Andrea P.

Strategic Brand Designer | Fashion Brand Owner + Creative Director | Podcaster

I spend my days as the brand designer at a startup where I conceptualize ideas and create designs that push the brand forward.

After hours:

🍏 I'm building Andrea Pascual (my fashion brand), where I focus on limited-quantity, superb quality accessories and leather goods

🍏 I'm creator and host of my podcast, Sushi Fridays, where I share stories about style, culture, biz, and design from the POV of creative entrepreneurs

🍏 I work with community-first brands to design their strategic visual identities

Send me a message to get in touch.

Founder & Strategic Brand Designer

Say “Cool Eye” out loud and it sounds like “Kulay” — the Filipino word for “colour.”  Our studio is named Cool Eye because we dream in colour, we design in colour, and we work with diverse entrepreneurs.

Notable clients:
☀️ Bank of Montreal for Elevate Festival
☀️ M&A Ventures Group
☀️ Untapped Investing
☀️ New Money Social Club
☀️ Resume By Nico

Tools:
📱 Illustrator
📱 Photoshop
📱 InDesign
📱 Lightroom
📱 Figma
📱 ConvertKit
📱 Notion
📱 Procreate
📱 Squarespace
📱 Instagram
📱 TikTok
📱 LinkedIn

I’m a designer who spent countless hours using MidJourney to generate imagery in 2025.

It was the way things were done where I was. I’m not proud of the process, but I did learn a lot.

My thoughts:

🚫 You’ll never be 100% happy with the outcome. That’s because you can’t fully control it. The results are always a compromise of what you really want.
 
🚫 MidJourney doesn’t necessarily make the creative process faster. You’ll keep prompting for the changes you want (i.e. darker hair, warmer sunlight, make the object on a 45-degree angle, etc.), and the constant prompting takes time. Not sure if all the time it takes to prompt to get a meh outcome is worth it. 

🚫 Don’t get me started on people imagery.

🚫 Make the creative process make sense! If the AI-generated creative is pushed through million-dollar performance and out-of-home budgets, but the work can be 100000% better/richer/deeper with a stacked and skilled creative team instead…what is the point of using AI???!!!

🚫 The ethical implications and environmental impact still exist. I'll save that for another convo.

Designers, does AI exist in your visual/creative process? Hit me up with your thoughts below. 👇

---
Postscript, hours after I wrote this post:
I thought about it a lot more, and I understand and can get behind AI as a tool for concept and ideation. I can't, however, be happy and content with its direct outputs as final creative, especially when I know the generated imagery is just "good enough" and not what I intended the finished creative to be. I guess it also depends on what the creative is for, how "big" the project is, what the budget and team looks like, and how the creative will be used...still a lot for me to think about...

Andrea Pascual

Brand Designer, Cool Eye ⭐️ Owner & Creative Director, Andrea Pascual Fashion Brand ⭐️ Creator & Host, Sushi Fridays The Podcast

It's 2026 and I'm re-aligning my network and community.

This year, I want to especially connect with:

🌟 Women creative entrepreneurs ages 35+ who are specifically transitioning out of their 9-5s to build their own empires

🌟 Canadian fashion designers and business owners who can speak to community, marketing, money, and supply chain

🌟 Creative entrepreneurs/storytellers building their own communities and indie media brands

🌟 Women investors working towards their FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) goals

🌟 Luxury hospitality brands whose focus is sustainability, community, and guest experience

🙂 Connect with me if this is you.

By the end of 2026, I will have:

✅  Re-launched Sushi Fridays The Podcast
✅  Secured a retail partner for ANDREA PASCUAL
✅  Hosted a creative salon (or better yet, a retreat) led by Cool Eye Creative
✅ Launched the projects I cannot yet talk about 

😜 Just leaving this here so I can screenshot it now and share it in 365 days. 

Happy new year, LinkedIn friends. Let's get it!

I joined a panel convo with Shivani Persad 👩🏽‍💻 and Dominic Ayre RGD (he/him) a couple months back in Daniel Francavilla’s Future Brand Perspectives class at GBC.

Daniel does a great job of introducing various industry friends (and their perspectives) to his students. It makes me happy to know I've shared knowledge with those students who were me many years ago. 😊

I learned a lot from both Shivani and Dominic, and it furthers my stance that there's a need for industry discussions with creative friends of all niches (fashion, design, art, etc.) in Toronto. It would help fill gaps and strengthen our community.

