Tan Soon Yao — Business Development Executive

I’m Tan Soon Yao, a First Class Honours Marketing graduate from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), with a minor in Corporate Communications. I was awarded the Tunas Bestari Book Award by His Majesty the Chancellor of UUM during the 37th UUM Convocation Ceremony — one of the university’s most prestigious awards, granted to only 84 selected students out of 5,539 graduates in recognition of exceptional academic performance, leadership, and co-curricular excellence. As a Kuok Foundation Scholar, I’ve always believed in making an impact beyond the classroom. I was elected by students into the Student Representative Council (MPP UUM) — the university’s highest student body — where I led strategic communications and directed both university-level and international initiatives, including the Dean’s List Award Ceremony for the School of Business Management and Global Campus Connect (UQ, UNIMAP to UUM). In parallel, I was crowned Great Champion in the Bursa Inter-Varsity Stock Challenge 2022 and served as Treasurer for the national-level Pesta Konvokesyen UUM. My passion for media and branding inspired me to launch digital campaigns and advocate for financial literacy through leadership roles in the Bursa Young Investor Club. I am also a lifetime member of Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS), the international honour society that recognises the top 10% of business students worldwide — a distinction that affirms academic excellence, integrity, and leadership potential. Currently, I’m part of the WPP Media Master Graduate Trainee Programme, where I explore how creativity, data, and strategy come together to build meaningful brand narratives. Let’s connect — I’m always open to conversations about marketing, media innovation, and empowering the next generation of changemakers.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Marketing and Media professional with strong capabilities in campaign management and strategic communications.

Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Experience: 5 yrs 7 mos

Skills

Media Buying
Campaign Execution & Operations
Media Planning Fundamentals
Media Buying Fundamentals
Data Management
Project Management
Stakeholder Management
Project Planning
Leadership
Strategic Communications
Public Relations
Social Media Communications
Event Management
Graphic Design
Event Planning

Career Highlights

First Class Honours Marketing graduate with prestigious awards.
Led strategic communications in university's highest student body.
Crowned Great Champion in Bursa Inter-Varsity Stock Challenge.

Work Experience

WPP Media

Executive, Buying (Non-Biddable) (9 mos)

Graduate Trainee (Media Master) (10 mos)

Career Break

Gap year (6 mos)

GXBank

Data Entry Officer, Legal Team (3 mos)

Intern, People & Culture (4 mos)

School of Business Management, UUM

Student Representative Council (11 mos)

Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar - Universiti Utara Malaysia (MPP UUM)

Executive of Corporate Communications (11 mos)

Genting Malaysia Berhad

Casino Dealer (2 mos)

Bursa Young Investor Club - BYIC UUM

Head Of Multimedia Department (1 yr)

Executive Committee of Media and Publicity (1 yr)

Committee of Multimedia Department (1 yr)

Genting Malaysia Berhad

Casino Dealer (9 mos)

Pusat Tuisyen Orbit

Tuition Assistant (1 yr 6 mos)

Tuition Assistant (7 mos)

Education

Bachelor of Marketing with Honours [B.Mktg (Hons.)] at Universiti Utara Malaysia

Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM) at SMK Munshi Ibrahim Labis

Tan Soon Yao

Business Development Executive

Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia5 yrs 7 mos experience

Key Highlights

First Class Honours Marketing graduate with prestigious awards.
Led strategic communications in university's highest student body.
Crowned Great Champion in Bursa Inter-Varsity Stock Challenge.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Marketing and Media professional with strong capabilities in campaign management and strategic communications.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Media BuyingCampaign Execution & OperationsMedia Planning FundamentalsMedia Buying FundamentalsData ManagementProject ManagementStakeholder ManagementProject PlanningLeadershipStrategic CommunicationsPublic RelationsSocial Media CommunicationsEvent ManagementGraphic DesignEvent PlanningCustomer ServiceGaming Industry ExperienceOperations ManagementTeachingEducational Material DevelopmentEducational Material Customization

Other Skills

Non-Biddable Media BuyingBudget ManagementMedia Reporting & Quality ControlVendor & Partner CoordinationAttention to DetailTime & Priority ManagementDigital Advertising FundamentalsCampaign Execution SupportReporting & InsightsCross-functional CollaborationData EntryResearch SkillsMarket ResearchCommunicationStakeholder Engagement

About

Experience

5 yrs 7 mos

Total Experience

11 mos

Average Tenure

10 mos

Current Experience

Wpp media

2 roles

Executive, Buying (Non-Biddable)

Aug 2025 – Present · 9 mos · Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia · Hybrid

Main Clients: TM, Perodua, Sun Life, UNITAR, Burger King
Execute and manage campaigns across non-biddable channels including TV, Radio, Print, OOH, KOLs and direct digital publishers.
Monitor and manage media budgets to ensure accurate campaign delivery.
Ensure all buying and planning processes follow internal SOPs and quality standards.
Work closely with planners, finance teams and vendors to ensure smooth execution.
Prepare campaign performance updates and post-campaign summaries.
Build positive working relationships with media owners and partners
Continuously improve workflows and adopt new tools to enhance efficiency.

