Through the Creative LIAisons mentoring program, I had the privilege of meeting two remarkable young career women. Despite the challenges posed by the current economic climate and industry landscape, they both exhibit unwavering determination and maintain a positive outlook on their future prospects. Here are their inspiring journeys:
Rhea Ahjua’s Career Path: From Young Entrepreneur to Creative Leader
Now an Associate Creative Director at Dentsu, Rhea has experienced both early successes and setbacks. She started her own agency with a strong client base and a dedicated team of creatives, but the pandemic forced her to close the business. This experience taught her invaluable lessons in leadership, resilience and the importance of mentorship. As she contemplates her career path, Rhea is considering how different roles and challenges could shape her future, especially in a tough economy.
Kennedy Choi’s Career Path: Crafting Her Future in Creative Advertising
An Art Director at Rethink, Kennedy has spent the past few years building an impressive portfolio across multiple categories. Working in an independent agency with offices in Vancouver, Toronto and New York, she has gained valuable experience with good clients. Now, after five years in the industry, she is ready to shape her next steps by actively seeking projects that challenge her creatively and expand her skill set. She hopes to participate in industry conferences and serve as a juror for award shows, allowing her to network with other creative professionals and position herself as a leader in the creative landscape.
2024 Coach Lulu Lu, CCO, VML Taiwan
From different countries, but with the same passion.
Before the one-to-one meetings with my mentees, I asked them to give me questions first. The three of them all had the same questions, ‘How can they advance to the next stage in their current positions?’ They are passionate about advertising and have considerable confidence in themselves. I gave different suggestions based on each person’s needs.
Arundhati Singh, Copywriter, FCB India
Preet Kaur, Senior Copywriter, McCann Worldgroup, Singapore
Both of them are copywriters with positive ambitions. If your goal is to be a creative director, you must break the box. You cannot limit yourself to the box of copywriting. You need to enhance the artistic field, as well as, strategic communication, etc., because creativity is not only in copywriting. You should think of yourself as a creative chef, because all chef’s materials are the same. If you want to make your ideas more profound, you must add some new elements to them. I sincerely wish that they reach the next level quickly.
Lynna Osalan, Graphic Designer, Edelman
She is a designer, and I told her to keep pace with the times. I provided some AI tools that could help her become more complete and sharper in her art field.
I really like this sharing, which allows me to dedicate some of my own strength to help younger generations, fill advertising with energy, and let this power make the world a better place. If there is still a chance, I will be happy to continue doing it.
