company heritage for years to come. Working at market-i means craving this type of environment. It is not an environment for those who prefer structure, hierarchy, and rigid operating systems with unbending rules. When it comes to working at this firm, the work is ideally suited to those individuals who want to push the envelope, be willing to try new roles, and adapt to tasks on the fly. Rather than sticking to their guns and seeing what happens, the ethos is one of “Sure, I’ll give it a Go”, and the company is all the better for it. Looking ahead to the future, it remains brighter than ever for market-i. Given its recent successes in Europe, West Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region, it has all the motivation and reason it needs to push ahead in bringing its digital marketing consultancy services to even more places. With offices already planted in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Germany, the plans are already set to capitalise on a growing global need for more digital transformation. On the technology front, the firm is also close to developing cloud-based DIY solutions that it feels will be very well received amongst its target audiences. Company: market-i Contact: John Presutti (
[email protected] ) & Nisha Chandy Kumar (
[email protected] ) Website: www.market-i.com