Heena Mak’s story is one that resonates across communications, government, and corporate sectors. With over 15 years of experience, she has become an influential figure in strategic communications, guiding digital-first and reputation-led strategies that shape public perception, policy, and corporate credibility.
What distinguishes Heena’s journey is not only the scale of her work, but the intentional way she has built her career. She entered the industry at just 18 years old, guided early on by strong female leadership that shaped how she perceived herself, her voice, and her role in the room. She learned quickly that her perspective had to matter, that ideas were meant to be spoken clearly, and that confidence was not something to wait for.
Those early lessons still underpin her leadership today.
Today, Heena leads strategy across complex government and corporate mandates, advises senior leaders, and builds campaigns that move both people and policy. Her work continues to influence how organisations communicate in an increasingly complex digital world.
From Early Beginnings to Industry Recognition
Heena Mak’s early roles immersed her in storytelling, media, and digital platforms, where she developed a sharp understanding of how narratives shape behaviour and belief.
At 22 years old, she joined SOCIALEYEZ, a defining chapter in her career. Over the years, the company evolved repeatedly in structure, ambition, and scale. For Heena, it often felt like being part of five different companies within that tenure. Each phase demanded reinvention, deepened her strategic thinking, and exposed her to the full spectrum of modern communications.
Her leadership came into sharp focus when her strategy team won Strategic Planning Team of the Year at the Campaign Middle East Agency of the Year Awards 2025, recognising the impact of their work across sectors and clients.
Throughout her career, Heena has worked closely with major ministries and public-facing institutions, shaping narratives at the intersection of culture, policy, and technology. She has also led strategy for major brands, developing a deep understanding of how brand equity, trust, and relevance are built in a digital-first world.
Purpose, Brands, and Cultural Intelligence
Central to Heena Mak’s philosophy is the belief that strategy must be rooted in purpose. For her, effective communication is not about tactics alone, but about understanding people, culture, and intent.
She is particularly known for her insight into brand behaviour, digital trends, and the creator economy. Heena consistently challenges organisations to rethink how they work with creators, advocating for long-term partnerships rather than transactional campaigns. In her view, creators are cultural intermediaries, not just distribution channels.
Her work often explores how storytelling and digital platforms can foster empathy, belonging, and trust, rather than simply amplifying noise.
Leadership Beyond Output
Heena’s leadership extends beyond strategy and results. She is a strong advocate for emotional intelligence in the workplace, viewing it as a core leadership capability rather than a soft skill. She believes mental wellbeing, psychological safety, and performance are deeply interconnected, particularly in high-pressure environments.
She is vocal about the need for healthier workplace cultures, honest communication, and more human-centred leadership, arguing that sustainable success depends on how people feel as much as what they deliver.
Learning From the Next Generation
A defining aspect of Heena’s leadership is her relationship with younger peers. She deeply respects the confidence with which newer generations speak about core values, and workplace expectations, conversations that call for change in the industry.
Rather than resisting these shifts, she sees them as a necessary evolution. She is intentional about being a role model who encourages openness, dialogue, and intellectual freedom, believing that leadership today is about creating space for better thinking to emerge.
Stepping Out, Then Returning With Clarity
In 2025, Heena took a short but deliberate step outside her long-standing environment, joining KAYALI to explore whether a personal interest in beauty could translate into a new professional direction.
The experience proved clarifying. While creatively enriching, it reaffirmed that her true professional fulfilment lies in high-stakes corporate and government strategy. She speaks openly about this chapter as a lesson in trying something new without fear, and returning with clarity and gratitude.
She credits SOCIALEYEZ for giving her the space to explore, grow, and come back stronger, a reflection of the trust and mutual respect built over years.
Giving Back Through Conversation
Beyond client work, Heena is committed to contributing generationally. She regularly speaks at industry and academic platforms including WETEX, MEPRA, and Zayed University, sharing practical insights on strategy, leadership, and the realities of modern communications.
For Heena, these platforms are not about visibility, but about opening conversations, validating younger voices, and encouraging professionals to speak with confidence and clarity.
A Personal Mission Beyond Strategy
While Heena’s professional accomplishments are significant, her personal aspirations reveal a deeply compassionate side. She often shares that if she had not pursued a career in strategy, she would dedicate her life to running an animal rescue centre somewhere green and quiet, focused on care and second chances.
It is a reflection of the empathy that quietly underpins her leadership.
Defining the Future of Strategic Communications
Today, Heena Mak continues to lead with purpose, shaping conversations and campaigns that resonate far beyond boardrooms and social feeds. Her work stands as a reminder that effective communication is strategic, empathetic, and built to create real‑world change.
Her journey from a young professional to an award‑winning strategic leader reflects resilience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to making a difference. As she expands her influence across sectors and shares her insights with broader audiences, Heena Mak is not merely navigating the future of communications, she is actively defining it.
Her story is an inspiration to anyone passionate about strategy, innovation, and impact. As the world continues to grapple with complex challenges, leaders like Heena Mak show us that communication, when led by purpose, has the power to transform people, organisations, and even societies.
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