2026 Mentees Comments
“Coming from a country where opportunities like this are rare, this means more than recognition — it’s a chance to learn, grow and bring it all back."
Maddie Arnold
Copywriter
Leo
Chicago
“Put me in a room with people who are smarter and more interesting than me, and I’m happy. Let’s do this.”
Joshua Ayala
Art Director
Edelman
New York
“I’m going to be a mentee to some of the most incredible creative leaders in the industry! Huge thanks to the team at Edelman for recognizing me, and providing a space for me to grow and learn from so many talented people. I’m honored to have been selected for the LIA creative liaisons program this year, and I can’t wait to make the most of it. Notebook ready.”
Öykü Aydin
Copywriter
VML Prague
Prague
"It's such a privilege to be selected as a Creative LIAisons mentee. When you're still finding your creative path, you're buzzing with hundreds of questions in your mind. And now I get to figure them out with some incredible mentors. Can't wait for it!"
Sohyeon Bang
Senior Art Director
Machine
Cape Town
“I’ve been thinking about how the creative industry has never had more information and inspiration, which is great. But if creatives really want to boost their confidence and fast-track their careers, they need more than information. They need real exposure, access, and opportunity. That’s why being selected as a mentee is so meaningful because I believe that LIAisons creates exactly that, with opportunities funded by LIA. I’m so excited to learn from and chat to some of the most talented and awarded people in the industry globally. Because when else would I get the chance to speak to an agency I admire like Rethink!
Lucy Benson
Copy Supervisor
The Bloc New York
New York
“What an honor to learn from seasoned industry leaders—to be inspired and renewed in our collective dedication to the creative process in the pursuit of impactful, change making storytelling.”
Karl Malik Bernardo
Associate Creative Director
Dentsu Creative Philippines
Makati
"It's an honor to be part of the Creative LIAisons program, not just for the wealth of knowledge I could take home from it, but because it is considered a place where creative guidance can be expressed sincerely. I'm excited to find invaluable inspiration talking to exceptional creative leaders from around the world."
Kimathi Bwomono
Junior Designer
Edelman Canada
Toronto
“Weeks ago, I was thinking to myself, “where do I find a mentor”? Perfect timing.”
Isabella Ciardelli
Associate Creative Director - Copy
Droga5
New York
“I am incredibly excited to have access to some of the industry’s most renowned leaders, and be one conversation away from learning from them and their experience. It’s truly a privilege.”
Shannon Damm
Klick Health
Senior Art Director
Toronto
“I’m incredibly honored to have been selected for the 2026 Creative LIAisons program. I’m excited for the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences and continue developing both my craft and my career.”
Yusuf Elebiary
Junior Copywriter
INNOCEAN Berlin
Berlin
“I hope this convinces my dad that I have a real job.”
Jereek Espiritu
Art Director
BBH Singapore
Singapore
“I used to watch them. Now I’m speaking with them. I’m genuinely excited to learn from some of the best in the industry, hear how they think and see things from a perspective you don’t usually have access to. I am beyond excited to be part of this year's Creative LIAisons. Can’t wait to get started!”
Teresa Faus Roche
Creative Art Director
Dentsu Creative
Madrid
“I’m really grateful and excited for this opportunity! Looking forward to meeting new people and staying open to new ideas.”
NIkeetaa Ghaneckar
Copywriter
Angry Butterfly
Toronto
“I’m excited to be part of Creative LIAisons 2026 and learn from people setting the standard for creative excellence. I’m looking forward to challenging my thinking and pushing my work further.”
Rama Ghanem
Copywriter (English)
Memac Ogilvy
Dubai
“I'm truly honoured to be selected by London International Awards and Ogilvy's Global Creative Excellence Team as a 2026 mentee. This region is bursting with creative talent, and I'm proud to represent my peers and Ogilvy's Dubai studio. Very excited to soak up everything this experience has to offer and channel it into the work we do here.”
Maria González Figueroa
Creative Director
Havas Hoy
Mexico City
"Being part of Creative LIAisons feels like one of those signs that you’re flowing in the right direction. I feel proud, grateful, and ready to make the most of it.”
Zainab Hafez
Associate Creative Director (ART)
M+C Saatchi MENA
Dubai
“Proud to be selected for LIA. In an industry that loves to stand on stage and list its wins, I think it’s more interesting to talk about what you still don’t know. I’d rather stay hungry than finished. Glad to belong to an agency that keeps that edge sharp.”
Rika Honda
Creative Planner/Copywriter
Droga5 Tokyo
Tokyo
“I’m incredibly honored to be part of this program. I look forward to connecting with some of the world’s top creatives, broadening my perspective through global conversations, and refining ideas that can travel beyond Japan and resonate across cultures.”
Amu Ishikawa
Copywriter / Creative Planner
Droga5 Tokyo
Tokyo
“I am truly honored to be given this opportunity. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who created this invaluable opportunity and to those who supported my participation in it. I am excited to learn as much as I can and to carry these experiences forward in my future career!”