Media BuyingNon-Biddable Media BuyingCampaign Execution & OperationsBudget ManagementMedia Reporting & Quality ControlVendor & Partner Coordination+2

Graduate Trainee (Media Master)

Jul 2025 – Present · 10 mos · Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia · Hybrid

Selected into WPP Media’s 2-year Media Masters rotational graduate programme designed to build end-to-end media capability across key practice areas.
Completed training rotation across multiple departments to understand core workflows, roles, and media fundamentals.
Build foundational capability in media planning, media buying, digital, programmatic, paid search, paid social, e-commerce, and insights through on-the-job learning and guided coaching.
Support cross-functional teams in campaign planning, execution support, reporting, and continuous optimisation.
Participate in training sessions, knowledge-sharing, and professional development activities across the WPP Media network.
Contribute to team initiatives and projects as assigned while progressing through rotations.

Media Planning FundamentalsMedia Buying FundamentalsDigital Advertising FundamentalsCampaign Execution SupportReporting & InsightsCross-functional Collaboration+1

Career break

Gap year

Dec 2024 – Jun 2025 · 6 mos

After my convocation, I embarked on a gap year to explore various career paths and acquire new skills through online learning, with the goal of identifying my long-term professional direction.

Gxbank

2 roles

Data Entry Officer, Legal Team

Aug 2024 – Nov 2024 · 3 mos · Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia · Hybrid

Implemented AODocs to enhance data management efficiency and accuracy.
Conducted in-depth analysis of legal contracts using Google Spreadsheet, providing actionable insights to the legal team.
Maintained meticulous oversight of AODocs data, ensuring alignment with effective contracts, guaranteeing accurate reminders, and enhancing contract understanding.

Data EntryData ManagementStakeholder ManagementProject Management

Intern, People & Culture

Mar 2024 – Jul 2024 · 4 mos · Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia · Hybrid

Assisted with employer branding and cultural initiatives, enhancing GXBank's reputation as an employer of choice in Malaysia's digital banking sector.
Managed the Internship Engagement Session, showcasing strong event management skills in logistics, materials
coordination, and participant communication.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams, including HR and Marketing, to create compelling content that highlighted GXBank's unique culture and values.
Contributed to the development of recruitment materials, enhancing GXBank's employer brand's visual identity and
appeal.
Involved in the preparation for launching “Impian Gigih Biasiswa”, a scholarship established by GX Bank Berhad to
support underprivileged students in their undergraduate studies

Research SkillsMarket ResearchCommunicationStakeholder ManagementStakeholder EngagementGraphic Design+2

School of business management, uum

Student Representative Council

Jan 2023 – Dec 2023 · 11 mos · School of Business Management (SBM), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Sintok, Kedah. · Hybrid

Served as a representative for the School of Business Management, advocating for student interests and fostering communication.

LeadershipEVENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATORStrategic CommunicationsTeamworkCorporate CommunicationsCollaborative Leadership+1

Majlis perwakilan pelajar - universiti utara malaysia (mpp uum)

Executive of Corporate Communications

Jan 2023 – Dec 2023 · 11 mos · Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Sintok, Kedah. · Hybrid

Managed corporate communications initiatives and public relation stuffs for the Student Representative Council, fostering effective internal and external communication.

Cross-functional Team LeadershipMedia RelationsEVENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATORPublic RelationsStrategic CommunicationsInternal Communications+4

Genting malaysia berhad

Casino Dealer

Jul 2022 – Sep 2022 · 2 mos · Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia · On-site

Facilitated table games, applying proficiency in mental arithmetic to ensure accurate transactions.
Delivered exceptional customer service through effective communication and assistance.

Attention to DetailCustomer ServiceGaming Industry ExperienceEnglishCasino operationCasino Gaming

Bursa young investor club - byic uum

3 roles

Head Of Multimedia Department

Nov 2021 – Nov 2022 · 1 yr

Spearheaded multimedia initiatives for the Bursa Young Investor Club, overseeing creative content and digital strategies.

Graphic DesignSocial Media CommunicationsLeadershipEVENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATORPublic RelationsPublicity+3

Executive Committee of Media and Publicity

Promoted

Nov 2021 – Nov 2022 · 1 yr

Played a crucial role in managing media relations and publicity for BYIC, contributing to its successful promotion.

LeadershipEVENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATORPublic RelationsSocial Media MarketingTeamworkEvent Management+3

Committee of Multimedia Department

Nov 2020 – Nov 2021 · 1 yr

Actively engaged in driving multimedia initiatives for the dynamic organisation. In this role, play a crucial role in leveraging multimedia tools and content to enhance the visibility and engagement of BYIC UUM.

Poster DesignVideo EditingImage EditingEvent PlanningTeamworkCollaborative Problem Solving+1

Genting malaysia berhad

Casino Dealer

Dec 2019 – Sep 2020 · 9 mos · Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia · On-site

Managed table games, showcasing adept mental arithmetic skills for precise handling of transactions. Maintained high-quality communication and service standards, ensuring a positive experience for customers.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)Operations ManagementCustomer ServiceTeamworkEnglishMental Arithmetic Skills