Founder · Global Strategy Leader

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

Over the past 14+ years, Thijs has helped shape brands, platforms, and campaigns that resonate across markets, from global tech and entertainment to gaming and lifestyle. His career spans senior leadership roles at some of the world’s most respected creative companies, including 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.

His experience includes work across:

• Global technology and platform companies

• Gaming publishers and entertainment IP

• Consumer, lifestyle, and luxury brands operating across cultures

Today, Thijs works directly with founders, in-house teams, agencies, and leadership groups, offering senior strategic partnership without traditional agency overhead. Van de Wouw combines hands-on leadership with a trusted global network of creatives, researchers, and specialists.

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.