Fatma Al Suwaidi, a third year student majoring in Advertising at American University in Dubai to represent the UAE at the exclusive Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy 2022
The Roger Hatchuel Student Academy, founded in 2003, is a unique learning experience designed to help students interested in pursuing a creative path in advertising launch their careers. Selected students learn first-hand from the world’s greatest brands, creative minds and industry leaders, and the programme takes place over the week of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France.
As the official UAE representatives of the Cannes Lions Festival, Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan are delighted to announce that Fatma Al Suwaidi, a third year Visual Communications student majoring in Advertising at American University in Dubai (AUD), has been selected to represent the UAE at the exclusive Cannes Lions Roger Hatchuel Academy 2022
Fatma was one of the three recommended students from the UAE this year, alongside Kenzy Abedelmaksoud and Lillian Ghousseini also from AUD, whose submissions were reviewed by the Roger Hatchuel Academy selection panel – a diverse mix of global experts from reputed education institutions, the industry and related creative fields.
Commenting on being selected for this year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy, Fatma said, “If someone had told me at the start of my academic studies that I would become the passionate advertising creative I am today, I would not have believed them. Not because I thought I wasn’t capable, but because I grew in so many ways, that I exceeded my own expectations. I am nearing the end of my studies at AUD, but my journey in seeking knowledge is forever ongoing, and to be selected in my senior year to represent my country at the prestigious Roger Hatchuel Academy is an honor and I look forward to learning from the very best.”
“I am certain that attending the Cannes Lions Festival will be an experience packed with creativity, inspiration and just pure passion. My selection is a triumph I am proud of; however, it is not something that I accomplished alone, I owe my thanks to my family who supported me, my friends who were by my side, my university for giving me the foundation I need, and last but not least, Professor Dina Faour, a true role model every student would be lucky to have,” she added.
Dina Faour, Professor of Advertising, Department of Visual Arts, American University Dubai said, “We are so excited to witness yet another year for AUD at the one and only Cannes Lions and, specifically, at the Roger Hatchuel academy. This is a clear attestation to the program, the curriculum, the team, the students and the work. We wish Fatma AlSuwaidi a journey filled with inspiration and creativity, and we just know she’ll do us proud. We want to thank Cannes Lions for supporting students with this exclusive academy that joins the best students around the globe in one classroom and offers them such a unique insight into the industry. Thank you Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan, for being so professional, you certainly deserve to represent this festival.”
The Roger Hatchuel Academy class of 2022 will host 30 students in total, and throughout the week-long programme, students will dissect diversity and unlock a greater understanding of each other, the world and the nature of the industry.
Other areas covered include:
This year’s Roger Hatchuel Academy will run in parallel to the Cannes Lions Festival from 20 – 24 June 2022. Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan wishes Fatma Al Suwaidi the best of luck as she embarks on this journey, and we hope her experience and learnings at the Roger Hatchuel Academy will create positive impact and contribute to her future endeavours in the industry.
Up until 2018, Motivate Val Morgan Cinema Advertising – official representative of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, nominated one student to attend the Roger Hatchuel Academy – a student learning programme carefully designed to offer students of advertising, communications and other creative disciplines, the head-start they need to secure a role within the competitive creative industry post-graduation.
In 2019, Motivate Val Morgan recommended three students whose submissions were reviewed by a global panel of 7-9 jurors from Cannes Lions – comprising of a diverse mix of professionals from reputed education institutions, the industry and related creative fields. Earlier this month, the panel of jurors selected Meera Saeed Humaid Alaraj Alsuwaidi – a student at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree of Communication & Media Science, to represent the UAE at the prestigious Roger Hatchuel Academy which will take place from the 17th – 21st June 2019 in Cannes, France.
The Roger Hatchuel Academy is a student learning programme carefully designed to offer students of advertising, communications and other creative disciplines, the head-start they need to secure a role within the competitive creative industry post-graduation.
Students can expect a programme tailored to the current industry landscape, one which combines classroom sessions and a selection of official Festival content – under the guidance of course tutors Abraham Abbi Asefaw and Maksimilian Kallhed – Co-Founders of The Pop Up Agency.
Academy students get full access to the Cannes Lions Festival, including the five Award Shows and the Young Lions Party. They will also have exclusive access to the Jury rooms, which are closed to all other attendees of the Festival. This is a unique way to navigate the world’s most important discussion of creativity in communications, and an unrivalled opportunity to network with other future Lions-winners.
Creative leaders that have previously lectured at the Academy are – Bob Greenberg, Bob Isherwood, Neil French, David Droga, Jim Stengel, Michael Conrad and Tham Khai Meng, to name a few.
Commenting on being selected, Meera AlSuwaidy stated, “ I can’t even put into words how honored I am to be a part of the Roger Hatchuel Academy class of 2019, I’m also very proud and grateful to represent my country in this event. This wouldn’t have been possible without Dr. Park – my advisor, who has guided me through it all and has always believed in me, even at times when I wasn’t confident in my abilities. He has always inspired me to be the best version of myself, and I knew the best way to appreciate his efforts was to earn my spot in the academy. Travelling to different parts of the world has opened my eyes and broadened my thoughts and perception about my surroundings – you can say that it is the fuel that channeled creativity into my work. With this opportunity, I will begin a new journey as a determined communication and media student eager to learn, rather than travelling as a tourist, and will attend this academy that is filled with various opportunities to help build up my character, skills and future career. In addition to that, it is an experience that will help me find inspiration to bring creativity into media. In conclusion, I am very excited to meet my fellow classmates, some of the most creative minds from all over the world under the same roof. This is a once in a lifetime experience that I will cherish forever.”
Park Beede – Graduate Coordinator and Assistant Professor at Zayed University, said, “Everyone, in the College of Communication and Media Sciences, is extremely excited for Meera, to be selected for this opportunity. The rich tradition of creativity at Cannes Lions is a recognized pinnacle of achievement in our field, and the Roger Hatchuel Academy offers such a wonderful opportunity for young creatives to experience this energy. We know that Meera will be an excellent ambassador of creativity for the UAE, contributing to the diverse cultures brought together in this talented group of up-and-coming creative minds. We look forward to all the experiences Meera can absorb during this opportunity and bring back to share with her fellow students. We also appreciate the gracious support of Motivate Val Morgan in nurturing young talent to be tomorrow’s creative professionals. The opportunity for students to share firsthand experience from seasoned professionals is a truly unique opportunity.”
Motivate Media Group and Motivate Val Morgan would like to wish Meera AlSuwaidy the best of luck as she embarks on this journey, and we hope her experience and learnings at the Roger Hatchuel Academy will create positive impact and contribute to her future endeavors in the industry.
As the official representatives of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the UAE, Motivate and Motivate Val Morgan recently concluded the distribution of Lions won by 5 creative agencies based in the UAE at this year’s Cannes Lions Festival – which took place in June 2018 in Cannes, France.
Creative heads and their respective teams from this year’s winning agencies gathered at Motivate Offices in Dubai Media City for an evening of networking over refreshments, followed by the Awards distribution, where they received their respective Lions from Ian Fairservice – Managing Partner and Group Editor in Chief at Motivate, and Avinash Udeshi – Chief Operating Officer at Motivate Val Morgan.
This year, the UAE won a total of 12 Lions – 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 7 Bronze Lions.
We at Motivate and Motivate Val Morgan warmly congratulate all winning agencies and look forward to more UAE wins at next year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
