We all take different paths into adulthood. Some students step into their careers only after graduation, others pause to recalibrate, and a few begin building their futures long before university ends. Audrey Sin belongs to the latter. At just 23, the young entrepreneur is already fluent in the language of work, a skill she learned not from textbooks but from tape, boxes, and the steady rhythm of helping hands. At four years old, she was assisting her mother in packaging shoes, quietly absorbing lessons about effort, timing, and opportunity that would later shape her first business venture, the bag brand Neeley.

Audrey graduated on Nov. 20, 2025 with a degree in Marketing Management from De La Salle University. By the time she walked across the stage, she was no longer just a student. She was already a brand builder who launched a leather bag label, ran pop-up stalls, and organized photoshoots, all while finishing her thesis.

“I think subconsciously, I was always looking for opportunities,” Audrey tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “When I noticed people around me had a problem, my instinct was to find a solution that created value. It also made me appreciate efficiency.”

That mindset came into play during a trip abroad that took place between her thesis defense and graduation. By chance, she discovered a bag brand that immediately caught her attention. The designs were modern yet classic, made from authentic cowhide leather, and priced far lower than most bags with similar quality. At the same time, Audrey was keenly aware that the Philippine bag market was growing, with handbags becoming more popular among young consumers.

“I knew at a glance that their products would definitely be a hit in the Philippine market,” she recalls. The timing, however, was intimidating. She had not yet graduated, and the idea of launching a business so quickly felt overwhelming. It was her mother who urged her to move fast. “If I didn’t act then, someone might beat me to it,” she says. With encouragement from family and friends, she launched Neeley just before the holiday season.

Neeley was built on a simple but intentional belief. The bags we carry every day should feel like companions. Audrey wanted pieces that were not only durable but also pleasurable to use. Despite being made of quality materials, the bags are priced from P1,950 to P2,900.

“Usually this quality can only be found in high-end brands,” she explains. “But because of Neeley’s low price point, it allows more people to have access to high quality goods for an affordable cost.”

Beyond materials and pricing, Audrey framed Neeley around emotional connection. She speaks about bags the way people speak about trusted objects that witness daily life. “Unlike clothes that you change out of everyday, bags are something you reuse and reuse,” she says. “Your bag is essentially always with you during major life events. With this in mind, I had the idea that bags can be a dependable companion.”

Building Neeley while still a student was not without strain. She balanced academic requirements, responsibilities in the family business, and the demands of a growing brand. There were moments when everything felt due at once.

“I had to come to terms that real life is exactly like this,” she says. “It’s either I ride the wave or drown.”

Outside of business, Audrey is also deeply creative. She has been playing the piano since age seven and even joined an international piano event. She paints using both physical and digital medium, and her work has been exhibited at Ayala Museum. As an only child, she says she draws inspiration from her close-knit circle of cousins, all of whom share a hardworking and business-minded spirit.

Looking ahead, Audrey hopes Neeley carries a message that resonates with young people finding their way. “Young people are fully capable of achieving what they set out for,” she says. “But it’s a lot easier when you have a loyal companion by your side.”

In that sense, Neeley is more than a bag brand. It is a reflection of a young founder who moved quickly when opportunity appeared, trusted her instincts, and chose to build something meant to last, both in form and in feeling.