Senior female executives at Morning Studio – the South China Morning Post’s dedicated branded content arm – have won not one, but two top marketing awards recognising their outstanding achievements.

Karrie Lam, vice-president of sales and marketing solutions, was named one of this year’s 40 “Women to Watch” at Campaign Asia-Pacific’s annual awards event, which celebrates inspiring and exceptional female talents across marketing, media, technology and communications in Asia-Pacific.

Michala Sabnani, branded content director of the studio, received one of the “ContentMoguls50” awards at this year’s Asia-Pacific content marketing recognition platform, Content Market Summit Asia. 

“I’m thrilled to be part of this exceptional female talent tribe,” Lam says after being honoured as one of this year’s Women to Watch – an accolade that advocates diversity and celebrates achievements in the marketing communications industry.

Industry-veteran Lam, who was instrumental in launching Morning Studio in autumn 2018, led the team as it generated a 50 per cent annual growth in branded content revenue.

The months-long Hong Kong pro-democracy protests and global Covid-19 pandemic have not prevented Lam from orchestrating the team’s award-winning branded content campaigns, which have seen Morning Studio gain global recognition.

She believes the motto, “content builds relationships” has influenced the evolution and ethos of the studio, which helps advertisers reach, engage and form a stronger connection with SCMP’s unique China-curious audiences.

It is a credo shared by Sabnani, selected by a panel of judges as one of two ContentMoguls50 award winners in the Agency Partner category in Asia-Pacific, which recognises her as one of the region’s finest content marketing practitioners.

“Advertising content must be as engaging and authentic as possible,” Sabnani says about her driving principle.  

Sabnani has spearheaded Morning Studio’s prize-winning projects, such as  its seven-part “Hello Hainan” experiential travel content series – produced in partnership with China’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province – which won the Native Advertising Campaign of the Year at the 2020 The Drum Online Media Awards. 

“It feels wonderful receiving the industry’s recognition, and we’re grateful to work with such a great team,” Lam and Sabnani say. “Morning Studio’s talent helps us realise our vision of excellent branded content.”They both understand the capabilities of content marketing and how brands can use it to drive success. 

That’s why these two dynamic and creative female leaders aim to continue what they do best – helping to build profitable brands by producing unique, engaging and results-orientated content.