Cannes Lions From The Perspective Of Ad Ladies
After fresh faces and veterans from Cannes took over our Instagram stories last week, here’s what resonated the most, and what Cannes needs to work on.
What the most impactful thing you learned?
Senta Slingerland 🇧🇪🇬🇧 ‘See It, Be It’ founder and Glass Lion launcher:
Everything is always changing so it’s ok to put an idea out there which later seems relevant or naive. Your idea will have somehow helped us get to the right solution.
Jéssica Gomes 🇧🇷 Copywriter, Lapis Raro, Brazil: Resilience is more important than confidence. That took the weight off my back. The idea of being confident and extroverted all the time has always seemed like an impossible mission. Resilience as a more effective path to good leadership was a powerful shift. The key here is understanding that good and bad days are part of the process, so resilience to knowing how to deal with them is more important than confidence.
Shaunah Margaret 🇺🇸 Copywriter, Tribal NY: The “imposter syndrome” came up in a ton of conversations this week, from the participants in the #MoreLikeMe program, to one of the jury members. One of the judges shared with me that when he got the invitation to judge, he was thought, “Wait, do they have the right person?” And then later his fellow jurors shared the same sentiment, that they hadn’t known why they had been selected. What I got out of this, is that no matter what our internal dialogue is trying to tell us, we are all in exactly the right place, whether it’s in Cannes, on a yacht, on a jury, or on stage winning an award.
Laura Chiavone 🇧🇷 Chief Strategy Officer, Tribal NY: There is a battle between traditional minds and new ways of thinking. Both groups are made of powerful people, with one side struggling to keep things the way they are, while the leaders for change are making a difference. Cannes Lions clearly embraced the second group, which made a difference. Yay 💪🏼👏
What was your favorite event at Cannes?
Senta Slingerland:
I’m a sucker for the award shows — it’s like a really fun night at the cinema, watching fascinating documentaries, only with more spectacle, and seeing your friend pick up rewards for the work. That’s the best bit.
I loved Jaime Robinson at the ‘Who’s Your Next Boss’ session saying that for too long, we’ve been infantilising creatives. It was such a bold thing to say in that room and it will help us move forward to make the industry better and mature.
Shaunah Margaret:
My favorite event was getting to meet the HP execs and a few celebrity panelists on a yacht that was organized for our #MoreLikeMe program. Onboard was Westworld actress, Thandie Newton, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, model, Naomi Campbell, and Global CMO, Antonio Lucio. It was a really fun and inspiring way to kick off the week!
Alexandra Vaca 🇪🇨 ACD, CommonWealth // McCann, Ecuador:
My absolute favorite event was ‘See It, Be It.’ In a week that is all about competition, it’s refreshing to have a space that it’s all about nurturing. Thanks to Chloe Gottlieb and Madonna Badger, 20 lucky women, including me, were chosen to access special training and content designed to accelerate our careers and enjoy the festival in a different way.
Laura Chiavone:
The final ceremony, seeing amazing work and people being recognized for it. And great conversation about pursuing the work of our lives, diversity and social/cultural responsibility.
What was your most meaningful conversation?
Shaunah Margaret:
It was with Chloe Gottlieb, EVP, CCO at R/GA during a mentoring session. Our discussion went into the personal journey we’re all on, finding what lights you up and what is right for you at an agency (or wherever), and laying out your own path in front of you. Truthfully, I got a little emotional. It’s a heavy feeling to think that you are actually in control of your own future — if you just believe in yourself.
Senta Slingerland:
I talked to Tristan Harris’s about his work on helping people build more humane technology. He talked about how we can get humans un-addicted to their screens and everything on them and it made me look differently at our collective responsibility as content makers.
Jéssica Gomes:
Meeting Kat Gordon and Lisen Stromberg meant a lot for me: they’ve been my inspiration for some time, and talking to them renewed my strength to continue the work for diversity. And made see value in my time and watch for self care.
Alexandra Vaca:
Getting to meet Tea Uglow from Google was one of the highlights of the week. I’m blown away by her amazing career and personal story.
