Combating Bias in Awards Culture


Details

Date

Thu, Oct 17

Time

2:50PM – 3:30PM

Stage

Impact stage

Address

Spring Studios
6 St Johns Ln,
New York, NY 10013

Speakers & Moderators

Simon Cook

CEO, Cannes Lions

Speaker
Andre Gray

CCO, ANNEX88

Moderator
Aaron Walton

CEO, Walton Isaacson

Moderator

Let’s be honest—everyone wants to win awards and be recognized for their work. However, the awards culture in advertising carries more weight than simply acknowledging creative excellence. Brands often determine an agency’s value based on its awards history, and top talent is drawn to agencies with prestigious wins, leading to more opportunities for award-worthy projects. But how does this dynamic affect diverse-owned agencies and executives striving to compete on a level playing field, hoping to secure accolades like a Cannes Lion or an Effie? Is the awards industry inherently biased, and does it unintentionally perpetuate inequity? In this panel, Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, will explore the biases within the awards system and the efforts being made to create more equitable recognition across the industry.