Get Ready for Cannes Lions
With the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity approaching, event organizers and attendees are gearing up for five days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.
In just under two weeks, marketing, media, advertising, technology, and entertainment professionals will arrive in the south of France for the 66th annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Considered by many the premier global showcase for creativity and marketing, the festival brings together people from all over the industry for five days of celebration and inspiration.
Several changes implemented last year—including a shortened schedule, restructured awards, and new content tracks—have strengthened the event, says Steve Latham, head of talent and training for the Cannes Lions Festival. "The reset focused us," he says. "The shorter schedule and award structure made delegates feel there was more cohesiveness to the festival."
That sharper focus has carried over to the Cannes Lions School and its Young Lions Academies, an immersive training program for a select group of attendees under 30. "The Young Lions program is the heart of the festival," Latham says. "It empowers the next generation of this amazing industry to take their careers to the next level."
The four different Young Lions Academies are designed for young brand marketers, creatives, media professionals, and students. The program teaches them about solving problems amid the constant change that has come to define marketing. "There's so much disruption in our industry," says Ed Davidson, vice president of commercial revenues for the festival. "The future of our industry will be defined by the participants in the Young Lions program."
The program is essentially a training ground for the next generation of industry leaders, says Jennifer Veenstra, managing director of the CMO Program at Deloitte, which sponsors the Cannes Lions School. "The academies help these young professionals build the skills and capabilities they need to be successful now and in the future," she says.
Over the five days of the event, participants have opportunities to interact with industry notables and are challenged to find creative solutions to vexing problems. "Every year our goal is to teach these future leaders how to lead a more purposeful business with conviction and creativity," says Jim Stengel, CEO of The Jim Stengel Group and dean of the Young Marketers Academy. "They come in apprehensive and a little bit naïve, and they leave with a development plan to take creativity to the next level."
In addition, the Young Lions program teaches future marketing leaders the importance of seeking different perspectives while working as a team toward a common goal. "One of the major things young creatives today need to be good at is collaboration," says Bob Isherwood, advertising industry veteran and dean of the Young Creatives Academy. "This is becoming a very collaborative industry because of the diversity of skill sets that are needed to solve problems."
New to Cannes Lions this year will be Connect, Learn, Experience, an initiative that will bring together the world's leading content creators across the technology, entertainment, and marketing industries to discuss the elements of best-in-class content. "There will be roundtables, interactive experiences, and networking," Davidson says. "I'm really excited for that."
Even with the shorter schedule this year, the agenda will be packed. The best advice for attendees? Have a plan, Latham says. "The more you can prepare by prioritizing what you want to come away with—and the more you can dig into why you're going in the first place—the more effective your experience is going to be," he says.
"Bob Isherwood: Training the Next Generation of Creatives"
"Lessons from the Cannes Lions: The Creative Data Category"
This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Copyright © 2019 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
Previous United Way Reboots Brand With Help of New Tech Tools Next Startup Helps Brands Analyze Social Images for Insights
Creativity and data are no longer mutually exclusive. The Cannes Lions School challenges young marketers to use data to develop creative solutions to societal problems. The training ground is designed to help young professionals develop the skills to become future leaders.
With the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity underway this week, the marketing industry will be celebrating breakthrough campaigns and the power of big ideas. For Elaine Cox, executive creative director at Deloitte-owned ad agency Heat, developing bold creative starts with an inclusive environment and a culture of listening.
Creating Relevant Content Starts With Data, Insights
Using data to inform content can help marketers tell stories with broad audience appeal. David Grant, president of PopSugar Studios, explains how the company combines digital insights with human perspectives to create narratives that resonate.