Adam Michael Toctan’s Post

✨ First Impressions at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity ✨ If this was your first or second time, please share your POV in the comments.⤵ Attending the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the first time has been an incredible experience. This event, renowned as the largest annual advertising gathering, promised a wealth of insights and opportunities to network with the brightest minds in our industry. 🕶 However, amidst the excitement, I couldn't help but notice the overwhelming presence of celebrities. While it's exciting for some to see familiar faces, it often felt like the essence of the festival—creativity and industry insights—was overshadowed. The abundance of celebrity appearances seemed to shift the focus away from the core purpose: to learn, share, and grow as professionals in advertising. For many, that was why they were there, and to each their own. From this observation, and after reviewing the overwhelming amount of individual apps, programming emails, group chat recos, and LinkedIn posts I resolved to do the following: 1️⃣ Prioritize panel discussions and workshops: Featuring industry leaders and experts who are known for providing actionable insights and thought-provoking discussions vs. outside-of-the-industry theory. 2️⃣ Attend the more intimate networking events: Smaller, focused gatherings where I could connect more meaningfully without the distraction of celebrity fanfare. 3️⃣ Navigated to talks that highlighted emerging or disruptive Talent: I love to hear from up-and-coming creatives whose fresh and atypical perspectives can inspire and invigorate the industry. 🔆 Cannes Lions has the potential to be a beacon of creativity and innovation, a place where industry professionals can come together to celebrate and advance the art of advertising, but you have to decide that is what you will get from the experience -- if that is what you want. 📣 General industry PSA: Let’s bring back the essence of creativity over celebrity to marketing and advertising. #CannesLions #CannesxCulture #CreativityOverCelebrity #Advertising #Marketing #RandsRecap #Networking #IndustryInsights #FirstTimer #AdIndustry

HELLO #creatives. Are you sparkling with inspiration from Cannes Lions or are you back to staring into your screen waiting for another kicker fix of creative genius? Worry not! We’ve got you. It’s taken us a hot minute (er, two weeks) to catch our breath, but Brands&Culture has launched its post-Cannes report, in partnership with We Are Social and WeTransfer. In our first report, we’ve deep-dived into the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity winners that listened to, responded to, made, shaped and created culture. This work met consumers where they wanted to be met, uninterruptedly entered their lives, added value and left more than a crumb of value. It made an impact. You’ll get to hear from some of the leaders behind the work, including, the brilliant: Youri Guerassimov & Gaëtan du Peloux, Joint CCO & CEOs,  Marcel Paris Susie Walker, Chief Creative Operations Officer, DDB Jamie George Cordwell, Global Executive Creative Director, Edelman  Marissa Eddings, Senior Director Of Brand, Advertising, Media, In-Store Marketing, and In-House Creative Agency, 7-Eleven Alex Nassour, Senior Creative & Art Director, Wieden+Kennedy  Luca Lorenzini and Luca Pannese, Co-Founders and Executive Creative Directors, SMALL and top quote from Leila Fataar Cultural relevance matters, for everyone: for individuals, for businesses and for society at large. There isn’t a “Culture” Lion yet (there is a cultural insights sub cat though), so we focused on Entertainment, Social and Influencer, PR and Creative Strategy Lions and kept an eye on the cultural pulse across all other categories too to unearth a few trends and natty stats. I really hope you find it useful/ valuable/ in some way insightful :) 🐶 P.s. Did you know that Cannes Lions winners prefer dogs to cats?  🎮 And that gaming and grub should be an entire new Lions category? Josephine Andrews, Vanessa Sawyerr, Michelle Graves, Mark St. Andrew #creativity #canneslions

