Lara Arbid is a transformative force in the media industry, with over 19 years of pioneering experience that has redefined leadership standards across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT) region. Her remarkable journey began amid adversity, when the war in Lebanon compelled her to return to her birthplace of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she made the pivotal decision to leave her finance career behind and embrace the dynamic world of media.

In an era when professional opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia were largely confined to teaching or female-only corporations, Lara boldly entered the media landscape in 2006 with Starcom MediaVest Group. There, she quickly distinguished herself working with prestigious accounts including Saudi Telecom, Emirates Airlines, and General Motors, discovering her passion for the fast-paced, ever-evolving media industry.

Lara's career trajectory has been marked by strategic moves and consistent growth. At Mindshare in 2009, she led the local HSBC (SABB) business while managing a diverse portfolio including Al Safi Danone, Nissan Auto, and Renault. Her talent for driving new business contributed significantly to the agency's expansion. By 2014, she had joined Initiative as Planning Director, developing high-impact strategies for clients such as Mobily, KIA Automotive, and American Express, while spearheading new business development across Saudi Arabia.

In 2016, Lara achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first woman to lead a media office in Riyadh when she established Magna Global’s operations in Saudi Arabia. Defying gender bias and stereotypes, she leveraged her expertise to achieve remarkable results—bringing Magna Global to profitability within just three months and transforming it into one of the market's premier agencies in less than two years.

Today, Lara serves as the CEO of both Initiative MENAT —recognized as the Fastest Growing Media Agency both globally and regionally which was named Media Network of the Year at Dubai Lynx 2024 — and Magna Global, which earned the distinction of Most Effective Media Agency Network in 2020 and 2021 (as per Global Effie Index) and Best Performance Marketing Agency at Campaign ME Agency of the Year Awards in 2024. Her dual leadership role stands as testament to her exceptional ability to drive organizational success while nurturing talent and building high-performing teams.

Throughout her professional journey, Lara has consistently shattered barriers, challenging gender norms while spearheading strategic growth across top media agencies. Her visionary leadership is characterized by a dedication to advancing gender equality, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, and driving meaningful industry change.

With a proven track record in leveraging new opportunities, growing businesses, building exceptional client partnerships, and developing multi-functional teams, Lara Arbid continues to bring passion and innovation to the ever-evolving media landscape, solidifying her position as one of the industry's most influential and inspiring leaders in the MENAT region.