LIA President, Barbara Levy Interviews 2023 Creative LIAisons attendees about what their expectations were when they came into the program and what they took away from the program.
Cece Chu, Senior Creative, Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand, Auckland, Zein Sa’dedin, Copywriter, SERVICEPLAN Middle East, Dubai, Amy Bland, Creative Middle Weight / Art Director, FCB London and Mailaika Menon, Senior Account Manager, Impact BBDO, Dubai shared their experience and take-aways from Creative LIAisons.
The Creative LIAisons onsite program, funded by LIA, welcomed 120 emerging talents from around the globe to Las Vegas from 8th through 11th October for this educational networking and training program running concurrently with LIA judging.
The program is held annually and there are no delegate fees. LIA covers flights, hotel accommodations, as well as some meals for all attendees.
Creative LIAisons features speaker sessions, panel discussions, an interactive workshop and the unique opportunity for attendees to sit in the jury room and observe statue discussions as they occur in real-time.
In addition to the above, LIA hosts a networking party for all LIA Jurors, Creative LIAisons attendees, Speakers, Press and Creative Excellence Managers who are in attendace. This is a great opportunity for LIAisons attendees to meet, mingle and have one-to-one conversations with industry leaders from around the world, learning from top level creatives, as well as each other.
LIA created the exclusive and sought after Creative LIAisons program in 2012 as a way of giving back to the industry that supports us.
This program is designed as a global coaching initiative to develop, educate, inspire and nurture emerging talent, empowering them with key skills for a purpose-driven future. The goal is to give emerging talent from around the globe, access to learn from the most experienced and awarded people working in our industry. This game-changing training academy is a powerful springboard for the current and next generation of rising talent.
REFLECTIONS FROM CREATIVE LIAISONS
XIN (HARRY) CHEN
GROUP PLANNING DIRECTOR
BBDO SHANGHAI
The opportunity to meet creatives from around the world, work together, laugh together, and make friends is simply priceless.
TARAHGEE MORRIS BROWN
COPYWRITER
APPLE
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA
Learning from young and executive industry professionals and peers from all walks of the world, while expanding my worldview over this past week has been inspirational. It’s a privilege. One that I will cherish everywhere I venture.
PAULINE GAUDIN
ART DIRECTOR
HAVAS PLAY
PARIS
We had four intense days of talks, a workshop, jury room observation and expert panels on inspirational and meaningful subjects, all parts of our creative field, that enabled us to think about the future of our careers and roles in this big industry that is Advertising.
The Speakers did a great job in humbling us, as well as inspiring us with their work and expertise. It was a blast to be able to talk to them after each speech.
LONDON CHOI, SENIOR COPYWRITER AND DANIELLE ZABLOCKI, SENIOR ART DIRECTOR, LEO BURNETT, TORONTO
We wanted to thank you for the great experience we had at the LIAs last week. It’s a game changer being able to sit in on the jury and listen to how work gets critiqued. We learned so much from this experience and left inspired to make great work.
The biggest lesson we’re taking home with us is this industry is great. Not just for the work that it creates, but for the minds behind it. After sitting through different speakers, it goes to show you that there are so many different ways of attaining success. There’s no single path or recipe. It’s about discovering who you are as a creative, but most importantly as a person. This week gave us lots of time to reflect on the kind of creatives we want to be. And as the industry rests on the cusp of change driven by AI, we need more people that can be open with their humanity.
We need more mentorship programs like this in the world of advertising, and we were very grateful to be part of it.