According to the Loeries, the seminar is a must-attend event for creatives, marketers and anyone involved in creating brand communication across Africa and the Middle East.

The seminar will comprise nine international speakers and will be hosted by Leigh-Anne Williams. 

The speakers are as follows:

Ali Rez: chief creative officer at Impact BBDO Group MENAP

Talk: 'To create change, change the way you create'

"Creativity is not only about the final result; sometimes it is the process itself that leads to a more innovative and original product. By questioning the very techniques which we deploy to create ideas, we can unleash new methods that help us explore completely new territories. Rez shares some real-world examples of how this holds true in everything from sports to music to success in marketing," says the seminar.

Shannon Washington: United States chief creative officer at R / GA, New York

Talk: 'Burning Down Madison Avenue'

"What happens when the generation once dubbed 'selfish, entitled and lazy' are given the keys to leadership? A lot of therapy when you realise that you may be the one to save an entire industry. Some lessons and musings from the frontlines from Shannon Washington," adds the seminar.

Marco Venturelli: CEO / CCO of Publicis Conseil and CCO Publicis Groupe France

Talk: 'Looking for problems'

"Big creativity starts with big problems — the 'elephants in the room' that companies ignore. The ideas that push the boundaries are the ones that provide an innovative business answer to them. Marco Venturelli will illustrate this with recent examples from the automobile, technology and retail sectors as he challenges the audience to refuse business as usual," the event says.

Aleta Miller: United Nations Women South Africa multi-country office representative

Talk: 'Unstereotyping Creativity'

"Aleta Miller delves into the pivotal role advertising can play in reshaping social norms that perpetuate power imbalances between women and men. She will explore the transformative potential of the creative sector in driving positive social change; transforming the harmful norms that drive violence against women and girls, as well as explore brands' untapped opportunities to end violence against women and girls," adds the event.

Geet Rathi: creative director at Area 23, New York, United States of America

Talk: 'A.I. couldn't design this!'

"AI is proving to be a valuable tool in aiding designers create breakthrough new work, but will it really replace the designer? Geet Rathi talks to Leigh-Anne, as she shares her work and work that has inspired her. This conversation will further explore why AI will make the design process easier but acts only as a tool to enhance the product of talented designers," the seminar says.

Greg Edwards: president and CEO of UniWorld Group, Inc. (UWG), United States of America

Talk: 'Demographics Alone Do Not Define a Group, Why Cultural Context is the Game Changer'

"Culture extends beyond the traditional breakdown of race, gender and income. Hungry for culturally relevant content, consumers are more culturally diverse than ever while cultural passion points draw people together for conversation and connection," says the seminar. 

"While many have led with a data-driven strategy to build and amplify creative campaigns, cultural context is needed to leverage the information accurately and effectively for impactful programmes. Gregory Edwards, from the longest-standing multicultural advertising agency in the United States, discusses how culture-driven data is the game changer in an ever-evolving media landscape," the seminar adds.

Jochen Bischoff: head of global business solutions in Africa at TikTok

Talk: 'Why should I listen to your story?'

"People's attention has never been more valuable and more hard to engage than today. Content reaches users from so many channels and through so many formats that people have to choose wisely which is worth their time," the event says.

"So, how can brands tell stories that find their way to a receptive audience or, better yet, what makes good stories, great? Jochen Bischoff unpacks the art and science of successful storytelling as viewed through the lens of a platform that recognises the impact a great story can have on its recipient," the event adds.

Steve Babaeko: CEO / chief creative officer at X3M Ideas, Nigeria

Talk: 'Fuelling and Funding Your Creative Ambition'

"'Fuelling and funding Your Creative Ambition' explores the methods and strategies for discovering and sustaining one's creative drive and ambition as it delves into techniques for igniting and maintaining inspiration, overcoming creative blocks and nurturing a sense of purpose in one's creative endeavours," says the seminar.

"It provides insights and practical advice to tap into your creative potential and achieve your artistic aspirations while providing practical guidance for individuals who want to ignite their creative drive and secure the resources to bring their visions to fruition," the seminar adds.

Svetlana Polikarpova: founder and director of Tandem Network, Kenya

Talk: 'The Power of Creativity in Shaping Social Narratives'

"Svetlana Polikarpova talks about not creating for your audience but creating it with them," the seminar concludes.

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