Rhiana Merota’s LIA Diary #3: 25 before 25… With a little help from Creative LIAisons

Rhiana Merota, Intermediate Art Director at Special ~ Campaign Brief’s New Zealand Agency of the Year ~ represented Aotearoa at the 2025 Creative LIAisons program in Las Vegas, featuring some of the world’s most respected creative directors as speakers. Here, Merota delivers her final diary, exclusively for Campaign Brief.

That’s a wrap on five days of Creative LIAisons in Vegas.
But this time, what happened in Vegas won’t be staying in Vegas.

I previously relayed my 20/25 learnings before I turn 25 (and in 2025, what a coincidence!)
Now, I’m finishing up my time on the Strip with another key 5 from Day 5: A day filled with more inspiring talks from great creatives and leaders.

21. Be uncomfortable.
22. The idea always wins.
23. AI might be a solution, but connection needs to be compelling, and most importantly, human.
24. Just do it. Damn. Nike really cooked with this one. But it’s true. Get out of your own head, and just do the thing.
25. Lean in. Fear, excitement, pride… It’s what we’re here for.

But, if the 25-point-list wasn’t enough, I noticed something else.

Everyone who’s reported on Creative LIAisons has similarly commented on the openness of the mentees attending. And I think that’s due to the rare occasion of 125 creatives leaning into genuine human connection with each-other. No cliques. No hierarchy. No labels. Just the desire to create great work for our clients, our agencies, ourselves and the world around us.

And so, off we return to our agencies to do exactly that. And if you know somewhere that sells a really good sponge, let me know. I think I need one for my desk.