We recently had the privilege of having an insightful conversation with Amanda Danielle Bloud, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of The Seventh Concept, a platform crafting memorable experiences and events. With sports and culture at the heart of the company, The Seventh Concept crafts strategically designed and commercially sustainable events, reflecting Amanda’s vision to connect people through shared moments.
Recognizing her remarkable performance and leadership roles in the region, Amanda was named one of the Top 100 Women Leaders in the Middle East by the Middle East Women Leaders’ Summit & Awards 2025. Guided by values of refining what already exists, elevating quality, alongside ensuring clarity in narrative and purpose behind every experience, Amanda Danielle Bloud has established the company as a prominent name in the field.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Could you start by telling us about your professional journey and inspiration behind jumping into this industry?”
Amanda shared, “The UAE has definitely played a defining role in shaping my journey. It is a market that rewards ambition and resilience, while constantly raising the bar on execution. Operating in such a dynamic environment for nearly 25 years has provided exposure not just to growth, but to the discipline required to sustain it. My professional journey began with a focus on people and relationships, starting in recruitment and relationship management. That early phase created a deep understanding of how organisations function at their core, built on long-term alignment rather than short-term transactions.
From there, the transition into marketing within the real estate sector marked a pivotal shift. Working closely with developers and stakeholders in a fast-paced market like Dubai sharpened commercial thinking while grounding it firmly in brand positioning, audience insight, and strategic communication. This foundation opened the door for me to a marketing role within one of the UAE’s largest media houses, offering an inside view of the advertising ecosystem, where brands, platforms, content, and audience behaviour intersect. It was here that the importance of storytelling, credibility, and visibility working together became clear.
My journey then expanded internationally through a global luxury sports retail powerhouse, Lacoste – operating between Paris and Dubai, recognised for hosting some of the world’s most prominent sporting events. That experience elevated my perspective to a global scale, blending luxury, sport, and large-scale brand orchestration across markets. This was followed by a role as Communications Director within the education sector, where responsibility extended beyond brand visibility. Working in education, another highly competitive sector in the UAE, required balancing structure with empathy and clarity with purpose – a contrast that proved formative.”
She even mentioned, “I was later responsible for leading Communications within one of the UAE’s leading government organisations, which introduced the discipline of overseeing stakeholder engagement across a complex public-sector environment. Working in that environment sharpened my judgement around messaging and reputation. Collectively, these experiences shaped a clear understanding of how communications, media, retail, education, sport, and government intersect, all within one of the most ambitious markets in the world.
Several years later, the move into ownership came through the co-acquisition of a sports company operating between Beirut and the UAE. That chapter marked a shift from execution to authorship – from delivering strategies to shaping them. It ultimately led to the founding of The Seventh Concept nearly a decade ago: a platform built on the belief that experiences should be strategically designed, emotionally resonant, and commercially sustainable.”
Lessons Embraced in the Journey
We then asked, “As an expert in this field, what are a few lessons that helped you in leading your business?”
“Leadership has evolved with every phase of The Seventh Concept. Early on, clarity mattered more than momentum; knowing exactly what the business stood for, and just as importantly, what it would not pursue. One of the most valuable lessons for me has been realizing that discipline isn’t restrictive. In reality, it actually creates freedom. The structure we’ve built at The Seventh Concept allows us to operate with confidence, because priorities are clear and decisions are deliberate.
There’s often an expectation that leadership needs to be constantly visible or fast, especially in a market that moves as quickly as this one. But the truth is, it comes from restraint, knowing when to wait, and when to step back altogether. At The Seventh Concept, this translates into fewer initiatives, sharper focus, and higher standards across everything delivered,” Amanda mentioned.
Turning Setbacks into Opportunities
Challenging phases are an inevitable part of the professional path. To learn more about Amanda Bloud’s experience in dealing with challenges, we asked, “Would you like to share what you feel is a major challenge in starting a business or career? And how did you overcome it?”
She explained, “One of the most defining challenges was recognising that growth without direction leads to dilution. At the start of my entrepreneurial journey, opportunity was everywhere, and expansion was often mistaken for progress. That realisation became foundational to The Seventh Concept. Instead of expanding endlessly, the business was built around a deliberate framework: “seven” core intellectual-property events per year, no more. Each concept is distinct, strategically designed, and executed with purpose. Impact is prioritised over volume. The same philosophy extends to our partnerships.
Our collaborations are never transactional; they are intentional alignments. I believe our partners will affirm that. Each one is personally selected based on shared values, relevance, and long-term resonance. Nothing is diluted, not the experience, not the brand, and not the relationships behind it. Choosing direction over expansion has allowed The Seventh Concept to build clarity and credibility.
Additions to Current Offerings
We were intrigued to learn more about Amanda’s plans regarding her current offerings. So, we asked, “What are your plans with the services that you provide? Could you share a bit about it with our viewers?”
“The vision moving forward for The Seventh Concept is rooted in depth, not breadth. Rather than chasing growth through constant expansion, the focus remains on refining what already exists, strengthening concepts, elevating quality, and ensuring every experience has a clear narrative and purpose. The objective is not to fill calendars, but to create moments that stay with audiences and partners long after the experience ends.
This approach keeps our creativity intentional and strategy disciplined, principles that continue to define The Seventh Concept,” Amanda commented.
Blending AI with Human Intelligence
Nowadays, AI is everywhere. Even businesses are adapting to it increasingly. To learn Amanda Bloud’s perspective on the aspect, we asked her to share her perspective.
She reflected, “AI is undeniably reshaping how businesses operate, and we use it where it genuinely helps – research, planning, speeding up internal workflows. That being said, what we do at The Seventh Concept sits in sport and culture, and that is built on nuance, emotion, and audience psychology, reading people in real time, areas where human intelligence remains critical. So those calls stay human, and it’s not something we outsource to technology.”
Message to Young Professionals
Addressing the aspiring beginners in her field, we asked Amanda Bloud to share a few words of wisdom.
Amanda shared, “My advice to those starting out is, anchor yourself in integrity. Long before thinking about growth or recognition. Integrity is not just about major ethical decisions; it shows up in the small, everyday choices, how people are treated behind the scenes, and how honest capabilities are assessed, especially when no one is watching. This will carry you much further than short-term wins ever will.
In a world driven by speed and visibility, substance often gets overlooked. Choosing the opposite approach lasts longer. Be disciplined with decisions and remain patient with progress. Most importantly, understand that success is rarely linear. Build quietly. Consistency outlasts visibility.”
Connect with Amanda Danielle Bloud on LinkedIn to gain industry insights.
Find The Seventh Concept on LinkedIn and visit http://sevenevents.me/ to learn more.
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