This year IAPI were thrilled to announce that Ireland had won two student placements from two Irish Colleges for the 2023 Roger Hatchuel Academy.
Ben Holmes from Maynooth University and Niamh Bakker from TU Dublin accompanied our 14 Cannes Young Lions winners in June to travel to Cannes and attend five days of exceptional learning during the Cannes Lions Festival.
The Roger Hatchuel Academy is a unique learning experience designed to help students interested in pursuing a creative path in advertising launch their careers.
30 students from around the world, won their place in this year’s classroom with selected candidates learning first-hand from the world’s greatest brands, creative minds and industry leaders.
"I thought they were utterly exaggerating, but they were far from it. It was the best experience I've ever had in my 5 years in college, let alone my professional career. I made so many friends there that I not only plan to visit, but they gave me a broader outlook on the world.
Attending the academy has given me this boost of confidence professionally. Learning the importance of saying no to opportunities that don't feel right and to only work with people you would want to go for a drink with. I think the biggest takeaway from the week was from David Shing ‘Go where you are cherished’. That has really stuck with me and I hope to carry that on in the future.
There were so many amazing speakers that it is hard to remember all their names. But my favorite speakers were Lisa Chaves, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Omur Kula, Madonna Badger, Ilkay Gurpinar and of course our dean, Serfi Alun. Just amazing women with incredible stories and insights on the industry.
To any students reading this in 2024 doing their research before applying. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you do not put all your effort into this opportunity. From the experience, to the friends you make, to the knowledge you gain, to all the free stuff is just mind blowing and amazing. Attending the RHA is such a unique experience that I have nothing to compare it to. Go for it and be brave!" Niamh Bakker (TU Dublin / Thinkhouse)
"The Roger Hatchuel Academy and the Cannes Lions schools is a space like no other, and is characterised by its diversity, empowerment and community.
The academy gave us the opportunity to get talks from, chat to and work with industry leaders on all sorts of topics from personal branding and creative intelligence to the importance of making mistakes and technological creativity. The best part of the experience was meeting the 36 other students who made up this year’s class.
The academy is already having an impact on my career, both in the sense of my confidence and my outlook on the industry and my own work and in terms of opportunities.
I worked as part of a group of students on one of our class challenges during the academy. It was a brief from the United Nations Development Program based around sustainability. My group won the brief and we’re now acting as an agency and making the campaign we pitched a reality with the UNDP, which is an opportunity only the academy could have given me.
Some of my standout sessions had to be 'Mistakeaways' which was about the importance of mistakes and was done by Ricardo Casal and Juan Javier Pena Plaza for GUT, one of my favourite independent agencies.
Applying as a student for the academy is definitely one of the, if not the best decision I’ve made. And it’s for sure one of the best experiences out there that students can access. Regardless of where you’re from, how you feel about your future, Roger Hatchuel Academy will change your life if you get the chance to attend." BEN HOLMES (Maynooth University)
