I help brands connect with people in ways that shift attitudes, behaviours and habits.

How I do it

I oversee the full strategy cycle, from brief development and stakeholder workshops to campaign development, testing, and implementation.

Seeing the world through the eyes of the customer.

I combine behavioural psychology, qualitative research, social listening, and performance metrics to build a precise picture of who I'm targeting and what actually drives their decisions.
I make sure every creative decision is traceable back to an insight rather than a boardroom hypothesis.

Diagnosing the business problem before solving the creative one.

Before I touch a brief, I map the competitive landscape, audit category perception, and understand where the brand sits in the market and why. I make sure I know how the work connects to the broader business strategy โ€” whether that's driving acquisition, shifting brand perception, defending market share, or launching into a new segment.

Treating creative strategy like behavioural science.

I approach briefs the way a performance marketer approaches a testing roadmap โ€” with a clear hypothesis, defined variables, and a plan for what success looks like before anything goes into production.

A bit about me

I sit at the intersection of culture, data, and psychology โ€” using that perspective to understand not just what people do, but why they do it.

At the core of my work is a focus on human behaviour: the motivations behind decisions, biases, heuristics and the often-overlooked gap between what people say and what they actually do.

Over the past decade, Iโ€™ve worked across marketing, product, and strategy, helping teams move beyond surface-level insights to develop a deeper, more nuanced understanding of their customers โ€” and translate that into more meaningful, relevant experiences.

By uncovering the cultural, commercial, and psychological dynamics behind my clientsโ€™ challenges, I bring clarity to complex challenges โ€” helping answer two fundamental questions:

Who are we really for, and what can we say that drives measurable impact?

Previous clients included

What Iโ€™ve been up to recently.*

Studied cognitive and behavioural aspects of consumer behaviour, focusing on sustainability.

Helped reposition the leading AI-first website builder on WordPress.

Helped a multinational brand find their angle on the next generation of kids.

Worked with a tech retail company to launch the biggest tech flagship in their country.

Imagined new viral soft drinks for young audiences in the US for a multinational beverage corporation.

Helped a multinational beverage company create their first retail touchpoint.

  • Aizhan joined the D&P Strategy and Transformation team to support on a key consumer insights research study for a global client, and further supported in the translation of the findings into some actionable strategies and bold ideas. Aizhan is a deep thinker, a creative ideator, and a confident, articulate and energised communicator.

    โ€” Paul West, Director of Transformation, Dalziel & Pow

  • I hired Aizhan as a Senior Strategist at forpeople in 2023. Though her time with us was short, she made a big impact. We worked together across a number of projects, spanning brand strategy, visual identity and innovation. โ€จShe approached every project with a diligent and thorough attitude, always striving for a strong strategic rigour. And she was a thoughtful and confident voice in the room, always ready to bring her informed point of view. I believe she will be an additive and positive force to any project or team.

    โ€” Alex Roadnight,โ€จAssociate Director,โ€จforpeople

  • I was lucky to work with Aizhan twice. First time as a head of design and the second time as a client. Aizhan always goes beyond the brief and the expectations, expanding the potential of any project. It's not a surprise that I couldn't find a better strategist to work on my business brand.

If youโ€™d like to work with me, or just want to say hi, feel free to drop me an email at
aabd.design@gmail.com