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Earned First

Arun Sudhaman
Public Relations
Artificial Intelligence
Asia-Pacific
India
Middle East
Cultural Intelligence
Zeno Group
United Arab Emirates
Public Affairs
Communications
Cannes Lions Festival
Client Impact
Singapore
Credibility
Holding Groups
Ashbury
The Romans
Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Adfactors PR

Earned First is a groundbreaking media and events platform dedicated to elevating public relations and communications professionals across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Hosted by respected industry journalist Arun Sudhaman, the Earned First podcast delivers crucial insights and intelligence for the global public relations industry.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes34Foundeda year ago
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NewsBusinessBusiness NewsManagement

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Latest Episodes

Earned First's Cannes podcast series concludes with Omnicom PR CEO Chris Foster, who joins Arun Sudhaman for a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, culture, CCOs and consolidation.

Foster reflects on what he sees as a shift in creativity tow... more

YouTube

Craig Buchholz, US CEO of Burson, joins Earned First at Cannes Lions 2026 the day after the agency's Kit Kat Heist campaign won the PR Lions Grand Prix. He discusses what made it work: a crisis reframed as cultural opportunity, bravery as a prerequis... more

YouTube

Recorded at Cannes Lions 2026, We.Communications Asia-Pacific president Nitin Mantri discusses how brands such as Adidas and ITC have built genuine community participation rather than advertising-driven attention, and why measuring community value me... more

YouTube

Newly-installed Penta gobal CEO Jim O'Leary joins the Earned First podcast at Cannes to argue that legacy agency models are buckling under client demands they weren't built for, and that most firms are far better at marketing AI than deploying it. He... more

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Recent Guests

Tetsuya Honda
CEO of Honda Office; founder of PR Collective Asia
Honda Office; PR Collective Asia
Episode: Tetsuya Honda on Japan Inc's global comms challenges
Red Surtida
Asia-Pacific Head of Intelligence and Transformation
Burson
Episode: Burson's Red Surtida on GEO's 'credibility paradox'
Charlotte Mceleny
Freelance journalist and comms pro; former Asia-Pacific publisher at The Drum
Freelance journalism/PR
Episode: Holding groups, CMOs & Cannes with Charlotte Mceleny
Mazen Nahawi
Founder and group CEO of Carma and Raiyn
Carma, Raiyn
Episode: Mazen Nahawi on conflict, communications and courage in the Middle East
Christine Fellowes
Founder of NINEby9
NINEby9
Episode: AI and the future of women in the workplace
Jane Morgan
Chief Client Officer and Head of Advisory in Singapore
Ashbury
Episode: AI and the future of women in the workplace
Ramya Chandrasekaran
Chief Communications Officer at QI Group
QI Group
Episode: QI Group's Ramya Chandrasekaran on AI, culture & the evolving role of the CCO
Mary Njoki
Founder and CEO of Glass House PR
Glass House PR
Episode: Mary Njoki on PR transformation in Africa
Margaret Key
Asia Pacific CEO at Allison Worldwide, Executive Director for Stagwell in APAC
Allison Worldwide / Stagwell
Episode: Stagwell's Margaret Key on why she left Publicis & what comes next for PR networks

Host

Arun Sudhaman
Host of Earned First Podcast

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Carolyn Devanayagam on how Asia's brands navigate the America First era
Q: What kind of talent is needed to counsel clients on these complex, cross-border issues in a tech-enabled world?
Talent now requires cross-disciplinary capabilities—strategy, media, government affairs, AI, and crisis management—along with deep cultural literacy and the ability to balance centralized leadership with local autonomy.
Carolyn Devanayagam on how Asia's brands navigate the America First era
Q: Are Asian brands ready for the scrutiny that comes with expanding into international markets, including supply chains and labor practices?
The consensus is that scrutiny is increasing, but many Asian brands are responding with heightened transparency, cultural resonance, and adaptive leadership to demonstrate responsibility while expanding into new markets.
Carolyn Devanayagam on how Asia's brands navigate the America First era
Q: So how surprising is it for you that geopolitics has become the number one priority among corporate affairs leaders?
Although not shocking to industry observers, it underscores how geopolitics now drives strategic communications, risk management, and brand reputation on a global scale, especially as brands navigate US policies, tariffs, and cross-border partnerships.
Tetsuya Honda on Japan Inc's global comms challenges
Q: Can you explain why you chose to separate strategy from execution at Honda Office and how that helps clients?
The core idea is to preserve quality in strategic thinking while using flexible, project-based teams to handle execution. This lets the firm tailor the right mix of expertise for each client and market, which improves outcomes and keeps pace with changing client needs.
Peter Jacob on promise and patience in Middle East PR markets
Q: What are the biggest challenges when new agencies enter the Middle East market, and how should they approach it differently than in Europe or the US?
New entrants often try to transplant a cut-and-paste model; this region requires a nuanced, consumer-brand–centric mindset rather than a pure B2B template. Success comes from deep local engagement, long-term commitment, and adapting to a trust-led, relationship-based economy rather than chasing immediate, offshore templates.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Earned First

What is Earned First about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show focuses on the evolving landscape of public relations, communications, and brand reputation across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, with a strong emphasis on technology, AI, and storytelling in corporate narratives. Episodes frequently explore agency dynamics, leadership perspectives, and how regional markets are shaping global PR practices, including trust, crisis management, and activism. Notable patterns include a balance between agency strategy and in-house perspectives, a willingness to discuss regional growth corridors (India, UAE, Taiwan), and a recurring interest in how data, culture, and AI intersect with strategic communications. The format appears to favor practical insights for senior PR and communications pro... more

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1. Pivot
2. On with Kara Swisher
3. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of Earned First are there?

Earned First launched a year ago and published 34 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Earned First?

Recent guests on Earned First include:

1. Tetsuya Honda
2. Red Surtida
3. Charlotte Mceleny
4. Mazen Nahawi
5. Christine Fellowes
6. Jane Morgan
7. Ramya Chandrasekaran
8. Mary Njoki

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