NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY
With 25 years experience to her name, Merlee Jayme is one of the top names in the Philippine advertising community. Beginning her career at Ace Saatchi & Saatchi as a copywriter before working her way up to Vice President and Executive Creative Director. Jayme would later distinguish herself as Executive Creative Director at BBDO Guerrero before setting up her own shop, DM9JaymeSyfu.
BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
While “(being) Chairmom to my DM9ners and creating the most successful home for them in the country”, is an achievement that speaks volumes about Jayme’s tenacity and drive (they call her “relentless” in the office for a reason!), no write-up would be complete without mention of Jayme’s role in earning for her agency in the Philippines’ first-ever Grand Prix at the biggest stage of them all, the Cannes International Festival of Creativity with Smart ‘TXTBKS’. Since then, the work has been recognized as the 26th most-awarded ‘All Guns Blazing’ campaign in the 2014 Gunn Report, powered by (among others) Grand Prix metal at Spikes Asia, Ad Stars, Global AME, Clio, New York Fest, and a D&AD Yellow Pencil.
BIGGEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
“Being a wife to Timmy for 24 years and being a mom to Issel, Inez, Sofia and Sabine,” says Jayme, justifiably proud of her family, who, to this day, remain her top priority (and achievement). “No success can compensate for failure in the home. I have to remind myself everyday that the mom role is 100 times bigger and more important than the creative director role.”
PASSION PROJECT
“Creating beautiful campaigns that help uplift lives of women” has long been something of a mission statement with Jayme, and she’s got the awards to prove it. To wit, Jayme has had a hand in crafting multiple award-winning advocacies, campaigns and initiatives for clients such as Gabriela (‘Scandal’), Anmum (‘Trimester’) and Modess (‘#StopTheBulong).
WHAT EXPERIENCES HAVE HELPED SHAPE YOU INTO THE WOMAN YOU ARE TODAY?
“Every time someone puts me down because I’m a fresh grad, or I’m just a junior writer or worse, I’m just a woman, makes me angry enough to push myself so hard to prove them that I actually have a great, creative mind.
