Issue Number: 431

1) In less than fifty words, tell us about your experience at Creative LIAisons in Las Vegas this year?
A shocking, amazing and life-changing experience. Being around 130 young creatives from all over the world, and learning from the top minds in the industry as they share their experiences and ways of thinking is something you can only experience once in a lifetime.

2) What was the best part of the program for you or your main take aways?
A main take away was the talk by Chris Smith about 'Impostor Syndrome,' along with seeing the discussions in the jury room. Each for its own reason. The talk from Chris Smith stood out to me, because I loved hearing creatives share their personal experiences and feelings during the talks. It was very refreshing, as it offered different perspectives on how to manage the challenges of the creative process: frustration, fear, doubt…

Sitting in the jury room was remarkable, because I had never been in a room with so many great creatives. It was incredibly inspiring to see their points of view on ideas and creativity. It reminds me of the perspective that advertising (and creativity in general) is a very subjective and personal field, and that’s why I love it so much.

3) What advice would you give to other young creatives who are keen to join the program?
Just be yourself, and don’t get nervous trying to show off or do everything perfectly. I’m a shy person, who doesn’t feel comfortable talking to strangers, and English isn’t my first language. But the program has shown me that it’s not about doing everything perfectly or preparing everything to be a 10; it’s about being yourself and showing everyone what you are made of. Without pressures.

4. What have you gained from the program?
There are a lot of things, but I’d like to highlight three of them:

First, confidence to keep believing in my ideas, and even more strongly than before. As I’ve said, one of the things that LIA reminded me of is that advertising is a very subjective business, and that’s part of its beauty. There are no right or wrong answers, just different ones.

Second, they have given me tools to manage my fears, self-doubt and anxiety in my work. This program made me realize that we all go through the same processes, and it’s inspiring to hear everyone’s experiences. It helps you understand how to handle your work better and learn to deal with these challenges in the best possible way.

And last but not least: the lesson that you have to be yourself and have fun. It’s not about the business, success, or anything else. It’s about being truly yourself, enjoying your work, and applying all your creativity and uniqueness as a person to everything you do. Nothing else matters.

1) In less than fifty words, tell us about your experience at Creative LIAisons in Las Vegas this year?
How can I describe something so full of feelings, friendship, new colleagues, wild nights, lost (and sometimes gained) money, silly and funny stories, and countless personal stories from around the world? I’m so thankful to have had this experience. 

2) What was the best part of the program for you or your main take-aways?
The talks about insecurity, like the Chris Smith talk, and the day of sitting in the jury room watching discussions was amazing. In my case, I didn’t know how the jury process worked, and I loved seeing the different opinions about the same piece or work.

3) What advice would you give to other young creatives who are keen to join the program?
Feel every moment. Go to every event. Sure, you’ll have jet-lag and your body will tell you, “go to the hotel and sleep.” Don’t do it! Go somewhere, talk to people, they’re incredible. Enjoy exploring everyone’s minds; you can learn from their thoughts and gain new insights. Talk, talk, talk! My social battery is usually short, but there, you’ll find people who give you energy. It’s like an adult summer camp.

4. What have you gained from the program?
Confidence, friends, new contacts, new insights and one of the best weeks of my life. So much knowledge, a bit more imposter syndrome, and an even greater desire to learn and grow in the industry.

Interview with Borja Castrejana and Carmen Carbonero