About

{current obsessions}

the physical web, and the convergence of culture, media & technology, communities in transition, brands & culture, china

{at the moment}

I focus on building, growing, and accelerating brands.  I firmly believe that brands have the power to shape the way we live and amplifying the moments that matter most.

Previously, I started Sentri.me, a home monitoring and automation designed to protect what matters most to you.

{passionate about/inspired  by}

Building connections & innovation. A cultural catalyst who is particularly fond of technology, communities, policy, design, social enterprises, law, economics, and the intersection between all these. I love listening and story-telling, especially in print and images — both offline and online. You can find some of my photographs from over the years here.

{my background}

right brain

My work has included championing community & thought leadership at Universal McCann as its global curator, documenting and telling the story of media’s evolution and its relationship with individuals around the world in the digital age. I am inspired by the creativity media affords (my favorite campaigns include Apple’s ‘Think Different’ ad, charity : water’s  inspiring introduction, and   Chrysler’s 2011 Superbowl spot), and am deeply interested in the role of brands — both global and emerging — in shaping culture.

As a strategist, adviser, and community lead, I have been fortunate enough to work with startups across both the US and China, including Gizmo (a 500 Startups alum),  East Communications (Canada’s leading China/Canada & US communications agency), and the OpenCo (NewCo) festival series, a conference aimed at opening the doors of some of the most innovative organizations in the world for the public to learn what it is that makes each of these organizations so unique.

left brain

I’ve also worked with UM’s Decision Sciences group to measure performance of digital media buys across both traditional (e.g., search, display) and new media (e.g., social, video) platforms.  My clients have included the team behind the global launch of Windows Phone, Cathay Pacific, and numerous direct response marketing managers at Microsoft.

I started my professional career with Deloitte as a senior economic consultant.  At Deloitte, my clients were primarily multinational companies in technology, media, industrials, and consumer businesses looking to optimize their business planning and financing strategies.

left/right brain

I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with degrees in Business Administration and International Political Economy, and have always loved connecting the dots across different subject matters and mediums.

{connect with me at}

e-mail : wendywrites2 (at) gmail (dot) com – twitter : @eyesonchina – skype: cloverdust – linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyqi

I look forward to hearing your story!