Cannes Lions & Roger Hatchuel Academy After Thoughts

After Thoughts-

Cannes Lions & the Roger Hatchuel Academy were by far one of my greatest education experiences, and my experience there goes beyond just classrooms and lectures.  It was a global social event for creatives; it was a mind blowing broadway show; it was a week long afternoon tea with masterminds of marketing and advertising; a big buffet of opportunity and it was full of fun. 

Roger Hatchuel Academy was the most tiring and exciting week of my life. It was the 6th Roger Hatchuel Academy at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.  RHA was the biggest ever, 35 students from all around the world.  At RHA, Advertising wasn't the only subject we learned, as we have been introduced to industry's masterminds, joined press conferences, discovered top secrets  and were lead by brilliant creatives like Rick Boyko (the new dean) and Clive Challis. Rick is heading the up postgraduate course at VCU Brandcenter, and was in charge of all the creative output from Ogilvy & Mather. Clive is head of the advertising course at Central Saint martins in London.

Every day at Roger Hatchuel Academy was tiring and overloading.  RHA started at 9:30 every morning and we attended non-stop seminars and discussion until 7pm.  I didn't want to miss a thing there, weather it's classes in the morning or fun activities at night.  Yes, I have definitely overloaded with what I have learned, and it lead me to a state of emptiness at the end.  It will take me a while to digest what I have learned there, and it was a good thing for me to take notes for revisiting my memory.

Friendship were so easy to form in RHA in Cannes, it only happens in Cannes and I can hardly see it happening anywhere else.  35 of RHA students instantly became family on the second day.  We used our energy to learn the culture difference and we pretty much grouped together like a multi-nation country. We share thoughts, ideas, or whatever anyone had in mind, and beside the skin color and appearance, we weren't different at all. I feel very much connected to all of the RHA mates, and enjoy the experience of meeting international students.

Roger Hatchuel Academy at Cannes has changed me. Before I came to Cannes, I thought I was good enough for myself, and ready to start up my own business and take over the country.  After seeming so much talent and creative minds from all over the world, I have changed.   I have been crashed and forced to be reborn from a new state of mind.  I realized I wasn't getting ahead of anyone at all, but so much behind.  I still yet have a long journey to go, and so many people to meet, I was glad I made this trip, the trip that refreshes me for even bigger challenges in the future.

Many thanks to friends from Roger Hatchuel, Alfred University, and Dr. William Ward.

-Scott Liao