Personally, one of the things I've always liked about being a creative is that your career feels like an adventure. If something excites you and scares you at the same time, it probably means you should go for it. Worst-case scenario, you'll have a great story to tell, and we all love telling stories.

 

My adventure started in Peru, working at TBWA, and then at McCANN Lima. It was this agency that gave me the opportunity to be part of the Creative LIAisons in 2014. The previous year, McCANN had won a Grand Prix at Cannes with the Happy ID for Coca-Cola, which put it in the network's radar, and because of that, an invitation to the LIAisons for a young creative came in. An owl didn't bring it, but it felt like receiving a letter from Hogwarts.

 

I hadn't made it to Vegas yet, and things were already getting epic. While making the connection in Los Angeles, I ran into Dave Grohl. I was shocked because Foo Fighters is one of my favorite bands, but even more shocked that no one seemed impressed to see him. A few years later, I would learn that celebrity encounters are an everyday thing at LAX. I desperately wanted a picture with him but didn't want to make a big deal, so I decided not to bother him and go to my gate. I got to the gate and guess who sat next to me? Yup, Dave Grohl. I got my picture, and that wasn't even the best part of my trip.

 

That week, I met 60 crazy people who, regardless of their nationality, agency, or market, shared the same passion and love for great ideas.

 

The city amazed us every night, but the most impressive things happened inside the panel every day. Having the most remarkable leaders of the industry giving us one-of-a-kind master classes was everything all of us, ad nerds, could ask for.

 

Beyond good friends and great lessons, this experience allowed me to open up my world and explore new possibilities of working abroad.  After lots of long nights and hard work, I moved to California in 2017 to work at Innocean US. The agency was building a global team with creatives from different backgrounds who could bring new, fresh ideas.

 

My adventure in the US had a great start. I met very talented people who would become my family far from home. We worked hard, and as the saying says, it paid off. By the end of the year, we got invited to attend the 2017 LIAisons, which ended up being a completely different experience for me. LIA is always evolving the program, looking to bring fresh content and new speakers to make sure the attendees get the latest and greatest of the industry each year.

 

On top of that, that year, I had an idea shortlisted at the festival, which made the whole experience even more impressive since the LIAisons allows you to enter the voting room and watch the jury choose the metals. By far, that is one of the most unforgettable moments of the program; witnessing the work being discussed by all of these industry leaders gives you a unique understanding of what makes an idea great and what doesn't. I wasn't assigned to the jury room where my campaign was being judged, but luckily, we were awarded a Bronze LIA.

 

After a few years in Los Angeles, this adventure took me to the other side of the country: New York, where I currently work as an Associate Creative Director at Anomaly. I'm lucky to continue working with great people everywhere I go, and whatever these uncertain times may bring; I hope that's the one thing that doesn't change.  

 

I want to thank Max, Mauricio, and Nico from McCann Lima, as well as, Jeremy, Eric, and Jill from Innocean, who gave me the opportunity to live this incredible experience, which I wish every young creative could live. And a special thanks to Barbara Levy and Laurissa for funding and organizing this amazing program. I'm sure that next year, the Creative LIAisons will come back twice as exciting and will continue inspiring more adventures like mine.