Who is Hieu?
Who is Hieu?
Musician turned Brand Strategist
 
 

Ex-Brand Strategist / Consultant

Turned

Copywriter

 
 
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About Me

In a past life, I was an aspiring professional musician. I performed live, wrote songs, recorded records, and learned pretty quickly that creating something people care about is only half the battle. The other half is figuring out how to make them care in the first place.

That curiosity led me into marketing, advertising, and eventually brand strategy. For more than a decade, I've studied audiences, uncovered insights, built brands, developed campaigns, and collaborated with creative teams to turn strategic thinking into ideas that resonate.

Along the way, I realized that the part of the process I enjoyed most was the creative work. Finding the line that makes an idea click. Turning a human insight into a compelling concept. Giving brands a distinct voice. Finding the right words to make someone laugh, think, feel, act, or remember.

So, I decided to bring everything I've learned as a strategist into copywriting.

Today, I'm a copywriter with a strategist's brain. I don't just think about what sounds clever or looks creative. I think about the audience, the problem we're solving, the insight behind the idea, and why anyone should care in the first place.

Turns out, I never really stopped writing. I just traded songs for ads.

A note about this portfolio: Most recently in my career, I've led creative development and contributed to advertising campaigns. I created this portfolio to further showcase my abilities as a conceptual thinker and copywriter. All campaigns featured here are independently developed speculative work, demonstrating how I approach creative challenges, translate insights into ideas, and bring those ideas to life across different channels.

Thanks for checking out my work. I hope you enjoy exploring it as much as I enjoyed creating it.


Formal Education

Master of Science degree in Advertising/Branding from Virginia Commonwealth University Brandcenter

Richmond, VA

BSBA with a Concentration in Marketing and a Communication Studies Minor from Longwood University

Farmville, VA


Continuing Education


Marketing and Strategy (and some creative) Professional Experience

Founder, Copywriter & Brand Strategist

2026 - Present

A boutique brand studio focused on developing creative platforms, creative campaigns, copy, and brand strategies.

Marketing Manager (Contract) @ VDSS

2025 - 2026 | Richmond, VA

A state supervised and locally administered social services system in the commonwealth of VA.

Brand & Consumer Research Analyst @ Hall & Partners (Omnicom)

2019 - 2020 | Chicago, IL

Omnicom’s international brand and consumer research agency

Junior Strategist @ Savv Media (The Planning Department)

2018 - 2019 | Chicago, IL

Boutique brand activation and engagement agency powered by comic media

Brand Strategy Graduate Consultant @ OccasionGenius

2017 - 2018 | Richmond, VA

Start-up technology company focused on event services

Brand Strategy Graduate Consultant @ Capital One

2017 | Richmond, VA

Financial Institution

Brand Strategist (w/ writing experience) @ Sensis Agency

2020 - 2025 | Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, GA

An independent, integrated, multi-cultural advertising agency.

Brand & Creative Strategy Consultant @ Me, Myself, & I Comics

2020 | New York City, NY

A media company focused on comic books with the purpose of tackling mental health

Summer Strategy Associate @ We Are Unlimited/DDB (Omnicom)

2018 | Chicago, IL

Was Omnicom’s full-service advertising agency dedicated to serving McDonald’s

Branding & Marketing Intern @ Advanced Patient Advocacy

2017 -2018 | Richmond, VA

Patient advocacy organization that provides a comprehensive suite of enrollment services