McCann London and Digitas UK Team up to Sponsor Year 2 of 'The Cannes Challenge'

The Women’s Association is thrilled to announce the winners of year two of The Cannes Challenge, a programme set up to invest in all-women talent under 30 at the annual Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. 

This year, founding sponsor McCann London has teamed up with Digitas UK to expand and strengthen The Women’s Association’s connections within the advertising industry, enabling their network of young women to benefit from the impressive educational resources available across the creative sector and to connect with influential leaders. 

This year The Women’s Association received a record number of Cannes Challenge applications. As such Deborah B. Williams (founder and CEO of The Women’s Association) is funding an additional two spaces, making a total of six winners this year from a previous four. 

Four complimentary spaces have been awarded to women under 30 from The Women’s Association network who want to get their foot in the door of the creative industry, with an additional two spaces given to exceptional talent within McCann London and Digitas UK – one woman from each agency respectively. Joely and Erin will work with the four Women’s Association winners, a valuable part of the programme which underpins the overall support offered to the young women who are embarking on a career in the creative industries. 

The six Cannes Challenge winners are being given the chance to explore The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, the world’s biggest celebration of creativity, and to connect with experienced creatives and agency leaders in a meaningful and personal way to help them as they develop their careers and aspirations. 

The winners are:

• Martina Gordeen is a freelancer and passionate about marketing and strategy.
• Hannah Ayane previously worked as a Management Consulting Analyst but wants to work in production.
• Jamila Pero is a recent graduate, loves writing and event management.
• Shaquila Evelyn Johnson is a junior software engineer and desires to merge tech with creativity
• Joely Buxton-Smith is an account director at McCann London steering the agency’s global Just Eat Takeaway account.
• Erin Johnson is a junior strategist at Digitas UK helping to deliver game-changing strategy for clients, including Nivea and Subway.

Throughout the week, the winners will be hosted by Deborah B. Williams and mentored by McCann London and Digitas UK leaders. The four women from The Women’s Association’s network will be paired up with Joely Buxton-Smith from McCann London and Erin Johnson from Digitas UK and will work together on a challenge, culminating in a presentation to senior industry leaders giving them a chance to showcase their skills and abilities.

The six winners will also gain access to opportunities through The Women’s Association’s partners, including The Female Quotient, See It Be It and other companies across the creative industries. 

The Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity is providing the six festival passes, and the agencies will cover flights, accommodation and associated costs through their partnership with The Women’s Association. 

Visit The Women’s Association website here to see further details about the Cannes Challenge.

Deborah B. Williams, founder & CEO of The Women’s Association, said, “Over the last three years I have listened to many talented women who, at the very start of their careers, felt compelled to abandon their dreams due to a lack of support, lack of access and lack of opportunities for growth. Given the success of The Executive Challenge, engaging businesses in a programme that enables them to invest in future talent, I wanted to also inspire companies to nurture and invest in their dreams of their junior female employees. The early stages of a woman’s career is crucial, and the right support can change the trajectory of her career lifecycle so, I created The Cannes Challenge to provide women with invaluable opportunities to network, receive mentorship, find inspiration, and ultimately reignite their aspirations. 

I am excited to lead the programme for a second year not only to enhance the accessibility of The Cannes Lions Festival but also to empower women to turn their dreams into reality.”

Polly McMorrow, CEO of McCann London said, “Last year’s programme was hugely enriching not only for the women who took part, but also for our agency – with many shared learnings and inspiration infiltrating how we work and the work we do. We are delighted to be buddying up with Digitas UK this year on The Cannes Challenge and cannot wait to see how this year’s cohort get on.”

Jennifer Berry, CEO and WACL Member, Digitas UK said, “We passionately believe in providing young girls with greater access to our industry and creating legitimate pathways for them to thrive. Taking part in The Cannes Challenge makes that a reality and aligns with our entry-level careers’ platform, Digitas Next, which is designed to cultivate the next generation of talent. Organisations like The Women’s Association and like-minded agencies such as McCann London are vital partners as we unite across the industry to provide real opportunities and shift some of the systemic issues that exist.”

Narah Millanaise, freelance social creative, and winner of the 2023 cohort commented saying, “The Cannes Challenge really opened my eyes to the network of creativity. Seeing the award-winning entries, living amongst other incredible creatives and getting to know industry professionals not only professionally but personally has been invaluable in building new working relationships and affirming me in my value and craft, especially being Freelance. To anyone thinking about applying, don't think, just do. Sacrificing an hour for my application was the difference between me not going and having one of (if not) THE MOST career-affirming experiences of my life to date.”

Harley-Jo Avery, creative at McCann London and one of the winners from 2023 cohort commented on her experience last year by saying, “Participating in the Cannes Challenge last summer was a transformative experience that greatly impacted both my personal and professional growth. Not only did it boost my confidence, but it also provided a platform to align my career goals with purposeful action. The skills and insights gained during the challenge not only positioned me for a job promotion but also opened doors to invaluable connections that have extended far beyond the week-long festival. As I reflect on the experience, I find myself more motivated, ambitious, and genuinely excited about the trajectory of my future endeavours. I wholeheartedly encourage other young women to seize this opportunity for empowerment and growth, as it can truly serve as a catalyst for profound transformation and success."