From Sports Beach to Real Connection

Week two in Cannes was intense - in the best way possible. It felt like five years of networking crammed into just four days. As Milos advised us, “Take advantage of every opportunity,” and I took that to heart. I found myself everywhere - especially at Sports Beach, which quickly became my unofficial home base.

I spent a lot of time there meeting people from all corners of the industry. One of the biggest highlights was getting to talk about how to promote the game I love- hockey - and how the NHL can reach new fans around the world. Growing up watching these players, standing alongside them in Cannes and having conversations about the future of the sport was surreal. And yes, sharing a drink with some of them was an unforgettable bonus.

But beyond the beach vibes and star power, some of the most meaningful conversations happened in quieter moments. I had a nearly hour-long discussion with Rakesh Menon, whose team took home six Lions this year. We talked about storytelling, creative strategy, and how to stand out on a global stage. That conversation alone was worth the trip.

Later in the week, I connected with a creative director at VML. Thanks to the WARC project we worked on earlier in the trip, I had relevant insights to share, which sparked a genuine, career-level conversation—one that ended with exchanging contact info and encouragement to stay in touch.

Before I close, I want to give special thanks to the teams at Outfront, HAVAS, and Amazon for hosting us for private sessions. Their openness, time, and willingness to share insights gave our experience real depth—and they even invited us to continue the conversation back in New York.

To finish on a high note, I want to share a moment that brought everything full circle.

While at Meta Beach, I noticed someone’s badge said “Nestlé.” I introduced myself and asked about her role. Eventually, I told her about the KitKat campaign my team and I had presented at The Follow Agency just days earlier. She encouraged me to look out for the KitKat team at Cannes. Unfortunately, I missed their panel because of class.

The next day, Maddie Coleman and I returned to Meta to hear an influencer speak- someone we’d actually referenced in our presentation. While there, I ran into the Nestlé executive again. This time, she was with a WPP executive - her point of contact and one of the client leads for Nestlé.

Maddie and I ended up having a 10-minute conversation with both of them about our campaign and the work our groups had done. They were genuinely engaged, asking thoughtful questions and sharing feedback. It was surreal to realize that the schoolwork we poured so much effort into was now sparking real industry conversations.

Cheers!

That moment made something clear: I’m ready. Ready to contribute, connect, and bring my skills into agency life.

Lastly, honestly, the only outfit you’ll be wearing is whatever you throw on in the morning for the festival—and your pajamas.