Lessons I Learned About Marketing While Living in 7 Countries

How travel taught me more about people (and marketing) than any textbook ever could.

When people ask me how I became so intuitive with marketing, especially for global brands, my answer is simple: I lived it.

I’ve lived in 7 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and now Australia, and each place taught me something that no marketing degree or client briefing ever could.

Understanding Culture = Understanding People will help with Lessons I Learned About Marketing

Growing up and moving across the world gave me one of the most underrated skills in marketing: empathy

Because I lived in such different environments, I never felt shocked by new cultures. I saw beauty in the differences and over time, those differences became my strength.

Here’s what I learned from each region I called home:

Africa: Nature, Openness, and Energy

In Africa, life moves with rhythm and raw beauty. People are expressive, direct, and grounded in nature and community. That openness helped me understand how to speak to people’s emotions in marketing, not just their logic.

It’s also why storytelling always comes first in my work.

The Middle East: Generosity and Warmth

In the Middle East, I experienced unmatched hospitality. People welcome you in like family, even if you're a stranger. This taught me how powerful trust and relationship-building are, not just in friendships, but in branding too.

In Middle Eastern markets, respect, tone, and personalisation matter more than flashy ads. I learned to speak to people like humans, not numbers.

Asia: Precision, Detail, and Community

Asia taught me to be adaptive and attentive. Places were smaller, busier, more structured, and people were deeply involved in every layer of life and business. Small gestures mattered. So did language, hierarchy, and nuance.

Marketing here required intentionality and respect for local customs.

Australia: Freedom and Flow

Now that I live in Perth, my world is a mix of surf mornings, creative afternoons, and running campaigns for brands across Europe, America, the Middle East, and Oceania. My life is flexible but the way I approach work is intentional.

How It Translates Into My Work

Today, I work with a global marketing agency and help brands across industries speak to diverse audiences.

Whether it’s

• Ads for the Middle East that need cultural sensitivity

• Campaigns for Africa that centre on emotion and community

• Thought leadership for Europe that values structure and clarity

• Or surf-inspired creative for laid-back audiences in Oceania

My lived experience shapes everything I create. I don’t just localise campaigns. I understand the people behind them.

And when I’m creating targeted ads, I’m not guessing. I’ve walked those streets, heard the languages, and shared meals in those homes.

Why Global Experience Makes You a Better Marketer

You don’t need to live in 7 countries to be good at marketing. But you do need to care about people. To listen. To observe. And to know that what works in one culture doesn’t always work in another.

Travel taught me that. Surfing helped me flow with it. And freelancing gave me the freedom to build a career that feels like me. And these are the lessons I learned about marketing.

Want Help With Your Global Marketing Strategy?

If you're building a brand and don’t know how to connect with global audiences, I can help.

📘 Grab my ebook The $60k Side Hustle to learn how I started freelancing with no portfolio - coming soon

💬 Or book a 1:1 consultation and let’s review your content, strategy, or ads together

Let’s build something that speaks to real people, no matter where they’re from.