Key Dates

Virtual Creative LIAisons Coaching Sessions:
May through November 2026

Onsite Creative LIAisons in Las Vegas:
27th September through
1st October 2026

2026 Sponsorship Opportunities

 

Creative LIAisons Funded by LIA

Creative LIAisons Sponsors

Developing, Educating, Nurturing, Inspiring young talent since 2012 
Creative LIAisons is all about bringing the global creative community together to help develop emerging talent. And it's offered free to all participants, because opportunity shouldn't come with a price tag. LIA funds this initiative to give back to the creative community.

Onsite Program 
Funded by festival entry fees, LIAisons brings approximately 125 young creatives to Las Vegas every year for a five-day learning program running concurrently with LIA judging.

  • Seminars, panels, workshops
  • Sitting in jury rooms during statue discussions, as the world’s best creatives analyze, argue, promote and dissect the world’s best work
  • Inspiration and learning from the best in the industry
  • A campus-like atmosphere where conversation and connection with fellow delegates and industry heavyweights is constant
  • No delegates fees, with flights and accommodation covered by LIA

Virtual Program 
To ensure as many young creatives as possible benefit, our virtual program offers each mentee one-to-one mentorship and online coaching sessions with three global industry leaders.

And because everything we do is created for creatives, we don’t dictate how the sessions are structured. Sessions are customized between coaches and mentees. Everyone’s journey is their own, so both coach and mentee decide what will work best for them.

Mentees get to create a wish-list from the available coaches. And it’s always a great list, a testament to the generosity and all-round awesomeness of the creative community.  Approximately 220 coaches and 220 mentees from around the world participate in the program.

Selection Process

LIA doesn’t directly select attendees. We offer global allocations to the creative community that supports us. Candidates are then put forward by these companies, agency networks, ad clubs and association.  LIA also collaborates with trade press and associations on regional young talent competitions. 

We also accept a limited number of self-nominations for the virtual program only. Each year the total number of mentees across both programs is approximately 350 

All mentees of both the onsite and virtual programs must be currently working in the industry or a related business and be between the ages of 21 – 30 (some exceptions for 31-35 based on junior to mid-level and minimal years of experience in the industry).

Any mentee who has participated in a Creative LIAisons program previously is not eligible to participate in the same Creative LIAisons program again, in order for LIA to provide this opportunity to as many young creatives around the world.

“The LIAisons program is a true launchpad unlike any other for young talent in this industry, offering rare access to some of the best creative leaders in the world and career-shaping perspective: even bringing them into the judging room where they gain first-hand knowledge of what it takes to make great work. At IMPACT BBDO, we’ve seen how sending our own talent has accelerated their growth and brought fresh energy back to the agency.

Personally, being involved in teaching and mentoring through the program has been equally impactful: thankful to have had the opportunity to sharpen my own perspective while giving back to the next generation of creative leaders." 
- Ali Rez, Chief Creative Officer, Impact BBDO, Dubai

2025 Creative Coaching

Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential, helping them to learn rather than teaching them.

Coaching is ‘performance driven’, designed to improve the professional’s on-the-job capabilities. It is the universal language of change and learning.

The foundation of the LIA Coaching Academy is a game changer. It is designed for young talent with creative flair. The rising stars who have exceptional natural abilities, the drive to be better, and the ambition to be a top level creative.

The chance to have ‘one-to-one’ bespoke and private training coaching sessions with some of the industries finest creative minds is a golden opportunity for young creatives working in this business to improve their skill set. An opportunity to develop the art of perfect practice.

The industry leading coaches are from the four corners of the world. They are charged with helping develop, motivate and train the next generation of practitioners in communication to their full potential. Partnering with gifted young creatives in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional capabilities.

Coaching boosts confidence, develops creative skills, improves work performance and builds effective communication ability. These personal real-time one-to-one virtual coaching sessions are an extremely rare opportunity for rising stars.

I’m a big fan of football and when I look around the world at great players and teams, there’s always a world-class training academy behind them, designed to develop their talents.

This is the goal of the LIA coaching academy, destined to be a creative talent development powerhouse in our industry.

And this is important, as we are a Creative Solutions industry. We live and die by our ideas and I believe that creativity is the most valuable asset in business today.

It’s through a creative lens that we solve everything.

LIA has always championed, nurtured and inspired young talent. This platform is designed to develop, educate, inspire and grow creative talent to their full potential.
 

That’s why we as an industry must invest in a new generation of fearless talent with a commitment to excellence, and help them constantly improve. They are our lifeblood.

“Perfect practise
  makes perfect”

Mark Tutssel, Former Executive Chairman &
Global Chief Creative Officer
Leo Burnett Worldwide