Now in its ninth year, Next Creative Leaders is a portfolio competition that identifies, celebrates and provides a global platform to talented women and non-binary creatives who are making their mark on the world.

Creatives are making their mark with both their work and unique point of view on creative leadership that's changing the industry for the better, according to The One Club.

NCL 2023 judges in the Middle East and Africa are:
  • Kevo Abba, stylist, art director, visual artist, Kevo Abbra Styling & Art Studio, Nairobi
  • Shadi Al Hiroub, CCO, MENAMONSTERS, Dubai
  • Diogo Borges, executive creative tech director, ? and us, Dubai
  • Sarah Guessoum, creative strategy lead, TikTok, Dubai
  • Sinmisola Hughes-Obisesan, ECD, Publicis Groupe, Ikoyi, Lagos
  • Chesang’ Koech, senior writer, Ogilvy Africa, Nairobi
  • Manal Naji, associate CD, Leo Burnett, Beirut
  • Brian Njagi, CD, Ogilvy Africa, Nairobi
  • Neema Nouse, writer, The Odd Number, Johannesburg, and
  • Jason Velasquez Burayag, senior CD, Socialise / We Are Social, Dubai

The complete list of 2023 jurors can be viewed here.

Eligible participants for NCL are those stepping into leadership roles, including copywriters, art directors, designers, ACDs, newly promoted creative and design directors with less than one year in the role, and creative teams who are doing game-changing work, says The One Club. 

Entries highlighting a candidate's creativity, leadership and unique point of view must be submitted by the 2023 deadline.

To make Next Creative Leaders as open and accessible as possible, there is no fee to enter, with a strong push for candidates to self-nominate. Winners will be announced in February 2024.

The One Club adds that along with naming global winners based on the highest jury scores, the competition also recognises regional winners in Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East / Africa and North America.

An archive of previous NCL winners, sorted by year, can be viewed here.

According to The One Club for Creativity, each NCL winner receives a one-year complimentary individual membership with The One Club, with opportunities to participate in future One Club awards juries, and complimentary tickets to a One Club professional development conference (more than USD$1 000 in value), panels and mentorship events.

Winners have their work showcased on The One Club website, promotion on both The 3% Movement and The One Club social channels, and potential opportunities to speak on the annual Next Creative Leaders panel. The global winners also get a dedicated profile article on The One Club website, adds The One Club.

Selina Kehuan Wu, an MFA candidate at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence and a Type Directors Club TDC69 competition winner, designed the branding for Next Creative Leaders 2023.

For more information, visit www.theoneclub.org and www.3percentmovement.com.