Magic happens outside the comfort zone It's not easy to pause a career on the upswing in order to gain new skills. It's a risk. But one I deemed worth taking. Life is both easier and more difficult in the Arabian Gulf than in the West. Salaries are higher; titles grander; competition less. But creativity is also less, as well as digital expertise -- and these are the two things that inspire me the most and drive my career forward. I worked hard in Saudi Arabia to create big ideas in a conservative market, to stay on the cutting edge in a place that always seemed a little far away from the buzzing hubs of the advertising world. But I worked so hard that I ended up as a Regional Creative Director, managing two offices in two cities, adding these countries on the creative map globally, learning a lot about management and the creative process along the way. My next step was Dubai, where there was more creativity and more competition but few opportunities for me to take my craft to the next level. Because suddenly, almost overnight, I found the entire industry going digital and only a few digital experts leading the way. I knew I needed to be one of them. And to that, I needed to pause my career -- rent the house, sell the car, relocate the housekeeper, gather up my family along with my humility -- and return to school. I could barely breathe as