The Cannes Experience
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity.
Experiencing the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity as a college student has provided me with insights into the advertising industry far beyond what I could have learned in a classroom. Attending the festival broadened my horizons and showed me the endless possibilities in the Advertising field. This experience taught me the value of being unique and true to myself in my professional journey. Witnessing the award winners each night fueled my ambition to one day walk across the stage with my own accomplishments. This course is undoubtedly the most exceptional I’ve taken at UM. The experiences and memories shared with my classmates will always be cherished!
Monday June 17th
Championing Online Safety for Girls
In this panel, actor and activist Sophia Bush and US Principal of Deloitte LLP, Emily Mossburg, came together to talk about the fight for a more inclusive and protected digital environment. Online safety is a critical issue, with girls facing unique challenges in the digital world. My biggest takeaway from this talk was that empowering girls to navigate the online world with confidence is key!
Now Trending #Authenticity
At Amazon and listened to Alix Earle and Marianna Hewitt, Co-founder of Summer Fridays, discuss what it means to be truly authentic. They noted the difference between organic posts vs. paid advertising and how posting organic content is crucial to build brand relationships. They discussed certain amazon products and what influenced them to buy it. They also talked about different ways to promote certain types of products such as mentioning them through TikTok videos, through instagram and what the best ways are to get people to buy the products they promote.
Class Meeting with Alex Earle
Our class had the incredible opportunity to meet with Alix Earle (face to face!) and ask her any questions we had. We discussed her time as a marketing student at the University of Miami, what advice she has for us as we embark on our careers, and some of her favorite memories from her time at the U! Alix told us to enjoy every last second of college because before you know it it's time to be an adult!
Project Management Talk @ Cannes School
PMI showcased to us how their professional project skills empower creative leaders for future success. What excited me most was seeing how PMI's approach could transform creative processes, making them more efficient and impactful. It was fascinating to learn firsthand how project management principles can shape the future of creativity, ensuring projects not only flourish creatively but also achieve lasting impact.
The Reinvention of Media
and Entertainment
In this panel with PwC, they emphasized that a great media experience hinges on focusing on the customer’s personal journey. They described key metrics that attract new audiences through simple elements like fun, humor, and enlightenment. I was fascinated by a professional from Amazon describing new technologies, such as "shop to show," which allows quick shopping from TV, and even surpasses QR codes. They also addressed generational habits, mentioningf that Gen Z is attentive and demands relevant content.
Tuesday June 18th
Going For Gold
In this panel, I heard from Marcel Marcondes, Global Chief Marketing Officer of AB InBev, on what it takes to create a culture of sustainable growth and build powerful, effective brands for the long term. Marcondes’s talk "Going for Gold" doesn't just refer to the fact that beer is liquid gold. Marcondes cleverly presented the Olympic sponsorship with Corona Zero (alcohol-free beer), and depicts "Going for Gold" as a competitive incentive, because Marcondes leaves no doubt that growth and profit must be the end result of any advertisers’ work.
Olympic Torch
We had had the once in a lifetime opportunity to watch the Olympic Flame travel through the Croisette in honor of the 2024 Olympics in Paris! The Oscar-winning actress, Halle Berry, walked the torch down part of the Croisette while waving to fans. It was truly an incredible experience, one that I will definitely tell my future kids about.
Ready to Laugh Again
Now this talk was a laugh. (My favorite part was Kenan Thompson calling out a man for snoozing off in the middle of his talk!). Debbi Vandeven from VML brought up how the ad industry lost its funny bone during Covid but is now reclaiming humor's power. According to Kenan, diversity is SNL's key to success, enabling them to tackle comedy like never before. He emphasized how humor brings balance and healing, making it a vital force in entertainment. Thompson's insights left me inspired about the future of comedy and its ability to connect people.
Is the Brand Era Really Dead?
According to Marcus Collins, ”The era of brand is not over but it has evolved.” This panel sparked an engaging debate on the future of branding. Marketing professor Marcus Collins and e.l.f. Beauty’s CMO Kory Marchisotto tackled Scott Galloway’s provocative claim that the “era of the brand” is over. What caught my attention was their focus on shifting from "brand love" to "community facilitation" as a strategy to stay relevant amidst cultural changes. They used e.l.f. cosmetics as a example of adapting to cultural trends and insights to thrive in today's market.
Men Championing Women's Sports
This panel (or as they called it, “manel") featured male executives discussing topics rarely asked about. Women's sports, finally getting the spotlight they deserve, had predominantly focused on female perspectives. Yet, there was a noticeable increase in men stepping up to support and elevate women's sports and athletes, which excited me. The panel of male executives discussed the impact of sports on women, highlighting exciting business opportunities in this growing field.
