We recently had the opportunity to interview Markus Hofmeister, Founder, and General Manager at Just us & Otto Middle East. With extensive experience in this industry, Markus has led several successful projects in Germany, China, and across Europe, and after relocating to Qatar, his career reached new heights of success.
With his company, Just us & Otto, Markus, and his team offer innovative solutions for brands and help them achieve their visions with clear and concise branding and marketing. In this insightful interview, Markus Hofmeister shares his career journey, visions for the industry, and plans he has set for the growth of his business.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “What were the key milestones in your career that led you to where you are today?”
Markus Hofmeister shared, “In the 2000s, I worked in renowned marketing and events agencies in Germany, gaining valuable industry knowledge and confirming my passion. My career transformed in Qatar with my involvement in the Foundation of Qatar Rail and working on the FIFA World Cup Bid.
In 2010, our Just us & Otto office opened with the mission of creating fans and captivating experiences for brands through our services provided. In 2017, when we opened the Just us & Otto office in Dubai, opening up the prospects of expanding our services to the region and carrying the vision of expanding internationally, which involved organizing the Dubai Expo. We were then met with the COVID-19 pandemic which reminded me of how volatile all industries can be.
A sad reality is that as a result of the pandemic, the Just us & Otto team had to let people go. These are key parts of why I pursued this company in Doha, Qatar as it has shown me the capabilities of growth, modernity, and perseverance, and with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 which added an extra drive to our mission.”
Leading Just us & Otto Team
To have a glimpse of Markus Hofmeister’s daily routine of leading his business, we asked, “Describe a day in your life as the leader of your company. What are your main focuses and challenges?”
Markus Hofmeister replied, “A day at Just us & Otto is dynamic, creative, and fulfilling, with every day comes a new challenge that our team solves. Be this with designs, concepts, execution of events, and strategic marketing campaigns for our new clients that sign with our agency to create something that leaves a mesmerizing experience.
Our agency focuses on a range of legacy clients whom we organize, events, and marketing projects for such as Qatar Development Bank, Toyota, Al Abdulghani Motors, Qatar Energy LNG, WOQOD, Doha Festival City, and many more.”
Secret Behind Constant Motivation
We further asked, “How do you stay motivated and continue to find passion in your work?”
Markus Hofmeister shared, “Every entrepreneur has a dream and goal that they have set for themselves, and what motivates me the most is finding ways to continuously evolve. For now, the reality does not match the dream so it drives me to match my dreams with my surroundings.
As the environment of Qatar is fast-paced and rapidly changing so is the response of our agency, and so is the Just us & Otto team. At its core, we focus on how we can evolve to keep up with the growing desire for something new, and with this, the Just us & Otto team is a dedicated group of talented individuals who contribute to our agency and we always look for ways to diversify our abilities and work.”
Team Empowerment
We were intrigued to learn more about the approaches adopted by Markus Hofmeister in his organization to effectively manage the team. So, we asked, “What strategies have you found most effective for managing and leading your team?”
“The main interest at Just us & Otto is to transform our team into leaders of their own and to equip them with the necessary skills to transform, shape, and create in this industry. Our team is composed of talented individuals whom we aim to shape as dynamic, diverse, and multifaceted as the marketing industry is.
At Just us & Otto we believe that there are no limitations to what our team can do and this extends to the abilities of our team. Our group of graphic designers, copywriters, project managers, editors, and coordinators aim to be leaders in this industry.” Markus responded.
Adaptability Amidst Transformations
Eager to understand how Markus ensures to adapt his business accounting to the changing market requirements, we inquired, “In what ways has your industry changed since you started, and how has your company adapted to these changes?”
Markus Hofmeister replied, “In the marketing and events industry, we largely shifted from traditional offline gatherings to a now broad and dynamic atmosphere, that intersects digital technologies and creativity to shape an immersive experience for an audience.
To meet changing demands, we have become more flexible, creative, and dynamic. We prioritize delivering what clients want and continually captivating their experience. This involves being updated on industry developments, conducting market research, analyzing social media trends, and learning new tools for efficient creation.”
Worth-Sharing Triumphs At Just Us & Otto
To have a view of the stories of achievements of Markus Hofmeister’s business, we asked, “Can you share a success story from your business that you’re particularly proud of?”
Markus Hofmeister shared, “The Autonomous e-Mobility (AEMOB) Forum is the brainchild of Just us & Otto and is the main organizer of the conference. The AEMOB Forum brought together a series of experts that range from academia, senior leaders in the mobility industry, engineers, policymakers, and public and private companies to discuss the various dimensions of driverless electric transportation.
For Just us & Otto, the AEMOB Forum was a success and will continue to run as we tackle the future of mobility, and we look forward to the second edition of the Autonomous e-Mobility Forum 2025. It highlighted how diverse our industry can be and amounted to what our team can deliver.”
“The prior stages of the Autonomous e-Mobility Forum demonstrated to the team that building a brand and pioneer platform is possible through various services, such as content creation, social media management, and strategic partnerships. This event serves as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in autonomous e-mobility, providing networking opportunities for companies, showcasing innovative technologies, and fostering a community committed to education, sustainability, and technology.” Markus added.
Envisioning The Future
To understand the perspective of Markus for his industry, we asked, “Tell us more about your views on the future of this industry.”
Markus Hofmeister shared, “The success of the Autonomous e-Mobility Forum has shown that Just us & Otto is capable of evolving and adapting our skills to enhance the experience at our events that incorporate innovative strategies and digital technologies that allow us to execute a quality product.
I believe the future of the industry will be just as diverse as any industry, continuously evolving and changing in operations, strategies, and technologies, so alongside this so does the marketing and events industry, we have to be just as evolutionary in the experience we deliver to clients and an audience.”
Plans We Asked Markus Hofmeister
We ended the interview by asking, “Looking ahead, what are the long-term goals for your company, and how are you working towards them?”
“Our long-term goal at Just us & Otto has always been to embrace diversity, transform consumers into fans, explore the unknown, and captivate audiences with memorable experiences. With 13 years in the industry and the shift to digital technologies and practices within the marketing and events industry, our team at Just us & Otto finds it essential to enhance every aspect of our skills to create captivating brand experiences.” Markus concluded.
Follow Markus Hofmeister on LinkedIn.
Find Just us & Otto on LinkedIn and visit their website www.justusandotto.com
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