Every year, I go into Cannes a bit cynical, questioning whether it is all a bit performative. This year, however, I had a very different experience. Sure, there were certainly still aspects that were more spectacle than substance, but on the whole, I was inspired – by the work, by the camaraderie, and by the emphasis on true #creativity. For every benign, redundant mention of AI, there was an impassioned case made for the power of originality and unexpected creativity. I might have expected this from creative agencies, but I was most encouraged by the championing of creativity from the esteemed panel of CMO’s at Forbes' Most Influential CMO Luncheon.     Perhaps, we are collectively over the seduction of predictability and (faux) certainty. Perhaps, we are all realizing the diminishing returns of relentlessly pursued risk mitigation. Perhaps, the extremes of either dull sameness or shallow gimmicks will yield to smart, beautiful, big, bold, important ideas that build real brands and drive real business and if we are lucky, move society forward along the way.     I left Cannes feeling the renaissance has begun and that TBWA is exactly the right place to be for it, where Disruption is not a catchphrase, but an essence and a mandate.   My optimism was a direct result of spending time with Kyle Chayka, Lucia Aniello, Ben Tallon, Flau’jae Johnson, Beatrice Domond, Seth Matlins, The amazing women hosted by The Female Quotient, our ambitious clients, and my fellow Pirates.   As my partner Bruno Regalo says, a new season starts now – so may we all contribute to the renaissance and show up in Cannes next year with work that makes us proud.   Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity | TBWA\Worldwide | TBWA\Chiat\Day | Omnicom | Troy Ruhanen | Courtney Nelson | Emily Wilcox | Jen Costello | Anh-Thu Le | Kirsten Rutherford |Jacqueline Redmond | Desmond Marzette | Mark Weinstein | Hilton | Jennifer Murillo | Discover Financial Services | Ryan Ostrom | Jack in the Box | Kate Cronin | Moderna | Brandi Ray | Jane Wakely | PepsiCo    #CannesLions2024 #OmnicomCannes #TheDisruptionCompany

It’s simple: Purpose is effective when purpose is done for a brand and company whose values and intentions are authentic.

Cannes Lions Day 1: The first Grand Prix and Gold Lions have been awarded – so what do they tell us? Here are a few top-line thoughts from the opening day’s results in Lions Health, Outdoor, Print & Publishing and Audio & Radio: Big brands are back: Jury presidents made much of the fact that mega brands like Coke and Magnum have been producing outstanding work this year. The emphasis seems to have shifted towards ‘commercial creativity’ – rather than purpose for its own sake. Using creativity to drive business growth is absolutely on message at Lions 2024. Purpose moves centre stage: That said, there are also some potent examples of how purpose can become part of the commercial heart of a campaign. Coca Cola’s Recycle Me and Pedigree’s Adoptable both placed purpose at the centre of their winning campaigns. AI is already making its mark: Lions Juries don’t like tech for tech’s sake – but they do admire a clever AI-powered campaign. Siemens’ success in Pharma with Magnetic Stories - and an Outdoor Grand Prix for Pedigree’s adorable Adoptable - are powerful advocates for mashing AI together with great creativity. Shared success: There was plenty of success on day one for entries from the Middle East, India and Latin America. BBDO Dubai’s Child Wedding Cards looks like it will be one of the week’s high impact success stories, after picking up a Grand Prix on day one. Laughter is the best medicine: The Cannes Lions team let it be known that humour would be celebrated this year – and early award winners have shown this to be the case. Specsavers’ Misheard Version and Dramamine’s The Last Barf Bag are both worth checking out if you want to see how humour can lift even the most unlikely products and services. As Jefferson Starship might plausibly have said: “We built this city on sausage rolls”. Looking forward to a fascinating day two, with numerous entertainment and craft awards up for grabs. If you’re in Cannes, don’t forget to read the Lions Daily News…

While everyone (looking at you Michael Thill) is off enjoying the sun and creativity at Cannes Lions, here I am, not jealous at all. Seriously, not one bit jealous. Not even a little. For those unfamiliar, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a premier event in the advertising and communications industry. It runs from June 17-21 this year and features over 150 hours of content with around 500 speakers from across the globe. Icons like Deepak Chopra, Jay Shetty, and representatives from top companies like Google and P&G are sharing insights and innovations that are shaping the industry. https://lnkd.in/gv7s3rQH Why do we flock to events like this? The draw is in both the recognition and the opportunity for professional growth. From a behavioral science perspective, humans have a deep-seated desire for validation and acknowledgment. Awards like the Cannes Lions provide a platform to be judged and, hopefully, celebrated for our creativity and hard work. But why do we want to be judged? The answer lies in the psychological satisfaction of recognition, which can enhance self-esteem and motivate continued excellence. Beyond personal satisfaction, there are significant business reasons for pursuing these accolades. Winning at Cannes can enhance a company’s reputation, attract new clients, and justify higher fees for services. In essence, these awards are a tangible marker of success and a powerful marketing tool. However, at Havas Edge we believe that the best award is the trust and loyalty of our clients. While it's great to be recognized on such a prestigious stage, our ultimate goal is to consistently deliver value and results for our clients, day in and day out. That, to us, is the most meaningful accolade of all. Still, would be nice to be there.

