2026 Virtual Coaches
Sebastien Boutebel
Chief Creative Officer
Saatchi & Saatchi ME
Dubai
Sebastien has spent his life moving between cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking, first as the son of a diplomat, and now as a creative leader working across global markets from New York to Dubai, São Paulo to Stockholm.
That journey shaped a simple belief: creativity is a people business first. The ideas matter, but the way you grow them, challenge them, and support the people behind them matters even more.
He began in film animation while working as a video game tester, learning early on that craft and curiosity go hand in hand. Since then, he has built a career across international networks and independent agencies, leading teams to deliver work recognized at Cannes Lions, D&AD, Clio, LIA and The One Show, including multiple Grand Prix.
But what drives him most is not the work alone, it’s the people behind it.
As a mentor and leader, Sebastien focuses on helping talent find their voice, sharpen their instincts, and build the confidence to push ideas further. He believes in honest feedback, high standards, and creating an environment where people feel safe to take creative risks and grow from them.
He brings a pragmatic approach to creativity, balancing ambition with real-world thinking, and helping young creatives understand not just how to have ideas, but how to make them happen.
That journey shaped a simple belief: creativity is a people business first. The ideas matter, but the way you grow them, challenge them, and support the people behind them matters even more.
He began in film animation while working as a video game tester, learning early on that craft and curiosity go hand in hand. Since then, he has built a career across international networks and independent agencies, leading teams to deliver work recognized at Cannes Lions, D&AD, Clio, LIA and The One Show, including multiple Grand Prix.
But what drives him most is not the work alone, it’s the people behind it.
As a mentor and leader, Sebastien focuses on helping talent find their voice, sharpen their instincts, and build the confidence to push ideas further. He believes in honest feedback, high standards, and creating an environment where people feel safe to take creative risks and grow from them.
He brings a pragmatic approach to creativity, balancing ambition with real-world thinking, and helping young creatives understand not just how to have ideas, but how to make them happen.
Comments
“I don’t think people expect how real it gets. You show up thinking you’ll give advice, but the one-on-one sessions strip that away pretty quickly. It becomes about listening, challenging, sometimes just being surprisingly useful in a moment that actually matters. No filters, no stage, no pretending. Honest conversations about the path, the work and the doubts behind it. That’s rare. That’s why it stays with you. That’s why I keep coming back.”