Serving as a jury member at Cannes is an honour—but it’s also a deeply human experience. What struck me most wasn’t just the brilliance of the work we reviewed, but the brilliance of the people I shared the room with.

Among Legends

Nothing prepares you for the sheer calibre of talent that gathers in the Cannes jury rooms. Our Creative Data jury included C-suite executives, creative titans, data visionaries, and brand leaders—from every continent and perspective.

The respect was immediate and mutual. Our debates were passionate, sometimes heated, but always driven by a shared desire to uphold the highest standard of creativity. More than once, I heard someone say, “Can you explain your point of view? I think it might change my mind.” That openness was the heartbeat of our process.

And yes—we laughed. We bantered. We bonded. By the end, we weren’t just a jury. We were a fraternity. The connections forged during those days of intense deliberation are relationships I know will last for years.

In the Jury Room: Where Debate Meets Decision

Cannes is no place for passivity. We gave tough scores. We sent real-time follow-up questions. We asked hard questions—of each other and of the work.

Our jury president, Tina Allan, led us with remarkable intuition. She gave space when we needed it. And she knew when to push us forward.

One moment I’ll never forget: a piece called the ACKO Tailor Test had been passed over early. But something about it stuck with me. I brought it back into discussion, made the case for its creativity, strategy, and impact. The room reconsidered. It made the shortlist. It won a Gold.

Later, a client on the ACKO team found me at the Palais and thanked me—not for the award, but for believing in their work. That moment was a reminder: great work needs advocates.

These debates aren’t just about judgment. When done right, they’re acts of creative advocacy. They elevate the work that deserves to be seen.

Coming in the final part: The role of AI, creative envy, and what 10 years of Creative Data tells us about the future of marketing.