Gayane Afrikian is a senior economic adviser with more than 30 years of international experience shaping national strategies and building high growth sectors. She currently advises the UAE National Media Office on transforming the UAE’s media and entertainment landscape into a globally competitive and innovation driven sector. A former award winning journalist, her work spans Agence France Presse, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Economist Intelligence Unit, and the Independent.
Gayane was educated at the Harvard Kennedy School, the London School of Economics, and Yerevan State University. She has led major public policy initiatives, authored national economic programs, and received multiple international and government awards for outstanding public service and policy innovation.
At BRIDGE Summit, Gayane will share how nations can build world class media ecosystems and how economic strategy, talent development, and global competitiveness converge in the next era of media.
This session bridges economics, geopolitics, and the mechanics of narrative in examining how storytelling shapes markets, public trust, and social behavior. Drawing on George Soros’s reflexivity and Robert Shiller’s narrative economics, we explore how viral beliefs influence everything from capital flows to voting patterns. In a world shaped more by tropes and emotions, not just data, how can a full-spectrum of leaders, from those in government to entrepreneurs, recognize, harness, and respond to stories that fuel action?
Co-founder & CEO, Muck Rack & The Shorty Awards
Head of Europe, United Talent Agency (UTA)
Founder & President, Cécilia Attias Foundation for Women, Advisory Board Member, BRIDGE Alliance
Founder, JTA Ventures
Actor & Producer, Fingerprint Media Production
“One BRIDGE to unite them all. BRIDGE Summit looks to become the largest cross-sector media event in the world.”
“A gateway for knowledge exchange.”
“A summit to BRIDGE the gaps in the global media ecosystem.”
“We are proud to take part in the inaugural edition of BRIDGE Summit.”
“Un pont pour tous les réunir.”