The 71st Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity concluded with the penultimate awards night. The awards were presented for the Film Lions, Glass: The Lions for Change, Sustainable Development Goals Lions, The Dan Wieden Titanium Lion, and The Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Good categories. Special awards were also announced to demonstrate Cannes Lions' dedication towards transparent and accurate results. Creative Company of the Year : 1. WPP 2. Omnicom Media Group 3. Interpublic Group (IPG) Network of the Year : 1. Ogilvy 2. Publicis Worldwide 3. DDB Worldwide Independent Network of the Year : 1. Rethink 2. Edelman 3. Serviceplan Group Agenturgruppe Agency of the Year : 1. Publicis Conseil, Paris, France 2. Rethink, Toronto, Canada 3. Ogilvy, New York, United States Independent Agency of the Year : 1. Rethink, Toronto, Canada 2. Edelman, London, United Kingdom 3. Klick Health, Toronto, Canada Palme d'Or : SMUGGLER, United States Creative Brand of the Year : 1. The Coca-Cola Company 2. The HEINEKEN Company 3. Apple Wieden + Kennedy | Superette | DoorDash | Marcel, Paris | Orange | The Monkeys | Accenture Song | Sydney Opera House | Ogilvy Singapore | Vaseline | Publicis Conseil Paris | Renault Group | INNOCEAN Berlin | Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Congratulations to all the winners! #Creativity #CannesLions #Advertising #Winners #Adtechtoday

Enter the Lions' den 🦁 Last week was the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the largest gathering for those who work in creative communications, advertising and related industries. The week-long event celebrated the best in advertising with the Lions awards and educated attendees with talks on industry trends. Some of the key branding takeaways: 🤖 AI is here to stay Artificial intelligence and its impact on the industry was heavily discussed with many brand activations at the festival involving the usage of AI. While some talked about the capabilities that allowed for better work, others talked about the pitfalls such as the lack of diversity in AI-generated images. 🤝 The business case for inclusivity Due to diversity fatigue and culture wars, many companies have begun defunding their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. However, one panel at the festival highlighted the commercial benefits of more progressive advertising, citing it helps brands sell more and retain customers. ⚖️ Brands can’t shy away from politics Sessions highlighted the importance of brands getting involved in politics. According to Research Live, 60% of consumers buy brands based on their politics. 🎨 The power of the creator economy This year was the first time the festival included a Creator Pass, an initiative designed specifically for content creators to learn about the advertising industry. Simon Cook, the CEO of Lions, acknowledged the major contributions influencers have had in advertising and the potential growth of the creator economy. Creators with a real connection to their audience are who brands should be partnering with, not necessarily the biggest names. 🏎️ Embrace the now The “Coors Lights Out” ad campaign, born from a pure accident that went viral, was a Lions Award winner. Shohei Ohtani, a baseball player, damaged a billboard featuring a Coors Light ad with a foul ball, and within 48 hours, Coors responded with a special edition can that replicated the damaged ad. Brands should be moving fast to capitalize on what’s happening in culture. Want to learn more about the Cannes Lions Festival? Visit canneslions.com 📸 Contagious ---------- #canneslions #cannes #branding #globalbranding #brandingcontent #brandingmanagement #strategicbranding #brandingforbusiness #professionalbranding #brandingstrategies #svanyc #mastersinbranding #svamastersinbranding #svamib #schoolofvisualarts #sva #svabranding #branding #gradschool #mpsbranding

"Now it is time to aim higher and elevate the view of marketing in the eyes of its most critical C-suite peer." Managing Director, Dan Southern, talks to The Drum about the importance of CFO presence at the Festival of Creativity in the mission to align marketing's importance with the financial side of the business. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/e_G8AAWz

What did they just do? Brands like #coke #BritishAirway & #coors are immensely confident in their own skin to be able to tear apart the rules of the game. Or are these the new rules? Thanks Prasad for putting this piece together in ET BrandEquity #brand #brandleadership #designleadership Link in comments.