I appreciate being a part of these group discussions, wherever they're held. (Thanks for the invite, Daniel!)

I can't wait to be more present for myself and my creative community in this way in the new year.

My biggest achievement in 2025 was dodging burnout.

YAY, me.

It was hard for me to recognize it at first, because corporate job or not, I've forever been building in alpha overdrive.

But not like this. 

My own projects, brands, and lifestyle slipped away in place of corp work that took over my outside time, mind, and health.

Not worth it. Especially when I've already poured years into my after-work goals, and health and clarity are my non-negotiables.

The burnout cord has been cut, and I'm already more present and aligned as I dance into 2026. 🌟😁

Carte Blanche Careers

"I recently worked with Joa who was awesome! My updated resume better reflected my professional experience and I learned resume writing tips that will stick with me. If you need help with your professional goals I would highly recommend this team of experts!"

Career pivot. Career expansion. Professional development.

Carte Blanche Careers offers comprehensive career services. We offer tailored services for resumes and LinkedIn presence, along with professional goal-setting and strategy and our most popular option:
Quarterly Career Support. 

You can also find workshops for tangible job search skills and negotiation tactics. Come find the support and community connections you need to live your best professional life!

✅ Resumes
✅ CVs
✅ Cover Letters
✅ Networking
✅ LinkedIn Profiles
✅ Interview Skills
✅ Salary Negotiation
✅ Professional Development
✅ Career Pivots

"I’m so happy [in my new job]. It was the fastest job posting, interview, acceptance process I’ve ever been through. But here I am and happy to be here and so thankful for your help getting here."

#chooseyourowncareeradventure

Career Strategist • CEO

JEM Achievement

"Joa got to know me not just as an applicant, but as a person. This allowed her to provide helpful suggestions not only about how to write my essays but how to tackle the application as a whole. She was also able to give me advice to combat anxiety and burnout as she learned that these are things I struggle with. I gained a lot of confidence through this process as Joa really helped me to highlight the unique and impressive aspects of my story, and I was far more confident both in my application and in my achievements as a result."

At JEM Achievement, we empower great people to do even greater things. From career coaching, to admissions consulting, to test preparation, we offer a full complement of services designed to help you find exactly what you were meant to do -- and achieve success doing it!

JEM offers personalized admissions consulting for MBA, MA/MS and PhD programs at hourly and package rates. We also offer GRE and GMAT instruction to students embarking on the graduate school admissions process. Our a la carte admissions services include CV revision, personal statement brainstorming and editing, and mock interviews for graduate school and business school.

"Joa is one of the most patient and brightest teachers I've ever met. Most of the time when you meet someone as smart as her, they have a hard time connecting. She not only made me feel comfortable and at ease during our sessions, but she did an amazing job putting things into layman terms for me. The hardest part of the GMAT is getting over the intimidation factor and realizing that you have the necessary tools to do well. She does a great job helping you tap into that and building up your confidence."

Personalized attention is what sets JEM apart -- you're not just a number, you're someone we want to know!  We emphasize the power of networking and work to connect our alumni to each other to build a global community.  Let's make it happen together!

Co-Founder • Managing Member

Creative Startups

Educator, Accelerator Cohort

Self-Employed

"My biggest takeaway from my time with Joa is one word----confidence. She taught me with confidence and belief in myself, I can achieve my goals. Even after our GRE Prep time together, I reached back out to Joa for resume revision and application essay editing. She revised and edited in a very timely manner and really helped me during my application process. Joa does it all and she’s amazing!”

Edited professional scientific manuscripts, grant applications for PhD level scientific research, literary works for editing companies, and college/graduate school application materials.

Taught essay writing skills explicitly for personal statements for job and educational attainment, resulting in successful career changes and acceptance at top universities.

Performed work in an accurate and prompt manner.

Maintained professional relationships with multiple clients for ongoing work.

Excelled at working with clients who were not native English speakers.

“Joa knows the GMAT material better than anyone I've ever met. She also completely understands the graduate school application process, what the schools are looking for, and is always completely supportive. I've experienced many different tutors, but Joa is by far the best. I would highly recommend her to anyone.”

Independent Writing And Editing Professional

Self Employed

“Joa is FANTASTIC! I was working full time in Indianapolis and studying for the GRE whenever I had time. Joa specifically helped me to reach my test score goals and pushed me in a good way. Highly recommend.”

Coached students in preparation of application materials for college, university, and graduate school. Conducted interview skills training and performed mock interviews.

