I'm Sean Mathews, a global brand strategist and brand marketing leader with a passion for driving business growth through innovative storytelling and consumer-centric strategies.
Over the course of my career, I've had the privilege of working with renowned brands such as RBCx Ventures, OCBC bank, ADCB bank, Singapore Tourism Board, Toyota, Canon, Tim Hortons, and Splenda. With over 20+ years of experience building and leading high-performing teams, I've honed my expertise in both global advertising agencies and client marketing organizations. I thrive in matrix environments and excel at building relationships and influencing business outcomes by orchestrating the efforts of internal teams, research agencies, creative agency partners, and media agencies.
During my tenure at RBCx Ventures, I played a pivotal role in growing three technology start-up brands from scratch to category leadership in just five years. I led the Marketing Centre of Excellence (COE) and developed integrated strategies that deployed omni-channel storytelling to drive business results. I was proud to receive RBCx's first Canadian Marketing Association Award for effectiveness in brand building for the Mydoh brand. One of my most significant accomplishments was the successful development of the Mydoh brand, a youth financial literacy platform, from scratch to leadership status within a year. This achievement led to a notable 26% aided and 5% unaided awareness in the category. The campaign also earned RBCx Ventures its first Canadian Marketing Association Award for brand building effectiveness.
When I'm not immersed in the world of marketing, you can often find me exploring my passion for food. I am a self-proclaimed foodie who delights in discovering new culinary delights. I have a particular fondness for Japanese, Korean, and Indonesian cuisine, relishing the bold flavors, vibrant ingredients, and unique culinary traditions of these cultures. Exploring the diverse culinary landscape not only satisfies my taste buds but also allows me to appreciate the cultural nuances and artistry that goes into each dish. In essence, my personal life is a harmonious blend of treasured family moments, cross-cultural experiences, and the pursuit of culinary delights. These aspects of my life contribute to my well-rounded perspective and inspire me to approach my work with a sense of curiosity, open-mindedness, and appreciation for the diverse world we live in.
The Best Fit
Brand Strategy and Brand Management: Positioning, Value proposition, Brand Identity, Brand Tool box, Messaging strategy and omni-channel storytelling.
Planning Integrated Marketing Campaigns across various channels such as digital, social media, content, and traditional advertising.
Consumer Insights and Persona Development: Ability to synthesize large volumes of research to extract insights and develop personas.
Team Leadership and Collaboration: I thrive in projects that involve cross-functional collaboration, managing interdisciplinary teams, and fostering strong relationships with creative agencies, research agencies, and media partners.
FinTech and Tech Expertise: I understand the unique challenges and opportunities they present and can develop strategies that align with their specific needs and objectives.
My ideal client:
Ideal clients for me are companies and organizations in need of a seasoned brand strategist and marketing leader who can drive business growth through effective storytelling and consumer-centric strategies. We belong together if:
- You are a Start-up or a technology venture.
- You are a global brand seeking to refine your brand strategies, develop cohesive integrated campaigns, and drive market share growth.
- You are a company in consumer-focused industries such as retail, hospitality, food and beverage, or lifestyle brands.
- Your organization values cross-functional teamwork, strong internal-external partnerships, and the ability to deliver seamless, multi-faceted projects.
By partnering with me, you can expect a strategic and creative leader who brings a wealth of experience, a global perspective, and a deep understanding of effective brand marketing. My passion for driving business results, expertise in consumer insights, and collaborative approach will be instrumental in achieving your marketing and branding goals.
Awards & Accomplishments
CMA Award for Effectiveness in Brand Building – 2022 (Mydoh) Planner of The Year – Southeast Asia | Brand Consultancy - Agency of the Year | Engagement - Agency of the Year Marketing Events - Agency of the Year | Canon SEA – 9 Gold for Campaign Effectiveness | Toyota – Marketing Excellence Award.‘Brilliant storyteller’ is how I would best describe Sean. I had the pleasure of working with Sean over the past year at Arrive-RBC Ventures, as we engaged him to help us develop our company’s brand story and marketing campaign. With limited information and background, Sean managed to develop a strong, differentiated brand story for Arrive within a very tight timeline. Sean has a toolbox filled with frameworks, exercises and consumer-centric processes that can help any organization develop and foster a unique brand story that will set them apart. As a team member or a leader, Sean earns my highest recommendation.Shikha Bhuchar CoFounder, Arrive
I've had the pleasure to work with Sean on numerous global initiatives, including developing an innovation framework for the entire global network. While managing all the complexity of such projects, I was always certain about one point. i.e. that I can count on Sean. Sean offers everything, what you'd expect from an ideal strategic planner. He knows the business inside out, he can come up with ideas that solve the challenge, he is comfortable with numbers and has his finger on the pulse of the culture. An inspirational leader and an inspiring team member.Szilvia Kovari-Krecsmary CMO, Paidy