Next-level brand storytelling from TeamAsia creates compelling narratives

Stories are innately human, and it is the shared experience conveyed through these stories that resonates among people. Compelling stories, as psychologists have explained, can even make mundane facts and figures 20 times more memorable.

It is this fascinating relationship that humans have with storytelling that TeamAsia, a multi-awarded integrated marketing communications (IMC) agency, utilizes to elevate brands in a way that truly connects with their audiences. From its event management expertise to its digital, creative, and public relations capabilities, every facet of TeamAsia’s services empowers brands to craft compelling narratives that stand out.

A Storied Experience

Founded in 1992 in Hong Kong by Monette Iturralde-Hamlin and her late husband, Michael Alan Hamlin, The Events and Awards Managers of Asia Limited (TeamAsia) set out to become experts in delivering world-class experiences.

“Our first project was organizing a regional management awards program across six Asian countries in partnership with the Asian Institute of Management and the Far Eastern Economic Review. We established TeamAsia’s reputation in delivering world-class, well-executed experiences — a reputation we continue to uphold until today,” said Monette, who now serves as the agency’s Chairperson.

The drive to deliver world-class experiences led to a natural evolution of TeamAsia’s services. What started as an events company grew into an integrated marketing agency offering branding, PR, and digital campaigns, all stemming from their passion for storytelling. After all, an event tells only part of the story; brands need to convey a complete narrative—one that resonates most with audiences, through digital channels and traditional media.

This evolution to IMC was not done for the sake of business expansion, but as an extension of TeamAsia’s commitment to bringing international standards of execution into the local industry, or the “next level” experience, as Monette described it.

“The agency began delivering the elements of IMC holistically, even before IMC was a recognized field,” Monette said, adding that, while her daughter and now TeamAsia’s President and CEO Bea Lim, was then studying IMC in Boston, the agency was used as a case study in pioneering the practice.

Reaching the Next Level

For decades, TeamAsia has consistently reached one milestone after another. Inspired by Mike’s passion for innovation and technology, TeamAsia became one of the first companies to launch its own website and among the first to organize hybrid events well before these became the norm.

Amid these innovations, TeamAsia remains true to its core values of social responsibility, transparency, sustainability, and good governance through ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles. Every year, TeamAsia conducts My Dream In A Shoebox, an outreach program with the goal of providing school supplies to less privileged students. TeamAsia has also partnered with KASAMA, a non-profit group in educating and advocating for inclusivity, in mounting their 2nd Philippine Inclusion Summit. 

Most recently, TeamAsia has strengthened its commitment to sustainability by participating in a pilot program to refine its internal efforts and training programs, which will then be incorporated as the agency prepares to create comprehensive ESG reports.

Key to all these milestones is TeamAsia’s inclusive work culture, where people are valued for their strengths, passion, and creativity rather than their titles or degrees. Monette recounted that one of the agency’s first creative directors thrived in the role despite being a math major.

To this day, TeamAsia’s diverse and inclusive team shares the same passion and purpose as storytellers, guided by Monette’s mantra to “autograph one’s work with excellence.” This empowers the agency to deliver bold, out-of-the-box solutions grounded in the team members’ varying expertise in creativity, strategic communications, technology, and execution.

More than three decades later, TeamAsia’s client base, which initially consisted of tech companies, grew to include financial institutions, automotive and airline companies, fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers, and hotels, to name a few. For these companies, TeamAsia’s team of storytellers weaves effective brand narratives that spark interest and create lasting impact among their audiences.

“We don’t simply provide services; we craft stories that resonate and create a lasting impact among people. Every campaign is designed not just to meet client objectives, but to elevate the experience for audiences,” Monette said.

Source: Inquirer.net