Page 59 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 7 | October - November 2024

Strategising

Sasha Alwani, the Chief
Strategy Officer, ASEAN
at Vero, stays ahead of
the curve in Thailand’s
dynamic creative
landscape.

B Y AIDEN JE WELLE GONZ ALE S

Thailand is the land of creativity just as much as it
is the Land of Smiles,” Sasha Alwani confides in
admiration when I met her at her sun-drenched
office overlooking the cityscape. With the perennial hustle and
bustle of the metropolis floors below us, Sasha waxes eloquent on
what a dynamic centre for creativity in Southeast Asia Thailand
has become, and its magnetism for major brands and talent. “I was
born and raised in Hong Kong, and as cliche as it might sound,
I moved to Thailand for love,” she reveals with a rueful laugh.
“But though my motivations were very much personal, the move From films, to
helped me unlock so many new professional opportunities that I
would never have had access to if I had stayed in Hong Kong or music, fashion, and
Singapore. From films, to music, fashion, and food, Thai culture
is making its mark on a global stage and it’s a really exciting time food, Thai culture
to be a brand strategist and consultant in the market.”
is making its mark
Currently the Chief Strategy Officer, ASEAN at Vero, a
communications consultancy helping top brands launch and build on a global stage
influence in Southeast Asia, Sasha is someone who I immediately
took a shine to, with her easy-going demeanour, ready smile, and, and it’s a really
I’ll admit, similar international school background. She’s someone
who embodies the communications expert, which in my experience exciting time to be
is always comprised of two parts: a keen mind for strategy, trends,
and upskilling; and a natural gregariousness that allows you to a brand strategist
engage with and learn from everyone around you. As she showed
me around her office, which included an intriguing ‘thrifting and consultant in
corner’ that was a reflection of the company’s dedication to social
and environmental responsibility, Sasha walked me through her the market.
peripatetic background, from Hong Kong, to Boston University
in the US where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, to
Singapore, and several countries and touch points over the last
14 years of her career.

She brought to bear her experience from over a decade in the
industry to give Masala further insights into Thailand’s creative
landscape, how to lead the pack in the communications and
branding industry, and what it’s like to be a trailblazer in this space.

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