Josephine Jeanguenin
Art Director
Wirz Group AG
Zurich
“There is no healthier drug than creativity.”
Alexandra (Allie) Jones
Copywriter
Amazon
Santa Monica
"Being welcomed into the Creative LIAsions program and getting to learn from incredible mentors is a huge honor. I can't wait to see what comes next!"
Raphael Kuppasamy
Senior Art Director
IMPACT BBDO
Dubai
“Great work is never finished in isolation. It gets better through challenge, clarity, and collaboration. Being selected for the 2026 LIA Creative LIAisons program is truly an honor, and I’m excited to learn from people who have shaped some of the best work in our industry.”
Sabrina Lau
Senior Strategist
McCann
Toronto
"Excitement doesn’t quite cover it. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and connect with such a talented group of peers. Counting down to September!”
Emma Lawrence
Art Director
INNOCEAN USA
Huntington Beach
"Being selected as a 2026 Creative LIAisons mentee is so exciting! From everything I’ve heard, the feedback from past mentees has been so inspiring, and I feel really lucky to be part of it. It’s rare to get a full week like this, where you’re learning from and surrounded by people you’ve looked up to, while also getting a real look at what happens inside a jury room. That kind of behind-the-scenes access is something you don’t really get anywhere else, and I’m really looking forward to it."
Hwajeong Lee
Art Director
STUDIO K110
Seoul
"Ready for the next level. Thrilled to join the 2026 Creative LIAisons and collide with creative minds from around the world."
Jiho Lee
Junior Designer
Edelman
Toronto
"Being selected as a Creative LIAisons Mentee is a meaningful milestone for me. Programs like Creative LIAisons create rare opportunities for emerging creatives to learn directly from industry leaders and be part of a global creative community. I’m grateful for the chance to expand my perspective, strengthen my creative thinking, and continue growing as a designer who can build work that has lasting impact."
Callum Leitenberg
Senior Copywriter
Accenture Song
New York
“I love working in this industry, so getting the opportunity to learn from people who’ve accomplished so much in it is really exciting!”
Catharina (Cat) Leonart
Art Director
David The Agency
São Paulo
"Being selected for this program came as a surprise, and it means a lot to be part of something like this for the first time. I’m truly honored and excited to learn from and connect with such an inspiring community."
Nuria Lima
Art Director
Media Arts Lab
São Paulo
“Being selected for Creative LIAisons 2026 was an unexpected and exciting surprise. I’m really looking forward to learning from such a talented global community and making the most of every moment of this experience.”
Fabricio Lisboa
Strategist
ENERGY BBDO / ALMAPBBDO
São Paulo
“Being selected for LIAisons is a chance to accelerate my thinking alongside people who have shaped the industry. I’ll show up curious, question everything I can, and push my own perspective as far as possible. The goal is to turn those exchanges into work that doesn’t just follow the industry, but helps move it forward.”
Catherine LoSchiavo
Art Director
MRM Detroit
Birmingham
"After participating in the mentorship program last year, I’m excited to experience Creative LIAisons in person. Opportunities like this are a great reminder of how much you can learn from the different perspectives around you and I’m looking forward to soaking up as much inspiration as possible!”
David Lukunku
Film Production Coordinator
The LEGO Group
Billund
“To join the Creative LIAisons 2026 cohort is an honor. Being able to connect with some of the best creative minds on earth will be a wonderful experience. Lots of gems and new perspectives to gain."
Chloé Merboth
Junior Art Director
Philipp und Keuntje
Hamburg
"You can never have enough tools in your creative toolbox!"
Shannon Parr
Senior Art Director
MRM
Birmingham
“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to build on the momentum I’ve gained so far in my career, refine my creative perspective, and learn from creative leaders who inspire me to push my work further and think bigger about what’s possible.”
Komal Pawar
Art Director
AREA 23
New York
“I’ve always been obsessed with the ‘why’ behind great work - what makes an idea win, why it resonates, and what makes it rise above the rest. Being selected as an onsite LIA Creative LIAisons mentee is a defining moment that will shape how I think, create, and grow. I’m incredibly grateful to LIA for creating opportunities like this and for investing in the next generation of creatives.”
Zuhair Rahman
Copywriter
Leo Burnett FZ LLC
Dubai
“I love, love, love being creative, because it gives me the chance to turn ideas into something meaningful that people can connect with.
Being selected as a 2026 LIA Creative LIAisons Mentee means a lot to me, and I am excited to learn from and be inspired by some of the best creative minds in the industry.”
Being selected as a 2026 LIA Creative LIAisons Mentee means a lot to me, and I am excited to learn from and be inspired by some of the best creative minds in the industry.”
Giulia Ranza
Senior Copywriter
M+C Saatchi Group Europe
Milan
“In a world teetering on the edge of frantic, automated creativity, young creatives are faced with a question: 'How do I break the mold?' I'm so happy to get the chance to meet some of the world’s best creative leaders to tap into their knowledge, experience and advice, exploring this question and the many others defining the future of advertising and creativity.”
