The Team

Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), Maura lived in Hong Kong from 2008-2023 and is now based in Singapore. Maura calls herself an accidental entrepreneur because when she co-founded Sassy in 2009 it started out as a hobby. Many years later it has grown to include 2 brands (Sassy and Sassy Mama) across multiple locations (Hong Kong and Singapore). She has loved seeing the brands grow over the years and is in awe of the impressive team who continue to inspire her with their hard work and creativity. Maura is a mom of 2 (in the tween/teen age range) and she loves her daily walks with her dog. As an aspiring surfer, she is ready to stop talking about a surf/yoga retreat and hopes that this is the year she finally books one.

Suchetana swapped a corporate career in India for lifestyle journalism in Hong Kong 9 years ago and hasn’t looked back since. With published work in major publications in Hong Kong and abroad, she is always on the lookout for the next untold story. She loves reading as much as she does writing and can often be found engrossed in her Kindle on the MTR or a cafe.

After living in seven different cities, Anna recently returned to the 852 and is reacquainting herself with the city’s ever-changing neighbourhoods. She is especially passionate about sexual health and politics, and is enjoying exploring Hong Kong’s burgeoning queer scene.

After moving to the 852 three years ago from the UK, Jessica has been on a quest to discover the city through her own lens and can often be found hunting down the best oat milk matcha lattes and streetwear gems. Having lived in multiple countries, she enjoys the luxury of spending time with her family in Hong Kong. She’s also extraordinarily gifted at spending her paycheck on skincare and makeup, as well as watching YouTube and documentaries until the early hours of the morning.

Veena was born and raised in Hong Kong and (after IB in Thailand and Uni in the UK) has now returned after 10 years abroad. While she reacquaints herself with the city, you’ll find her scouring the streets searching for affordable sushi and cafes serving Oat Milk Mochas, scribbling down random pieces of poetry, binge-watching tv shows like she has nothing better to do and discovering all the ways HK has changed in the last decade.

Elly was born and raised in China, and she’s a huge fan of pandas. She can spend an entire day watching videos of pandas eating bamboo. She moved to Hong Kong in 2013 and enjoys eating dim sum and taking in the gorgeous harbour views.

Born and raised in 852, Grace is a creative soul with a passion for art, fashion and hunting for some good coffee! She expresses herself through painting and photography, always appreciating beauty in her surroundings. During her free time, she enjoys reading with a cup of coffee in hand.

Ira is originally from the Philippines, but is a Hong Kong Mom at heart! She moved for work with a single luggage and stayed for more than 14 years and had her family here. Her background is in design, used to work as a designer, became a stay at home mom and now found her way to Team Sassy. When she’s not emailing partners for briefs and previews, she’s either creating a DIY project, checking out activities in HK with her kids or organizing playdates and parties!

Born and raised in the UK, Emily moved to Hong Kong in 2011 in a quest to learn more about her roots and heritage. She loves to cook and can often be found in her local wet markets seeking out fresh produce for her culinary creations. When not obsessing about her next meal, she enjoys hiking, board games and finding new ways to burn calories. Emily focuses on partnerships with Sassy.

With roots in the Philippines and the UK, Sarah proudly calls 852 home. Her career has been a journey of curiosity, from e-commerce start-ups to the fast-paced world of insurance, before finding her perfect fit at Sassy. When not working, you’ll likely catch her exploring Hong Kong’s best eats, hiking its scenic trails or daydreaming about her next holiday.