Laura Chiavone:
The conversations I had with the ladies of ‘See It, Be It’ during the mentorship session. Sally Alzaza from Syria working in Lebanon, Jéssica Gomes from Brazil, and Lauren Haberfield from Australia working in Paris.
Who’s the boss lady you’d love to have power cocktails with?
Jéssica Gomes:
The one and only, Chloe Gottlieb.
Laura Chiavone:
Colleen DeCourcy, no question.
Shauna Marget:
I loved meeting and hearing from God-Is Rivera. She really caught my attention with her authentic point of view, her positive vibes, and her willingness to share her personal stories with our group. I’d love to grab drinks with you if you’re reading!
Senta Slingerland:
There are so many — it was definitely the year of boss ladies, with juries 46% female and decent female representation on stage. It’s something Cannes have made a real point of making happen in a sustainable, thoughtful and authentic way. I loved seeing many of the ex-See It Be It participants from the last years and seeing how their careers have developed.
Alexandra Vaca:
My ‘See It, Be It’ partner, Jéssica Gomez. A 24-year-old Brazilian force that is going to change the world.
What is the awarded work you liked best?
Senta Slingerland:
‘It’s a Tide ad’ had been my favourite for Film Grand Prix and I was ecstatic that that came true. Also I love the Marmite ‘Gene Project’ which won in Creative Data. I love that last year’s ‘Boost Your Voice’ was awarded again in Creative Effectiveness. It’s still one of my favourite pieces from the last few years.
Jéssica Gomes:
Sindoor Khela (No Conditions Apply), from one of the most amazing woman I met this week, Gayatri Sriram.
Laura Chiavone:
Titanium Grand Prix: ‘Palau Pledge’ by Host/Havas Sydney for the Palau Legacy Project.
Shaunah Margaret:
There were SO many pieces of work that inspired me! The one I will share today won the Grand Prix for Single Country Creative Effectiveness, which was Savlon Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks. I think they took a genius approach infusing soap into chalk to help combat widespread disease in India.
What is the most underrated thing about Cannes?
Jéssica Gomes:
The power of chance. Unexpected connections and community building.
Senta Slingerland:
The access to people and to cultural insight. Because it all happens outside of the boardroom you can literally walk up to anyone, introduce yourself and ask a question. You’ve got 94 nationalities represented in a 2-mile radius and it really opens your eyes to new ways of doing thing, of being a leader and of the life you are able to lead.
Shaunah Margaret:
I learned that in Le Suquet, (the old quarter of Cannes) the streets are over 400 years old. I think it’s easy to forget about the history and culture of the city when it’s overrun by festivals and rosé.
Alexandra Vaca:
The terrace, beach and other side sessions. Less people, powerful content and with a view.
What can Cannes Lions do better?
Senta Slingerland:
I’d like to see more original ways of presenting content — I’m quite over the whole seminar and panel format.
Jéssica Gomes:
Honestly, I thought the whole experience was incredible. The one thing I’d love to see change for is a fairer Young Lions selection process in Brazil. All we we want is a blind review, and a more diverse jury, like in other countries—not choosing portfolios with names, genders and agencies attached to them—to avoid bias and break the circle of sameness.
Laura Chiavone:
Strategists need to be more involved on the juries, way beyond Creative Effectiveness. In an era where we must mash up creative, media and strategy all together, bringing in strategists is overdue. Also, the festival was shortened to 5 days and my FOMO seemed higher than ever. I’d love to have some curators help me through the choices for next year. Or, perhaps we manage to have 30-hour days during that week 😉
Shaunah Margaret:
One thing our group talked about a lot was wanting to see more diversity represented in terms of festival goers and award winners. I would recommend more programs like #MoreLikeMe aimed at diverse individuals, and junior and mid level creatives to get a glimpse of what’s ahead.
Alexandra Vaca:
I think they can work on having more latino women on juries and as speakers. As we know, representation is everything.
And thank you for sharing Instagram story takeovers this week!
Senta Slingerland
Laura Chiavone
Alexandra Vaca
Shaunah Margaret
Jéssica Gomes
Let’s redefine leadership with new role models.
WhereAreTheBossLadies.com
