From political journalism to global brand leadership, Uma Rudd Chia blends soul, speed, and sci-fi smarts to create future-ready storytelling.
As the co-founder and Executive Creative Director of KVUR, Uma Rudd Chia isn’t just building brands, she’s reengineering how creative work gets done. A former political journalist turned award-winning creative director, Uma draws on over a decade of integrated marketing and digital innovation to help brands move fast without losing their soul.
Whether she’s advising C-suites, leading AI workshops, or keynoting conferences across 22 countries, Uma brings a signature mix of futurist thinking, authentic storytelling, and bold brand vision to every room she enters. Here’s how she’s reframing the future of branding with clarity, conviction, and a creative edge.
Highlights
The New Rules of Branding
Q: What sparked this fast-paced model, and how does it reflect your approach to creativity?
A: We started KVUR right in the thick of COVID. Time was scarce. Budgets were tighter. And opportunities? They vanished if you blinked. We realised three things very quickly:
- The longer something takes, the more expensive it becomes.
- If you wait, someone else will take your place.
- With the right tech, especially AI, we can collapse timelines without compromising the quality of thinking.
We focus our time where it counts—on strategy and concept. The heavy thinking happens upfront, within the first few days. From there, we collaborate with the brand’s in-house team to drive execution. They know their brand DNA. We bring a fresh lens and 20+ years of big-idea experience. Together, we move fast and smart.
Q: From political journalist to brand storyteller, how has your narrative style evolved?
A: As a political journalist, you’re trained to simplify chaos. You make complex systems understandable. That instinct never left me.
But now, I’m not just informing, I’m inspiring. Brands don’t just need facts. They need to feel. Purpose. Personality. And today, that means being real. A Gen Z consumer can sniff out corporate speak in three seconds flat.
So my narrative style evolved: less lecture, more dialogue. Less script, more TikTok-real. Still rooted in truth. Whether I’m writing about AI, mascara, or a manifesto, I always start with the human behind the story.
Q: After inspiring audiences in 22 countries, what message resonates most globally?
A: That purpose is not a luxury. It’s oxygen.
No matter where I speak—Jakarta, Dubai, Johannesburg—people want the same thing: meaning. Whether I’m talking about AI or creativity, I remind people: you don’t have to be the smartest in the room, you just have to show up with your soul intact.
Hope is contagious when you make it practical. That’s my job: spark a shift, hand them a torch, and say, “Go build something that matters.”
Q: As a fractional CMO, what mistakes do startups make and how do you fix them?
A: The biggest mistake? Selling a product, not a point of view.
Anyone can launch a skincare line or a coffee brand. But why do you exist? What do people feel when they hear your name?
Most founders skip the “why” and go straight to sales. I help them do the opposite. Specifically, I help them find the beating heart of their brand, then articulate it in under 10 words.
Great branding is clarity plus conviction. If your brand can’t answer “Why me?” in one sentence, you’re just noise in a very loud world.
Imagination Meets Innovation
Q: How is KVUR using AI and tech to push boundaries in branding?
A: We experiment like mad scientists, with a purpose.
We don’t just use AI to save time. We use it to explore possibilities. From beta-testing new storytelling tools to running AI workshops for clients, we bring tech into the creative process without letting it lead.
Here’s the key: if you start with AI, everything starts to sound the same. But if you start with human insight—your truth, your lived experience—and then use AI to enhance it? That’s when the magic happens.
AI becomes your amplifier, not your author.
Q: Through The Female Idea, you challenge male-centric creative norms. What barriers remain, and how do you navigate them?
A: Honestly, I’m not here to “battle the boys.” I’m here to balance the room.
Men and women see the world differently—and that’s a creative advantage. The problem is, for decades, we’ve mostly heard one voice. But most consumers are women. So why are most campaigns still written from a male gaze?
My mission is to create space for both energies. In fact, when you add a female lens, your work doesn’t just become more inclusive—it becomes more powerful, more nuanced, and more effective.
Q: You draw from sci-fi, Tesla, and faith. How do you stay grounded while thinking so far ahead?
A: Every morning, I ask: “What can I do today, with excellence?” That keeps me grounded.
I love futurism. I love imagining what the world could be. But I don’t live in fantasy—I use it as fuel. Tesla (the man, not just the car) reminds me to think big. Faith reminds me to stay rooted in love and purpose. Sci-fi reminds me that imagination is a responsibility, not just a thrill.
So I work hard, dream harder, and sleep well knowing I gave the day everything I had. If tomorrow comes, great. If it doesn’t—I’m good.
Uma Rudd Chia: Speed, Soul & Strategy
Uma isn’t just a creative powerhouse; she’s a futurist thinker, bestselling author, and proud sci-fi nerd who’s redefining what it means to lead with creativity in the AI age.
At KVUR, she co-builds with brands and startups to crack Gen Z marketing, scale with soul, and never lose sight of their “why.”
And when she’s not reshaping the future of branding, she’s raising teenagers, dodging fur babies, and probably dreaming up her next keynote over gin (your treat).
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here, or listen to the podcast here.
