About

I’m originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) and have called Hong Kong home since 2008. I have loved seeing Sassy grow over the years and I am so thankful that we have such an awesome team who are always ready and willing to try things for the sake of Sassy. We have a term around the office called #diditforsassy and over the years I have definitely done that. From Brazilian wax trials, to getting spray tanned at home in my bikini for a YouTube video (the video doesn’t exist anymore, thank goodness!), to letting our readers vote on what hairstyle I should get (they voted for a fringe and I did go through with it!).

These days, I’m obsessed with one day building the perfect capsule collection and would finish every day if I could with a 45-minute Aqua Luna sail around the harbour before heading home.

Emilie is the CEO of Sassy Media Group. She is originally from Belgium but has spent the last twenty years in Asia. After finishing her MA in Chinese Studies in London, she left for Beijing to pursue her studies of Mandarin, got her first job in Hong Kong, lived in Tokyo for a year before heading back to Hong Kong and in 2011 moved to Singapore with her family. She is the proud mother of two (Josephine and Adrian). In between work, meetings and school pickups she dreams of exotic holidays and grasses matinees…

Originally hailing from the States. Haley likes to stay up to date on the dining scene in the 852 and is always seeking out the hidden gems of Hong Kong. When not at work she is either in the pottery studio or finding dog friendly dining destinations with her dog, Oliver.

I was born and raised in China, and moved to Hong Kong in 2013. I’m a huge fan of wildlife, the outdoors and pandas (I can spend an entire day watching videos of pandas eating bamboo). Living in Hong Kong lets me enjoy eating endless dim sum, taking in the gorgeous harbour views and being a part of team Sassy.

Raised in Hong Kong, Stef has called the 852 home for most of her life, with the exception of a few years in Australia. With nearly two decades of lifestyle editorial experience under her belt, her favourite things to write about are food, travel and people. When not dreaming up her next getaway, she can be found treading the fine balance between yoga/gym and stuffing her face with cake.

Having spent the better part of her life in the 852, Filipino-born Nicole is proud to call herself a Hongkonger. Always looking forward to her next meal, Nicole is a magpie for shiny, new restaurants and is often drawn to the weirdest item on the menu. Off the clock, you’ll likely find her sipping on bubble tea, making good use of her Disneyland pass, bouldering, or otherwise napping during her commute to and from Tung Chung.

Raised in the 852, Fashila’s always down to explore a new neighbourhood and uncover the road less travelled (with a camera in hand). When she’s not writing, you can find her leaving the Flower Market with handfuls of plants, in a true-crime rabbit hole or café-hopping to find the perfect mocha.

Veena was born and raised in Hong Kong and (after IB in Thailand and Uni in the UK) has now returned after 10 years abroad. While she reacquaints herself with the city, you’ll find her scouring the streets searching for affordable sushi and cafes serving Oat Milk Mochas, scribbling down random pieces of poetry and dialogue for her future novel, binge-watching tv shows like she has nothing better to do, and discovering all the ways HK has changed in the last decade.

Her work encompasses both Sassy and Sassy Mama and she loves that she gets to dabble in everything possible until she finds what she’s most passionate about (it will probably be food-related!).

Born and raised in 852, Grace is a creative soul with a passion for art, fashion and hunting for some good coffee! She expresses herself through painting and photography, always appreciating beauty in her surroundings. During her free time, she enjoys reading with a cup of coffee in hand.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mansha worked in finance before finding her way to Sassy Mama. An avid traveler, she is always on the lookout to check new cities off her bucket list with her husband and three kids in tow. She is a gym junkie and loves a good sweat sesh. Being a real foodie, you will always find her at the newest spots in town, with a spicy margarita in hand.

Born and raised in the UK, Emily moved to Hong Kong in 2011 in a quest to learn more about her roots and heritage. She loves to cook and can often be found in her local wet markets seeking out fresh produce for her culinary creations. When not obsessing about her next meal, she enjoys hiking, board games and finding new ways to burn calories. Emily focuses on partnerships with Sassy.

Born and raised in the 852, Jowell is a proud purebred Hongkie. After hotel school, she served smiles through the skies as a flight attendant, landed in venture investment and the glitz and glamour of the luxury industry, before finding her way to Sassy. Off the clock, you can catch her obsessing over cute hamster videos, perfecting her downward dog at yoga, at a modelling gig, or on her quest in search of the best fish siumais in town.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Alex thrives on new experiences, whether it’s exploring a new country or discovering the latest activities in town. When not working on partnerships with Sassy, she’s sipping coffee at the newest cafes or enjoying workouts with her husband and two pups.

Eleanor Coleman is the Principal Partner and Founder of The Financial Empowerment Group. She aims to help women and the LGBTQ community to understand and master their finances through planning and education. Drawing on her 13 years of experience working for international banks in Hong Kong, Eleanor delivers regular seminars and workshops including the popular series "A Man is Not a Plan". She uses her expertise to help people define and achieve their dreams, take control of their finances and realise true financial freedom. When she’s OOO, Eleanor can be found swimming, writing, reading & making alcoholic creations for her online bakery.

Lauren Lin, Co-Founder of PIVOT, is a mother of three who is constantly inspired by the amazing women she meets in Hong Kong. She has over ten years of experience in partner marketing, public relations and marketing management. Her experience in the Hospitality sector includes tenure at the Five Star/Five Diamond Wynn & Encore Resort and Boyd Gaming Corporation. In 2012, she joined an early stage social mobile app startup, PlayStudios, which sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. After moving to Hong Kong in 2015 she wanted to follow her passion for connecting people and entrepreneurship, resulting in PIVOT. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International Business certificate from Arizona State University.

Ira is originally from the Philippines, but is a Hong Kong Mom at heart! She moved for work with a single luggage and stayed for more than 14 years and had her family here. Her background is in design, used to work as a designer, became a stay at home mom and now found her way to Team Sassy. When she’s not emailing partners for briefs and previews, she’s either creating a DIY project, checking out activities in HK with her kids or organizing playdates and parties!