Rizza is a Filipino creative leader and designer whose work has not only garnered industry recognition but has, more importantly, become part of the daily lives of Filipinos. From developing the branding of an entire country to turning everyday spaces into Pride walkways using augmented reality, Rizza's work has been inspired by the things that matter to her: simple joys like toys, zombies, pets, and pop culture and bigger issues like cultural identity, gender equality, and intersectional inclusivity.
From the original It's More Fun in the Philippines to the millions of beep™ transit cards that are now in the pockets of everyday Filipino commuters, Rizza's work has been pretty hard to miss. She started her career as a designer, rising through the ranks at BBDO Guerrero to become Head of Design, where she worked on international brands like Pepsi, FedEx, Anlene, Wrigley’s, J&J and local institutions like the Philippine Department of Tourism, Manila Water, BDO and SM. She continued her advertising career at Publicis JimenezBasic, working on leading local brands like Jollibee, LuckyMe!, Unilab and Purefoods and later explored the world of edtech at Edukasyon.ph. These experiences led her to become the creative head of Elesi Studios, and help develop impactful and culturally significant works for Jollibee, Chowking, Meta, CDO, Lazada, Globe and Planet Cora. She has also helped to build and launch homegrown brands like Vice Cosmetics and Bida Dishwashing Liquid.
In 2023, Rizza was honored as one of Campaign Asia Pacific's Women To Watch, in recognition of the leadership style that she has come to be known for--leading with care, empathy, and compassion.
After 18 years in the industry, Rizza has embarked on a new creative journey for social good, as a Co-Founder and the Executive Creative Director of Lennon Group. She is also the Founder and Design Chief of the design studio, Sgt. Pepper.
Serving as a mentor to the next generation of Filipino creatives and as the Coaching Director of DMAP's Digital Young Creators, Rizza leads workshops and programs to guide and nurture their talents and professional growth. This is nothing new to Rizza, who has built a career and reputation for uplifting others. And now, she looks to continue creating social good that will leave a lasting impact on the creative community and beyond.