Provided students with academic subject tutoring (including math, reading, and writing) as well as SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GMAT, and GRE preparation.

Taught in multiple formats, including in person as well as online.

Excelled at working with students who were not native English speakers.

“I took the GMAT in Miami last year without much prep and got a good score but not good enough for any sort of scholarships. I was home in Miami for the summer and decided to retake the GMAT, but this time with the help of tutoring. I decided to go with Joa and I couldn't be happier with my decision. She really focused on understanding material and not just memorizing gimmicks, which most services pride themselves on. With Joa's help I was able to raise my score from a 700 to a 770 in just 12-hours of sessions over a 1 month period.”

Professional Development Coach

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network

As a clinician at Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, I worked on both the Mobile Crisis Intervention team as well as the In Home Therapy team.  

My responsibilities included:

• providing individual and family therapy to clients with diagnoses including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, and attention deficit disorder; 
• completing full psycho-social assessments, diagnoses, and treatment planning for clients; 
• providing acute crisis intervention, including diagnosis and safety planning, and facilitating service referrals and hospitalization when necessary for clients, ages 5–21;  
• collaborating with families, school counselors, psychiatrists, and other service agencies to provide case management and care for clients; 
• designing, implementing, and co-facilitating therapeutic art group for teen girls; 
• leading trainings for staff on topics of therapeutic techniques, complex diagnosis; 
• complying with all agency standards for clinical documentation and paperwork;  
• presenting cases for staff consultation; attended weekly supervision and staff meetings.

Clinician

As a Clinical Intern at Wayside Multi Service Center, my responsibilities included:

• providing school-based individual psychotherapy to students in middle school and high school; 
• co-facilitating weekly therapeutic groups for middle school girls; 
• collaborating with parents, school counselors, and other service agencies to provide case management and care for clients; 
• designing and implementing programming for a weekly after-school enrichment program with a community organizing component; 
• co-facilitating a peer leadership program under a substance abuse prevention grant as well as a therapeutic after-school program within the Boys & Girls Club; 
• complying with all agency standards and requirements regarding clinical documentation and paperwork; 
• presenting cases for staff consultation; 
• attending weekly supervision and staff meetings.

Clinical Intern

Wellesley College

As Research Coordinator at Wellesley College, I facilitated research within the department, including:

• managing the student subject pool for departmental research; 
• assisting faculty and students with research needs; 
• presenting research tutorials to psychology classes;
• maintaining departmental tests and measures and assisting with use.

Research Coordinator

“Joa was such an incredible help to me as I worked to get my resume spruced up and ready to re-enter the job market last year. Getting started with the process felt completely overwhelming and Joa helped me get unstuck with her kindness and patience. She then took my clunky, imperfect writing and made it sound professional and eloquent. She even helped me tailor my resume to match the specifications of different positions I was applying for, and one of those positions is now my full time job.”

As a multi-passionate individual who has lived in 3 states and 3 countries over the past 8 years, Joa Ahern-Seronde knows about weaving a career tapestry.

She brings her training in Counseling Psychology and her experience as an Admissions Consultant and Career Advisor together to provide expert guidance and exceptional growth opportunities for her clients. 

Favorite part of her work: witnessing the transformation of her clients as they embark on their own brave journeys.

Personal career goal: to contribute to a global community that is passionate about empowering people to succeed through the strength of connection.

International work experience: Germany, Canada, USA

International clientele: North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia

Strong record of success: 
• resume and CV creation and renovation
• cover letter strategy
• interview skill building
• personal statements and statements of purpose
• selection of recommenders
• holistic approach for both employment and graduate admissions

Knowledgeable about challenges facing young people and the skills needed to address those challenges, and excellent at helping people articulate their strengths to leverage acceptance in their graduate programs and professions of choice.

“When an executive job opportunity presented itself unexpectedly, I had to dust off a resume that was years old and somehow make it sparkle. Joa did an AMAZING job turning my humdrum resume into a real work of art. She truly capitalized on my strengths and skills and developed an entire talent section that blew me away. Her attention to detail – from content to font is impeccable. Joa is truly, 100% dedicated to the success of others. Holy smoke – if I’d had Joa’s assistance earlier on I know my career path would have accelerated through the roof.”

taplio

The Battle

Andrea P.

Joa Ahern-Seronde

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreAndrea P.'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Andrea P.

Joa Ahern-Seronde

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Andrea P.'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreAndrea P.'s LinkedIn Performance