Mim Haysom’s Cannes Diary #1: No egos, big ideas and a Creative Data shortlist worth celebrating
Mim Haysom, Executive General Manager Brand and Customer Experience at Suncorp, is representing Australia on the Creative Data Lions jury. Here, Mim gives Campaign Brief a behind-the-scenes look at day one inside the jury room – where the shortlist takes shape, caffeine flows freely, and creativity meets data under the microscope.
Behind the Scenes of the Creative Data Jury
Today was day 1 in the jury room. Ten strangers, all from different countries and with very diverse experience. We had bonded over Teams meetings, and collectively spent months reviewing and evaluating creative submissions, 562 of them in total, over weekends, late nights, and with too much caffeine to be reasonable for human consumption. We were finally meeting in person, and spending day 1 to agree on what should be the shortlist for the Creative Data Lions.
There was excitement to finally meet, and a huge sense of shared accountability to interrogate the work, to find and celebrate ‘the best of the best’. We agreed our job was to take the creative data category to the next level, particularly in an environment of increasing change and AI obsession.
It was incredible to spend the day debating the work, challenging our ideas and being completely immersed and focused on getting to our shortlist. At 7.30pm we had done the job for day 1. A list of submissions that we all wholeheartedly believe are worthy of being on a Cannes Lions shortlist. A shortlist we are excited to evaluate again tomorrow, to decide the work that will be recognised with the honour of receiving a Cannes Lion.
As I reflect on day 1, here are my key observations:
· I’m lucky to be in the company of an incredible jury group who are generous with their ideas, and respectful of others. Legends, everyone on them, and delightfully all with no egos!
· We are crystal clear on the role of AI and how we consider it in our judging – something I believe is critical for this category, this year.
· The work that is standing out for me personally is not data or creative, but a brilliant combination of both, intertwined beautifully to create impact.
There is work in this category that is courageous, work that raises the bar, and work that should be celebrated.
Bring on another long day tomorrow.