An interior designer by profession and creative entrepreneur by passion, Maja Olivares-Co transcends mere spatial transformation to create immersive experiences.

As the recipient of numerous international and local accolades, she leads the design consultancy firm SSOa (Sonia Santiago Olivares and Associates), a pioneering force in Philippine interior design.

Maja’s cultural passion extends well beyond the boardroom and drawing board. In 2009, she became a Founding Board Member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux Manila, a society of Bordeaux enthusiasts dedicated to fostering appreciation of Bordeaux wine through the Philippines.

A steadfast advocate for community engagement and service, Maja serves as a Founding Trustee & Executive Director of the Young Musicians Development Organization (YMDO), a 21-year-old non-profit supporting the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band (PYSB), which provides livelihood opportunities through music.

Her vision for urban renewal manifested in the P75-million Paco Market rehabilitation project. Partnering with the ABS-CBN Foundation, she transformed the century-old public market
into a vibrant commercial and cultural hub.

In 2021, Maja launched the Amanpulo Culinary Weekend series.  As a longtime patron of Aman, her brainchild has flourished, now celebrating its sixth iteration in 2025, Her dedication to the Aman experience has earned her the distinction of becoming an Amanpulo and Aman Ambassador.

More recently, her involvement with CareTech Health (Carespan Asia), a social enterprise, aims to
revolutionize healthcare access for millions of underserved Filipinos by creating well-designed clinics.

At her core, Maja is a storyteller who finds joy in both experiencing and sharing life’s richness.   For over a decade, she has authored the esteemed Best of Class column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and continues to contribute her insight to Tatler Philippines as well.