So, why did you decide to come to Cannes Lions this year?

“I want to learn from the best!” That’s what Spencer told me as we were on the tram at the Paris De Gaul airport making our way to board our flight to Nice in route to Cannes, France 🇫🇷 for the iconic and legendary Cannes Lions Festival.

He, along with 40,000 plus brands, and advertising, marketing and culture enthusiasts, travel from all over the world to one of the most international and coveted hot spots in the French Riviera to network and participate in one of the most surreal opportunities to rub elbows and exchange knowledge and learn from the likes of Gary V, Queen Latifah, Dj Trauma, Dj D Nice along with the owners of media branches such as Omnicon and Google.

This year’s hot topic, among others, was AI and how we, as a creative industry, can gracefully approach the technology to enhance our businesses and brands. There was a keen emphasis on letting go of the fear and resistance to change so that we could approach our business and creative initiatives in a more resourceful way that efficiently produces a more elevated product and that also affords us more time to enrich our skillsets and quality of life. Of course keeping ethics at the forefront as we navigate the new terrain of generative systems coupled with the importance of balance and refining and utilizing human awareness and consciousness as a main ingredient when developing various AI applications, were also highlighted.

As I attended Google’s closing party as a guest of BOMESI, compliments of the beautiful Arielle Russo, I valued their presentation, “Infinite Wonderland”, which featured Google’s AI Image Generation Model technology. Whether engaging with Gemini Canvas, Gen Type, AI Assisted Creativity and Insights with Google Cloud  or YouTube Shorts Generative AI (Chose A Prompt, Create Your Dream Screen and then Make Your Story), I found myself fully immersed in the potential of AI, truly recognizing the value of generative systems as a whole and saluting Google for being a major player and leader as it relates to this technology.

Another hot topic was Diversity, Equity & Inclusion behind the hype and political correctness. Nielsen, the King of Data Aggregation, hosted a panel entitled, Empower & Elevate: The Power of Resonant Black Content and Celebrating Black Creatives that included: Craig Geller (Co-Founder, CE3NO), DèVon Johnson (Co-Founder & CEO, Bleulife Media Group & BOMESI), Damien Benders (GM, B Code Media) and Charlene Polite Corley (VP Diverse Insights & Partnerships, Nielsen)

All of these leaders had some real and candid remarks regarding the true definition of inclusion and diversity with an emphasis on the L.G.B.Q.T. community. An overall refreshing point was raised when one of the panelist mentioned that instead of marketing to QUEERS as if they are a monolithic group of people, how about approaching them in a way that shows that the company innerstands what people in this community truly feel and value as opposed to solely the product they want to buy. This resonated with me deeply because it reflects how we are all more than our identity markers as even these societal boxes can be stifling and limiting as it relates to authentic human expression and evolution. It also reminds us that even within various groups, there exists an array of colors and values that deserve to be acknowledged by brands if they truly value the quality of lives of their consumers as opposed to just their consumer’s purchasing power.

Another gilded remark came from Mr. Devon Christopher Johnson of Bomesy. Courageously and flawlessly, I might add, he addressed the real meaning of the term ally when it comes to disenfranchised communities. Johnson made it clear that it is not enough to throw around the term ally simply because you champion for a particular group within corporate initiatives. To truly wear the honorable badge of being an ally, one must be active civically and socially in the communities of these historically disenfranchised groups. One must make themselves abreast of the culture and issues as well as show themselves approved in other areas of their patrons lives that far exceed the superficial level of commerce.

Johnson also went on to share that when he enters a room or a meeting, he comes expecting just as much if not more than what his Caucasian counterpart expects and receives. Johnson reminds us to not let the veil and ignorance of white privilege to distort our value and the gold that dwells inside. He also implores us to not shy away from holding people accountable when they dish anything less than what we deserve!

So many fireside chats were had and so many countless and priceless memories were indeed created at my very first, but sure not to be last Cannes Lions rendezvous.

I would like to give a special salute to the InkWell beach for providing a cool, comfortable and uplifting space for people of color as they navigated their value and presence at Cannes Lions.

I also would be remiss if I did not express a deep and explosive sentiment of gratitude for Mr. Wayne Taylor of 6 Degrees, and more importantly, my long time confidant and friend, who in one of the most distressing moments during Cannes when I lost my phone and wallet, reminded me that I may lose things, but that does not mean that I have to lose myself also. No matter what the perceived value of those items may be, there is nothing more valuable than me being present. Had I not been able to be present despite the circumstantial challenge that I was growing through, I would have been robbed of so many moments experienced that allowed me to have the authentic content and perspective to even write this article.

And, yes, I most certainly found my phone and my wallet 48 hours later, but more importantly, I discovered a deeper and richer part of myself before the material items were found.

Love & Light,
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☆CRISTEN M. MILLS☆