What are entrepreneurs maximum taking a look ahead to at Cannes Lions?

Jenny Bronstein, leader trade officer, NVE Experience Agency: “This year, Cannes Lions is about more than what’s being awarded – it’s about what’s evolving. 2025 is shaping up to be a defining moment for independent agencies and as a leader from a proudly independent creative experiential agency, I’m energized to connect with brand marketing leaders who truly value creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. We’ve also seen growing recognition that powerful, culturally resonant brand experiences aren’t just an extension of a campaign – they are the campaign. So, I’m excited to engage in honest, forward-looking conversations about how we elevate the role of experience in brand building, and how independents – many of which are driving the most culture-shaping work – can be better recognized and empowered. And with our newly launched London office, I’m thrilled to enter these conversations as a truly global player, with a global mindset, building global connections.”

Simon Ambrose, gross sales and advertising and marketing director, Locaria: “I’m most looking forward to Stagwell’s Sport Beach – they managed to snag this year’s official sports partner. Among the huge number of big name athletes scheduled, Mo Farah is not only attending but he‘s hosting a morning run down La Croisette.”

Avery Akkineni, leader advertising and marketing officer, VaynerMedia: “I’m excited to see real momentum around the idea of the ‘modern agency of record’ model this year. At VaynerMedia, we’re bringing our Co-Lab offer to the forefront – embedding platform-native talent directly with brand teams so they can move faster and smarter. And yes, I’ll still find time for a spritz and a sunset debate on the future of attention. We have a great week of programming at our cafe, Chez Vayner. I really can‘t wait for our Monday event at the Tubi Cabana, Tuesday villa activation, and Thursday’s closing party with The Drum.”

Amy Worley, world leader connections officer, VML: “As a member of the digital craft jury, I‘m keenly aware of the bigger role of AI in the work we‘ll see at Cannes this year. It has the power to bring to life concepts that, until now, might have existed only in the imagination. Ultimately, it’s that imagination that calls my name. There’s nothing like sitting in the cool darkness of the Palais and having your mind completely blown by the brilliance of our industry’s most creative people. It’s profound: a room full of people, immersed in the dark, collectively experiencing the transcendence of human creativity. There’s nothing like it.”

Peter Wallace, common supervisor for EMEA, GumGum: “The industry is on the precipice of unprecedented change through technology. This is creating significant business opportunities but also a massive impact on people. What excites me about Cannes is being able to cut through the high level headlines and engage in deep, real-world conversations with brands, agencies and ad tech; getting an understanding of real-world tech applications and results, as well as how companies are developing their people-based teams and helping them to develop new skills. With so much change, there is a huge opportunity to learn from one another for the collective betterment of the industry during turbulent times. See you at The Gutter Bar!”

Ilhan Zengin, CEO and co-founder, DisplayHeroes Group: “Cannes always kicks off with Luma at Cannes Blanc, then it’s straight into lunches at Zuma, even longer lunches at La Guérite, yacht rides, beers at Gutter Bar or even clubbing at Baoli – if you are really that strong – and guessing what act FreeWheel’s got planned for their main party this year. It’s fun, chaotic — and, somehow, incredibly productive.”

Christine Shoaf, leader world consumer officer, Momentum Worldwide: “Every year, my favorite thing to do at Cannes is walk the lower level of the Palais, where they hang all the winning work, and talk to peers and clients about some of the trends in what’s winning, what’s inspiring or surprising – all the things! It is one of the very few times when we have a chance to explore creativity and ideas outside of the context of a brief or project. It fills my cup for the back half of each year. This year, I am excited to see all the discussions about commerce. Now that everything is shoppable, all marketing should be driving toward a transaction, no matter what part of the consumer or customer journey your work is focused on. So, I’m really looking forward to hearing about how people are tackling that challenge.”

Lindsay Hong, CEO and co-founder, GoodAsunits: “What am I most looking forward to? Apart from the crack-of-dawn alarms, leapfrogging from one beach to the next, whipping out business cards like there’s no tomorrow, and the quick sip of a cocktail here and there? Probably the electrolytes – that’s the secret to a successful Cannes. But once you’re hydrated, the thing that makes the Croisette so special is the combination of seeing limitlessly innovative work and then getting to discuss it with the very people who made it happen. This year, bringing the best ideas to the table means looking past arbitrary creative decisions and stepping it up with data that can prove your campaign hits the content sweet spot. And these are the discussions I’m looking forward to having this year. Since Cannes always comes and goes in a haze, my advice is to choose where you want to be carefully – and not to miss out on the festival’s first official sports partner, Sport Beach. This is one of the buzziest parts of the coastline, where brands can learn more about the rising prominence of sport in marketing, and how they can tap into the latest trends.”

Javier Granados Romero, copywriter, Serviceplan Innovation: “I am looking forward to the conversations. Two years ago, I made a friend in Cannes over a conversation about poo. He’s a C-level at one of my favorite agencies, and I, of course, didn’t know at the time. Last year, I met my first creative director ever – we live on different continents – and we had the best chat ever. She’s now a mom, I am now a bearded child. Naturally, we bonded. I love the art of chit-chatting, of the friendly banter. We tend to forget that, after all, we’re all just humans, with extremely similar tastes. And that’s the best part of Cannes. We’re all in a good mood, looking fine, having the time of our lives. So yes, I am looking forward to meeting people, having a talk about the most random topic you can think of. Like poo.”

Alex Humphries-French, MADTECH follow director, Propeller Group: “Easing into Cannes with a relaxed Sunday evening on the Equativ yacht before things ramp up – starting with the UKAEG Adtech roundtable and Snap’s big Monday night party. I’m looking forward to celebrating industry talent at PMW’s Powerlist party on Tuesday, then swapping panels for paddleboards at the Yahoo beach and rounding off the day at their legendary party. I’ll also be catching some great speakers and happy hours at the Empower Café, and dipping into Propeller’s Cannes fringe events to connect with the best minds across ad, creative and tech.”

Patrick Bennett, world CCO, Jack Morton: “At its heart, advertising and, therefore, Cannes is about the intersection of brands and global culture. And for some reason, every single year, there are always big news stories that explode during our week in the south of France. I‘m always interested to see how we, as the industry that both mines and manifests culture, react to those sometimes literal bombshells. In 2016, the Brexit vote results drove what seemed like half the delegation to inconsolable tears – and major world events have occurred many other years too. All of these moments push into the festival, shape the discourse, effect speeches, and play a part in setting the tone for the following year. How global culture, unfolding beyond the Croissette, collides with our annual jaunt to Cannes – and, more importantly, how we make sense of it all, with a side of rosé, fascinates me.”