Yanni is the Editor-in-Chief of Prestige Singapore. She currently oversees both the print and digital editions of Prestige Singapore magazine, and has a keen interest in luxury lifestyle, environmental conservation, private wealth and corporate leadership.
Can you tell us about your career journey at BurdaLuxury?
I joined Prestige Singapore in Sep 2019 just before the pandemic struck. The journey has certainly been a ride! From settling in to steering my team through the pandemic and re-evaluating our editorial strategies right up to Singapore's reopening in late 2021, it has been a challenging but exciting experience to say the least.
What’s the most exciting part of your job?
In the later part of my career, I specialised in luxury jewellery and watches. I never fail to be in awe of the level of creativity and innovation in that sphere, and I'm always eagerly awaiting the new launches.
What’s something you’re proud of?
Building a supportive, close-knit team has always been very important to me. Mentorship and succession planning, too. I had a great mentor early in my career, and I'm proud to be involved in training the next generation of journalists.
What inspired you to work in publishing/media?
I was a communications undergrad specialising in PR and marcomms when I secured a six-month internship at The Straits Times as part of my final-year course requirements. I started out as a rookie in the crime beat, and rejoined Singapore Press Holdings upon graduation to cover education and general community news. I enjoyed the thrill of working in the newsroom, but you could say I somewhat fell into publishing.
What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?
I travel a lot with my husband, and so far, my favourite is Hawaii. We love road trips, sand and sea, good food, tropical weather and scuba diving. Driving over the spine of Big Island is like traversing a lunar landscape! It has wonderful beaches, and an amazing volcano park. Maui is more touristy and glitzy but there are plenty of hidden gems (we once drove past a cowboy herding cattle, and discovered several historic landmarks and shops opened by early Chinese immigrants). The best papaya in the world comes from Molokai, and the best meal I've ever had was at Beverly Gannon's Hali'imaile General Store on Maui. There's so much more to see and experience there, and I cannot wait to return during the whale shark season, and also to finally see a monk seal that I'd missed during my last dive there.
Who had the most influence on you growing up?
Growing up, I devoured piles and piles of National Geographic. I didn't have the opportunity to travel widely, so I discovered the world through the eyes of the experts. I have the utmost respect for archaeologists, anthropologists, scientists and adventurers.
Join us at BurdaLuxury!
