Paola is an Award Winning Creative Director working at EssenceMediacom New York.
She’s living in the US on an ‘Extraordinary Ability’ Green Card that she was granted because of all her achievements in her field.
She has 17 years of advertising, communication and design experience.
She’s also the cofounder of LooZoom.com, a Partner at Midinight Cravings and the creator and curator of @artof thawra on Instagram.
Background & Experience
Paola has 17 years of experience in the advertising. design and communication industry across the world. Canadian and Lebanon, Permanent resident in the US, Paola grew up in Montreal and then continued her education in Lebanon.
Im 2006, After studying at the Lebanese American University, Paola went to start her advertising career in Dubai, where she spent 8 years working with multi-national agencies, including BBDO, FP7/McCann and FCB.
In 2014, Paola moved back to Beirut and joined J. Walter Thompson as an Associate Creative Director. She then became Creative Director in 2016.
In 2019, Paola left J. Walter Thompson and set up her own freelance collective, Midnight Cravings, along with 3 other partners. To date Midnight Cravings has harnessed the power of 73 freelancers to deliver more than 100+ projects worldwide.
In 2020, Paola Cofounded LooZoom.com, a new marketplace launched in 2021 that sells everyday photographer’s images for the MENA region.
In 2020, Paola also Created @Art_of_Thawra, an Instagram platform that curates Lebanese revolution art.
In 2022, Paola joined EssenceMediacom New York as Creative Director.
Paola’s advertising experience travels across many business sectors including telecom, retail, FMCG, banking, cosmetics and beauty, handling clients such as eBay, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Heineken Nestlé, Mars, Mondelez, L’Oréal, Nivea, among others.
Advertising Awards
Paola’s work has been recognized at regional and international award shows such as Cannes Lions, D&AD, Clio, New York Festivals, Lisbon Ad Festival, the Dubai Lynx, MENA Effies, the Loeries and many more. Collecting 70+ trophies, among which are 3 Silver Lions in Outdoor, Design and PR and 5 Dubai Lynx Grand Prixs in Outdoor, Direct, PR, Integrated and Creative effectiveness.
Award Juries
Paola had the honor to judge in 2018 on the Cannes Lions Direct Jury, making her one of the first 2 women from Lebanon to judge at Cannes Lions and one of the first 3 people to represent Lebanon on the Cannes Lions jury.
She also judged on the New York Festival integrated Grand Jury in 2018, the New York Festival Design Grand Jury in 2017, the Lisbon Ad Festival Radio Grand Jury in 2019 and the Dubai Lynx Student Jury in 2017.
Skills & extra activities
Paola is fluent in English, French and Arabic. She is advanced in Italian.
Paola is also part of the team of 4 that lead on the Bank to School program in Lebanon. An initiative aimed at collecting funds to keep Lebanese Children in school, amidst the crisis.
Paola is a certified ThetaHealing® instructor.
Paola is a 3D jewelry designer and sculpture.