Founder · Strategic Creative Leader

Thijs van de Wouw is a global creative leader and founder of Van de Wouw, a hybrid studio partnering with brands at the intersection of culture, technology, and fandom.

Over the past 15 years, Thijs has led strategy and creative thinking for global brands across technology, gaming, entertainment, and lifestyle. His career includes senior roles at Droga5 New York, AKQA, and Wieden+Kennedy, where he served as Chief Strategy Officer for Tokyo & Seoul.

Living and working across four continents, Thijs brings a deeply global yet locally grounded perspective to brand building. His work focuses on helping brands move beyond campaigns; defining the strategic narratives, cultural relevance, and creative systems required to build worlds people want to be part of.

Today, Thijs works directly with founders, in-house teams, agencies, and leadership groups, offering senior strategic and creative partnership without traditional agency overhead.

Based in Tokyo, Thijs helps global brands navigate rapid cultural change, identify future opportunities, and build meaningful connections with modern audiences.

Alongside his studio work, Thijs contributes to the next generation of creative and strategic talent. He serves as an Advisory Board Member and Lecturer at Breda University of Applied Sciences (Ranked #3 in Top 5 Best Video Game Schools worldwide), and regularly lectures internationally. He also writes and speaks on culture, gaming, and brand strategy for publications including Adweek, Campaign, and Highsnobiety.

Previously, Thijs was recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 for leadership in creative strategy.