Joyce Placino-Buhain

Senior Strategist - Weber Shandwick Korea

Joyce is a journalist-turned-PR practitioner, working in PR for the last 15 years. Her love for storytelling began starting out as a PR writer and moving up the ranks to being an Associate PR Director, even doing bits of event hosting for her clients. She is currently the Lead Strategist for the Korea office.

Joyce Placino-Buhain

Senior Strategist - Weber Shandwick Korea

When did you start working
at Weber Shandwick?

It’s been over a year since I joined Weber Shandwick Korea.
After spending some time being an in-house creative strategist,
I realized I missed the dynamism of PR agency life, and now I
couldn’t be happier to be back.

In five words or less, how would you describe your
Weber Shandwick colleagues?

Amazing mix of talent and personalities.

What’s something surprising people might not know
about you?

I am into TTRPG (tabletop role playing game) and I regularly
play Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve been doing a campaign with
the same party for 6 or 7 years now, despite me relocating to
another country. I’ve also been a Dungeon Master for a one-off.

If you weren’t working in this industry, what would you want
to do?

I’d be a florist or an event planner. Maybe more of the latter,
because it brings me so much joy to come up with event concepts
and make them materialize just how I envisioned them.

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever gotten?

You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room. It’s more
important to know when to speak.

Who is someone that inspires you right now?

I look up to a lot of amazing people, but someone who constantly
inspires me is my husband. He’s always been an inspiration to
be better as a person and as a creative communicator in the field.
His relentless pursuit of knowledge and honing his skills challenges
me to reach the same level and state of mind.

What’s your favorite thing about Seoul?

My favorite thing about Seoul is how it empowers you to discover
who you are and what you can be. The city is filled with spaces
that cater to every possible passion or curiosity.

What’s your favorite way to unwind in your free time?

I take advantage of the many, many green spaces in Seoul on
a good weather day. Pack a snack and a to-go coffee, find a spot
with shade, and just sit there with my dog, maybe read a book.
Basically, use it as time to get my mind off the adrenaline of
agency work and give my brain and body a bit of rest.

What is your most-used app on your phone?

Definitely, TikTok. I’m so chronically online and TikTok is a
huge part of that. I get lost in that app for hours.

Where would you love to travel in the world to gain inspiration?

Right now, Copenhagen is top of mind. TikTok keeps flooding
my algorithm with everything about the city, so I’d love to visit and
experience it for myself.

“Trust the timing of your life.”

Joyce Placino-Buhain

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Joyce Placino-Buhain

Senior Strategist - Weber Shandwick Korea

Joyce Placino-Buhain

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