Nithika Romy
Antoni
Art Director
Berlin
“‘Never meet your heroes,’ they say. Call me an optimist - I’m excited that I finally get the chance to pick the creative brains of the best out there and absorb even 1% of what makes them extraordinary. All thanks to LIA!”
Tomi Salo
Graphic Designer
NoA | Bob the Robot
Helsinki
"Really humbled by this opportunity. After five years in the industry this feels like a turning point. I've put a great deal into my career and I'm finally starting to see the fruits of that labor — years of competing in Young Lions and Eurobest, learning from colleagues and mentors and never settling. And now I get to have real conversations with some of the best creatives in the world. I'm not going to waste it."
Emilia Seidensticker
Junior Creative Concept & Art
Philipp und Keuntje
Hamburg
"Feeling very honoured that I have been selected as a mentee. I am now looking forward to expanding my comfort zone beyond its limits and getting inspired by the mentors."
Krista Shepard
Community Manager
Cossette
Toronto
“Grateful, humbled, and honoured to be selected as a 2026 Creative LIAisons mentee. Looking forward to learning from some of the best creative minds across the world!”
Brinda Singala
Senior Art Director
Memac Ogilvy
Dubai
“I am incredibly grateful and excited for this opportunity. After being in the industry for many years, I truly value moments like this. Being recognized by the leaders at Ogilvy and given the chance to continue growing means a lot.”
Alexis Smadja
Junior Art Director
Innocean Berlin
Berlin
“LIA creative LIAisons came into my mailbox like one of those fake and rigged IT emails to trap employees into reminding them to be careful about cyberattack. I took the risk to reply “YES” to meeting the hottest creatives in my region and here I am. Looking forward to seeing what it’s all about and learning new stuff!”
Natalia Temer
Art Director
Publicis Brasil
Sao Paulo
“Good to see something I set as a goal last year come to life, especially being part of the Creative LIAisons program.”
Melissa Tito
Senior Art Director
Translation
Brooklyn
“So excited to meet my mentors. As a response to their wise words of wisdom, I hope they’re ready to hear “yaaas,” “preach,” and the occasional finger clap from me.”
Sandra Tsang
Art Director
Translation
Brooklyn
“‘In learning you will teach, and in teaching you will learn.’ Growth rarely happens in solitude, and I'm excited to do this alongside the amazing creative community LIA has fostered.”
Francesca Valcarcel
Designer
Havas Japan
Tokyo
"I’m always seeking ways to challenge myself and sharpen my creative craft. I’m incredibly honored to join the LIA Creative program as a mentee this year. I can’t wait to learn from and be inspired by some of the best in the industry!"
Saquib Wakankar
Junior Production Manager
Serviceplan Group Middle East
Dubai
"Being chosen for this program makes me very delighted. I want to express my gratitude to the LIAisons team and the Serviceplan leadership team for this wonderful opportunity. I can't wait to develop my abilities and learn from the top creative experts.”
William Weiland
Junior Art Director
GREY Germany
Hamburg
“Super excited to be part of this! I can't wait to connect with people from all over the world, get fresh perspectives, and really grow through this program.”
Geir Wilson
Midweight Copywriter
Halo Advertising
Johannesburg
“When you look at the most prolific creatives in the world today, many, if not all of them, were mentored by the best creatives of the generation that came before them. I want to be truly great at what I do. So, an opportunity like Creative LIAisons makes me feel like I fell out of the lucky tree and hit every branch on the way down!”
Pui Lam (Christy) Wong
Multimedia Art Director
BBDO
Hong Kong
"Mentorship has always meant a lot to me. Getting this close to leaders of the best agencies in the world is like borrowing chapters from their stories. Can’t wait to learn, grow… and maybe one day give back as a LIA mentor.”
Yilin Zhang
Integrated Creative (Copywriting & Design)
Dentsu Inc.
Tokyo
"I am incredibly excited to join the Creative LIAisons program and connect with the world's top creative minds. This is a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives and push my creative boundaries to the next level."
Zhizhe (Ata) Zhao
Creative Director
TBWA\Shanghai
Shanghai
“So honored to be selected for the 2026 LIA Creative LIAisons! I’ve always felt that being a creative person is the most fun thing. Can’t wait to meet the best creative minds in Vegas and I’m ready to “steal” some genius ideas and maybe share a few of my own. Huge thanks to TBWA\Asia, TBWA\China, Elena Qiao, and my best boss Ronnie Wu for making this happen!”
Alvin Zhong
Art Director
Saatchi & Saatchi Australia
Sydney
“It’s such an honor to be included in this year's Creative LIAisons Mentee Program alongside my copywriting partner Sophie Harper. I’m ready to learn from the best, grow, and hopefully leave with better ideas and fewer open tabs.”
Mariana Arce Carretero
Copywriter & Art Director
McCarthy & Co.
La Paz