Earned First

Arun Sudhaman
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Earned First is a groundbreaking media and events platform dedicated to elevating public relations and communications professionals across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Hosted by respected industry journalist Arun Sudhaman, the Earned First podcast delivers crucial insights and intelligence for the global public relations industry.

  1. PRAXIS MENA review with North Seventy Five's Iman Issa

    6 THG 2

    PRAXIS MENA review with North Seventy Five's Iman Issa

    In this episode of the Earned First podcast, Arun Sudhaman is joined by Iman Issa, co-founder and managing partner of North 75, to unpack the key ideas and tensions that shaped the inaugural PRAXIS MENA summit in Abu Dhabi. The conversation moves beyond surface-level optimism to examine why the Middle East communications market feels structurally different right now — from the centrality of culture and talent, to the growing importance of government reputation, institutional diplomacy, and the region’s unusually confident outlook amid global uncertainty. Issa reflects on what this means in practice for senior communicators: why authenticity and judgment still matter in an AI-accelerated world, how agencies should defend the value of “brain power” as automation reshapes pricing models, and why PR risks irrelevance if it continues to position itself as the final execution layer rather than a creative and strategic lead. The discussion also explores the rise of homegrown consultancies, the capital reshaping the regional agency landscape, and what it really takes to build influence — not just visibility — in one of the world’s fastest-moving communications markets.

    28 phút
  2. Ashbury's Adam Harper on the Gulf's strategic communications shift

    2 THG 2

    Ashbury's Adam Harper on the Gulf's strategic communications shift

    Ashbury founder Adam Harper joins the Earned First podcast to reflect on why the Middle East has become one of the world’s most strategically important regions, how Asian and Western capital now meet there, and what communicators must do to navigate this new landscape.

    28 phút
  3. Madan Bahal on sustaining growth through turbulence

    12 THG 1

    Madan Bahal on sustaining growth through turbulence

    In this episode of the Earned First podcast, Arun Sudhaman speaks with Madan Bahal, co-founder and MD of Adfactors PR, about what it takes to sustain consistent growth in a public relations industry marked by prolonged uncertainty. Reflecting on the pressures facing consultancies, Bahal describes this turbulence as a permanent condition that firms must learn to operate within — a mentality that has helped Adfactors grow to more than $65m in fee income over the past three decades. The conversation also explores why public relations continues to struggle to command value commensurate with its influence, particularly in India. Bahal discusses how this reality shapes agency behaviour, expectations, and leadership priorities, before turning to questions of succession, long-term continuity and his own peace of mind.

    42 phút
  4. Joe Lipscombe on global creativity from the Gulf

    28/11/2025

    Joe Lipscombe on global creativity from the Gulf

    Arun Sudhaman sits down in Dubai with The Romans’ MENA lead, Joe Lipscombe, to explore why the Middle East risks becoming a “margin outpost” – and how it can instead become a true centre of creative gravity. They discuss the indie invasion of the Gulf, why clients are “crying out” for bigger, braver ideas, the impact of localisation and the rise of Saudi Arabia, and what it really takes to be culture-first in fragmented markets like the UAE and across MENA.

    32 phút
  5. Aman Gupta on the next era of influencer marketing

    13/11/2025

    Aman Gupta on the next era of influencer marketing

    Arun Sudhaman speaks with Aman Gupta, managing partner of SPAG Finn Partners, about the evolution of influencer marketing in regulated sectors — and why credibility, compliance and subject expertise now matter more than reach. Presented in partnership with Finn Partners, the conversation explores how structured scoring models can help brands identify credible voices, counter misinformation, and turn influencer investment into measurable impact.

    34 phút
  6. PRAXIS Asia-Pacific review with James Brasher & Joyce Liong

    03/11/2025

    PRAXIS Asia-Pacific review with James Brasher & Joyce Liong

    Recorded days after PRAXIS Asia-Pacific in Singapore, this special Earned First episode —created in partnership with Finn Partners — explores what mattered and what’s next. Arun Sudhaman is joined by Finn Partners' leaders James Brasher and Joyce Liong to break down: moving comms from reactive “crisis saviour” to proactive strategy partner; the in-house/agency handshake on data fluency, business acumen and learning agility; why credibility and empathy become the core currency in an AI-saturated ecosystem (avatars, disclosure, authenticity); and how corporate affairs leaders are reinventing roles, mentoring the next generation, and scaling consultancies without losing culture. If you care about measurement beyond vanity metrics, generational renewal, and building influence with the board, this is your field guide from Singapore’s PRAXIS debut.

    48 phút
  7. Isabelle Demaude on credibility, culture and corporate courage

    28/10/2025

    Isabelle Demaude on credibility, culture and corporate courage

    The Hoffman Agency’s Isabelle Demaude joins Arun Sudhaman to explore why credibility has emerged as a crucial factor in the AI era. Drawing on her PRAXIS Asia-Pacific panel, Demaude discusses how generative AI challenges authorship and trust, why earned media may be regaining influence, and how cultural intelligence is becoming essential for communicators navigating complex, multi-market realities. The conversation also tackles the tension between corporate conviction and caution in an era of polarization, and what humans still do better than machines: listening, reading the room, and earning belief through empathy and context.

    39 phút
  8. Lars Voedisch on building a regional agency in Southeast Asia

    09/10/2025

    Lars Voedisch on building a regional agency in Southeast Asia

    Lars Voedisch, founder and CEO of Singapore-based Precious Communications, explains how a startup mindset, regional expansion and a business-first approach to communications built his agency to 100 people across eight markets. We discuss the practical playbook for scaling in Southeast Asia, why global networks are ceding the mid-market, how AI is reshaping the execution/strategy split, and where Precious is betting next. Voedisch gives tactical advice for new agency founders — land, prove execution, then expand — and argues the future winners will be those who move from campaign work to business advisory.

    35 phút
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Giới Thiệu

Earned First is a groundbreaking media and events platform dedicated to elevating public relations and communications professionals across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Hosted by respected industry journalist Arun Sudhaman, the Earned First podcast delivers crucial insights and intelligence for the global public relations industry.

Thông Tin

  • Nhà sáng tạo
    Arun Sudhaman
  • Năm hoạt động
    2025 - 2026
  • Tập
    19
  • Xếp hạng
    Sạch
  • Bản quyền
    © Arun Sudhaman
  • Trang web chương trình
    Earned First