If nothing is done about educating and growing our creative talent, who are going to be the creative leaders in 10 years time!? – Michael Kean, Global CEO, FBI Talent Co.
For the third consecutive year, FBI Talent Co. is sponsoring a Creative LIAisons and London International Awards Jury lunch at Encore @ Wynn, Las Vegas. The onsite Creative LIAisons program will run from 27th September through 1st October 2026, running concurrently with the LIA judging sessions.
FBI Talent Co. and LIA share the same values and visions for developing emerging talent.
Creative LIAisons is a global educational program that is designed to develop and help upskill young talent in the industry. This training academy is about giving young creatives the competitive edge to level up and accelerate their career growth. It extends learning beyond just the ‘on the job’ curriculum. It’s designed to give up-and-coming talent greater insight into how to navigate the industry and open doors to new networking opportunities.
Originally focused on the Creative side of the industry, FBI Talent Co. has evolved to meet the needs of an fast evolving marketplace over the past 30 years. Today, their global network of Talent Managers cover Creative, Creative Services and Design disciplines. Their success stems from the core belief that people and partnerships are more important than sales.
Through this sponsorship with FBI Talent Co., LIA supports the next generation of creatives in their careers as they evolve in their existing roles. FBI Talent Co., is a world-class talent company that places talent globally. They are known for building and nurturing long term relationships with creative professionals and businesses.
“We’re not just a creative recruitment firm; we’ve always had a focus on career development and management. We pride ourselves on being there for the talent we represent; whether as advisors, mentors or generally to help guide talent throughout their career. So we’re thrilled to be a sponsor for such a great initiative and continue our partnership with LIA.” said Michael Kean, Global CEO of FBI Talent Co.
Michael also commented: “In such an uncertain time in the industry, the only certainty is that we, as an industry, need to foster emerging creative talent more than ever. We’re seeing fewer and fewer young creatives being hired into agencies and this has been a problematic pattern for the last few years. Whilst agencies will say they don’t have the resources and time to mentor talent as they once had, it’s critical to have a future-focused outlook. With the question: If nothing is done about educating and growing our creative talent, who are going to be the creative leaders in 10 years time!?
At FBI Talent Co. we’re proud to once again support the Creative LIAisons programme, for all the reasons above. Creative LIAisons is a proven and successful programme providing an incredible opportunity for more than 125 emerging creatives from around the world. These mentees get a fast-tracked exposure to many of the top creative leaders to listen, learn and help sharpen their focus for their careers moving forward.”
Echoing his sentiments, Laurissa Levy, Creative LIAisons & Global Initiatives Director, LIA, added: “The north star for Creative LIAisons has never been compromised. Since it began in 2012, it has always been our ambition to support and nurture the future stars of the industry by opening the doors to greater masterclass learning and networking. We are grateful to FBI Talent Co. for their continued sponsorship. They have demonstrated through very practical means how much they are behind Creative LIAisons and the benefits of this training program. Growing talent in the industry is a win for everyone.”
“This ethos permeates everything we do and it’s the reason people trust us with some of the biggest decisions they’ll ever make. Every member of our team is a specialist in their field, bringing deep knowledge and understanding of the industry to our work,” remarked Georgie McMaster, Creative Talent Director, FBI Talent Co.
Creative LIAisons will run for five days with a well curated creative curriculum – panel discussions, speakers, a workshop and a designated day to sit in on live statue discussions and a networking party – to bolster creative thinking, craftsmanship, navigating new and current trends. There are no delegates fees to attendees or their companies. LIA covers the cost of airfare and hotel accommodations for approximately 130 young creatives from 27 countries around the world so they can participate in this once-in-a-lifetime learning experience.
Commenting on the very diverse pool of young talent, Laurissa Levy added: “We are always keen to give young creatives from around the globe a seat at the table. This opportunity, which is rare and special, is something that no other show offers. Creative LIAisons is one of the best places to make real and long-term connections.”
On her participation in the up-coming Creative LIAisons Program, Mariana Arce Carretero, Copywriter & Art Director, McCarthy & Co., La Paz said: “Coming from a country where opportunities like this are rare, this means more than recognition — it’s a chance to learn, grow and bring it all back.”
The participants were selected either by their agencies or networks who support LIA or they won a competition that was run by their local advertising club, trade press or media outlet. All participants of the Creative LIAisons onsite program are between the ages of 21 and 30 and currently working in the industry.
