Today we’d like to introduce you to Salem Alshehri.
Hi Salem, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve never been particularly interested in limiting myself to a single industry. What has always interested me is building businesses, creating value, and understanding how people interact with products, spaces, and experiences.
My background is in Urban and Regional Planning, a field that exposed me to everything from livability and sustainability to economics, research, and long-term development thinking. That foundation shaped the way I approach opportunities and problem-solving.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to co-found Design Solution, an architectural consultancy focused on helping clients translate ideas into meaningful built environments. I also founded Florista, a boutique flower brand, which gave me a completely different perspective on retail, branding, and customer experience.
Today, I lead Overdo, a creative and strategic consultancy that helps organizations build stronger connections with their audiences through experiences, communication, and engagement. While our work often takes shape through events, exhibitions, campaigns, and immersive environments, our role frequently begins much earlier—helping clients shape ideas, define objectives, and develop strategies that create meaningful and lasting impact.
While these ventures operate in different markets, I’ve always viewed them through the same lens. Whether it’s architecture, retail, or large-scale experiences, I’m drawn to businesses that combine creativity, strategy, and execution to create something meaningful for people.
That mindset continues to shape the work I do today and the opportunities I pursue moving forward.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. Every venture came with a different set of challenges, and most of them had little to do with the product or service itself.
One of the biggest lessons was realizing that building a business and being good at a profession are two very different things. Whether in consulting, retail, or the experience industry, success requires much more than expertise. It requires building teams, managing cash flow, navigating uncertainty, making difficult decisions, and staying resilient when things don’t go according to plan.
The event experience industry in particular can be demanding. It is a fast-moving environment where expectations are high and circumstances can change quickly. One of the ongoing challenges has been balancing growth opportunities with maintaining the quality and standards that clients or audience expect. Like any business, there have been periods that required careful decision-making, adaptability, and a long-term perspective.
Looking back, I wouldn’t describe the road as smooth, but I also wouldn’t describe the challenges as setbacks. Most of them became valuable learning experiences that shaped the way I lead businesses today. They taught me to stay adaptable, focus on execution, and avoid becoming too attached to any single plan.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Overdo is a creative and strategic consultancy focused on helping organizations build stronger connections with their audiences through experiences, communication, and engagement.
While we are widely recognized for our work in events, exhibitions, and immersive experiences, our role often begins much earlier. We work with clients to shape ideas, define objectives, develop strategies, and design experiences that align with broader organizational and brand goals.
Over the years, we have partnered with government entities, corporations, and cultural organizations on initiatives ranging from large-scale events and exhibitions to communication-driven and community projects. Our approach combines strategic thinking, creativity, and execution to ensure that ideas are not only well designed, but effectively delivered.
What sets us apart is our belief that great experiences do more than entertain. They communicate, inspire, influence behavior, and create lasting connections between organizations and the people they serve.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is being challenged.
I enjoy ambitious projects, big ideas, and situations that require creativity, resilience, and a willingness to take calculated risks. There’s a special kind of satisfaction that comes from overcoming uncertainty, achieving something meaningful, and knowing it had a positive impact on people around you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.overdo.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eng.alsalem
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/salem-alshehri-15b085154