Talk with Gut
Exciting talk with…GUT! Shoutout Sami for connecting us with the very best!
Wednesday June 19th
The Power of Authentic Platforms
In this panel with Alix Earle and Kim Farrell, it was fascinating to hear about the power of TikTok for #WomenOfTikTok. They showed how creators built careers and communities globally by sharing their authentic stories through unique video formats. It was exciting to learn how everyday moments could resonate on a massive scale, reaching TikTok's vast audience of 1.1 billion users. Their insights into creating impactful local content that connects globally left me inspired about the potential of authentic platforms.
Exploring the New Frontiers of Innovation
In his talk "Exploring the New Frontiers of Innovation," Elon Musk took the stage and shared some truly fascinating insights. He dived into his bold vision for the future, touching on everything from AI advancements to space exploration with SpaceX. What really stood out was his passion for pushing boundaries and taking risks to drive innovation. Hearing him discuss the potential of every human having their own personalized robot (CRAZY!!) and the future of electric vehicles with Tesla was mind-blowing.
Supercharging Social @ DoubleVerify
In this panel, it was fascinating to see how AI has become a staple in business strategies, moving from just a trend to a necessity. The discussion highlighted both the amazing opportunities and the risks, like the potential for harmful content. What excited me most was how AI is being used to protect social media investments and enhance content quality. It's clear that staying ahead with AI can make a huge difference in campaign performance and overall media quality. The idea that AI is the future, driving media quality and efficiency, left me feeling optimistic about the possibilities ahead.
Comedy is Hard "AF"
I caught the beginning of the "Comedy is Hard AF" talk, and it was a blast. The speakers dove into how challenging and rewarding comedy can be in advertising, sharing hilarious anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories. What really excited me was their take on the fine line between being funny and being offensive. They also showed some brilliant ad examples that had the whole audience laughing out loud.
Linda Yaccarino @ Women’s Sports House
This panel was buzzing with excitement about X's push into sports docuseries, especially focusing on women's teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yaccarino highlighted that sports are the top conversation on X, and 70% of the chatter before the Paris Olympics is about women's teams. She emphasized the passionate fandom for women's sports and the potential for brands to tap into these engaged audiences. I thought the emphasis on authenticity, while also boosting engagement and ad opportunities, stood out as a bold move in her talk.
The Rise of F1 @ Women’s Sports House
This panel was incredible. I was intrigued by the discussion around the entrance of women into race car driving, notably within Formula 1. Hearing from the McLaren CEO, Zak Brown and F1 Driver Lando Norris about their perspectives on this evolving landscape was amazing. Louise McEwen highlighted highlighted both the challenges and the exciting prospects ahead in this traditionally male-dominated sport. The talk really underscored the strides being made towards inclusivity and innovation in car racing.
Sophia Bush and Chef José Andrés @ Women's Sports House
Lucky me, I get to see Sophia Bush AGAIN! Plus Chef José Andrés who was actually hilarious. I found it exciting to hear about Bush's advocacy initiatives and Andrés' impactful work in global food relief. Their diverse backgrounds and shared commitment to social impact made for an inspiring talk, highlighting their roles as influential voices in their respective fields.
Thursday June 20th
A New Era of Entertainment
Truth be told, I went to this panel solely to see Josh Richards. The panel was quite interesting though! Their insights into the future of digital content creation were fascinating, especially how they discussed engaging Gen Z audiences with authenticity and creativity. I was particularly intrigued by their take on blending entertainment with social responsibility, making it clear how today's creators are shaping tomorrow's trends.
The Motherhood Journey
In this panel at the Female Quotient, it was fascinating to hear about the challenges women face in balancing career growth with motherhood, especially the pressures and decisions around disclosing pregnancies at work. Learning about strategies for advancing careers during pregnancy and how leaders can better support their colleagues through these transitions was both practical and empowering.
Cultural Cornerstones
This panel discussed the vibrant world of Latine Gen Z. Their insights into authentic cultural connections were fascinating, especially how they emphasized the importance of going beyond stereotypes to truly engage with youth through their passions such as food, music, fútbol, and family. Their genuine commitment to understanding and respecting cultural nuances left me excited about the future of inclusive marketing strategies.
Inclusive Advertising
This panel delved into groundbreaking research by Kantar and GLAAD, unveiling insights into LGBTQ+ representation in advertising. Learning how marketers can craft campaigns with inclusivity in mind and measure their impact was eye-opening. What excited me most was their discussion on navigating diversity backlash, showing how brands can authentically connect with diverse audiences while driving growth. It was inspiring to see the potential for advertising to drive positive change and unite communities through inclusivity.
