Skill set
Sonja in a few words
I'm a senior freelance brand and communication strategist with +10 years' experience in the industry.
Since the birth of our species (and in every culture), we have used stories and storytelling (in some form or another) as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation, instilling moral ideologies, transmitting history – and ultimately to feel understood. Stories are our way of validating our existence as real, as a progression of events that has occurred, sharing and reflecting, and finally to build for something bigger. Branding and Strategy is no different irrespective of the specialist disciplines in Marketing, Communication and Advertising.
This is what I do, integrated seamless brand behaviour and communication strategy.
I help brands and agencies to create strong brands with strong storytelling by leveraging cultural insights and trends shaping the world in which we live. I work predominantly in the luxe, beauty, personal goods and alcohol sectors but I'm open and have spent time in many other sectors to date.
Furthering on from my brand and communication expertise, I also help French agencies and clients transform their existing French work into an English counterpart, representative of its original intent.
A few brands I've worked on recently include Yves-Saint Laurent, Issey Miyake, Chloë, Armani, Rogé Cavaillès, Biotherm, L'Oréal, Vins de Bordeaux, Cointreau, Bourjois, Beauté Privée, Atelier Cologne and Winston (JTI).
Visit my LinkedIn profile for more
Experience
- FreelanceStrategy ConsultantCONSULTING & AUDITSNovember 2019 - Today (5 years and 1 month)Paris, FranceStrategy development and consulting in business marketing , brand marketing and consumer marketing
- SapientRazorfishLead Global StrategistCONSULTING & AUDITSAugust 2017 - February 2018 (6 months)Paris, FranceDevelopment of integrated global, in-market and regional strategies for European and Asian marketsBrands: L’Oreal Beauty (Yves Saint-Laurent, Biotherm)
- TBWAGroup Marketing Manager & Head of CultureCONSULTING & AUDITSJanuary 2016 - July 2017 (1 year and 7 months)Johannesbourg, Afrique du SudRedefining industry marketing approaches and developing marketing strategies focused on cultural movements through integrated marketing communication; platform development for collaboration, growth and innovation; and social responsibility
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Education
- Bachelors of Commerce (B.Comm) Marketing ManagementUniversity of Pretoria2007Majors: Marketing Management, Communication Management, Business Management