Alyssa Co

Alyssa is a global Master Facilitator and course developer at StoryIQ and an adjunct instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University with over 15 years' experience in communications and brand strategy.

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“In data storytelling—just as in the creative process—it pays to know the rules before we break them.”

As the APAC Director for Training, Alyssa works with facilitators and course developers to deliver content and learning experiences that are engaging and relevant for the region.

Alyssa leans on her experience in strategic planning and communication in strengthening StoryIQ’s data storytelling and presentation expertise. Over the years, she has spearheaded strategy development and creative ideation for brands in the FMCG, tech, finance, retail, healthcare, and non-profit spaces. Alyssa is a storyteller at heart, with an awarded short film, a published bilingual children’s storybook, and an academic background in film and media studies.

Alyssa's recent engagements

What they’re saying

Sushant Pratap Singh

"The course was well-designed covering all the important aspects of the topic. Effective delivery from the trainer Alyssa made it easier to understand."

Sushant Pratap Singh - Assistant Vice President, HSBC

Steven Daley

"Best training course I have ever taken, I was easily able to apply the techniques I learned right away and saw an immediate impact! "

Steven Daley - Global Process Owner - Test Development Engineering, Cisco

Professional Experience

Alyssa has held the following positions

  • Master Facilitator and APAC Training Director, StoryIQ
  • Adjunct Instructor for Brand Strategy, Ateneo de Manila University
  • Director for Business Development and Strategy at EON Group Inc.
  • Assoc. Planning Director, Publicis Manila, Inc.
  • Associate Account Director, EON Group Inc.
  • Writer and Creative Collaborator, Sari-Sari Storybooks Education

Education

  • Master’s Degree in Film and Media Studies, The New School University, NY
  • Media Management Certificate Degree, The New School University, NY
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Ateneo de Manila University

Alyssa’s Recent Keynotes and Conference Talks

  • The Art of Data Storytelling, Webinar Speaker, HSBC Australia, 2022
  • A Simple Science in Communication, Speaker, Department of Science and Technology – Philippines, 2022
  • Data Storytelling in Creative Campaigns, Speaker, Vizcon, 2020

Interview with Alyssa

I like being encouraging as a facilitator. I come into sessions with the mission to build on the knowledge and skills I know our learners already have. We work a lot with professionals who have their own sets of experiences and expertise. I find that facilitating a training with them is less about prescribing solutions and more about enhancing and organizing what many of them perhaps already intuitively know.
I acknowledge that everyone comes in with their own learning style. Offering them different methods to interact with the group helps them contribute in a way that is the most natural to them. It also helps that I am genuinely interested in the topics of data storytelling, presentation development, and critical thinking. I think being enthusiastic about a topic invites learners to connect and potentially see the topic in a fresher light. 
I have had experience teaching and presenting to a wide array of audiences—from preschoolers to baby boomers and everyone in between, in professional settings and otherwise. Having this experience allows me to communicate and empathize with different audiences. Empathy, for me, is at the center of how I am able to connect and bring others to a space where they feel comfortable and safe enough to learn.
Training virtually offers alternative engagement opportunities. Training and learning with people from different time zones, playing with features and tools that allow for more dynamic interactions – all these things surface ways for the learning experience to be enjoyable and memorable. It is an effective and efficient training method that—when done right—can work remarkably well across cultures and regions.
In-person training offers a unique opportunity for both the trainer and the learners to connect and get a better sense of the group dynamic. Everyone can observe and read each other’s cues and be physically in the moment to engage. It can also be a good opportunity for the learners to treat the session as a team-building activity, which can be a productive and fun way to bring a team together.
I have a soft spot for Data Storytelling for Business as I have seen it transform how I work, but I particularly enjoy teaching Presenting with Impact. It’s a rich topic and can be very personal for the learners in terms of discovering an approach that works for them, which allows for interesting and fresh discussions.
I am a serial hobbyist. In the past couple of years, I have dabbled in playing the drums, digital sketching, skateboarding, baking, and refurbishing vintage items. I think it’s fun and freeing to try new things without necessarily needing to immediately be great at them. That said, I’m a creative at heart and I find writing and creating short films extremely fulfilling, even if it takes me forever to finish a piece.

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