What UAE Teaches About Building Brands That Last — Archana Srivastava on Global Brand Transformation
30+ years across FMCG, real estate, retail and media — Archana Srivastava joins Anmol Gogia to unpack what actually builds brands that last, and what most brands get wrong along the way.
About This Episode
In this Apex Dialogues episode of The Young Mavericks, host Anmol Gogia sits down with Archana Srivastava, a global brand transformation leader with 30+ years of experience across FMCG, real estate, retail and media. Archana shares the one business truth that hasn't changed in three decades, what the first 90 days of a real transformation should look like, and where most brands confuse rebranding with reinvention. The conversation digs into brand building versus sales-first execution, the most underrated operational fix that unlocks growth, and how brand building in Dubai differs sharply from India and the West. Archana also breaks down what UAE buyers actually care about beyond pricing, three non-negotiables for launching a brand in the UAE market, and why CEO communities matter more than LinkedIn connections. She closes with a candid look at the real challenges women face reaching the C-suite, tough leadership moments that reshaped her thinking, and a rapid-fire round on brand turnaround scenarios.