Howling for the Culture: How I Became a Wolf at Cannes Lions See It Be It

Somewhere past the rosé, beyond the good ol’ boys, and below the C-Suite, you could find 20 bold women in the south of France, tucked away in an enchanted circle of our own. This circle is better known as See It Be It, a Cannes Lions initiative built to close the gender gap in creative leadership – specifically in the communications industry.  After competing against over 600 applicants worldwide, submitting a portfolio, and having the most candid interview imaginable, I made it into this world-renowned leadership accelerator.

No one could have prepared us for the crash course we were about to receive from some of the industry’s most revered power players. They joined our circle, took off their armor, and bestowed their wisdom upon us. Here are a few magic lessons that have forever transformed me. 

Resilience is your super power.

People often think that confidence is the key to blazing a trail, but the truth is confidence comes in waves. Some days you have it and some days you don’t. The key to long term success is actually resilience. You can get further than most by simply showing up to fight another day. The great thing about resilience is that it’s not a special gift born to a few. Anyone can simply keep trying. It’s a power we all possess, and that’s what makes it super. 

Slay the beast.

There’s an inner beast inside of all of us. The one who doubts our greatness and tells us what we can’t do. That inner critic is often louder than anyone else. Surprisingly, the higher up the ladder you go, the more obnoxious it gets. The key is to acknowledge the beast that lives within us. Give it a ridiculous name, one that makes you laugh and discredits the beast right out of the gate. And when it starts piping up, call it by its name. Tell it to have several seats. Then, as my fellow participant Lama Bawadi put it, “Slay the beast.” The fight is never ending, but if Queen Bey can do it, you too can slay all day. 

"You were never Little Red Red Riding Hood. You were always the wolf. "

We are wolves.

The most enlightening moment of the trip is when Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach graced us with her presence on Google Island. Yes, apparently Google rents an entire island during Cannes. During that lunch, she spoke of fairytales, particularly "Little Red Riding Hood." Everything is fine until Little Red Riding Hood veers off the path. That’s when she encounters the Big Bad Wolf. The lesson is clear: keep your head down or you’ll be in big trouble. However, what Wambach said next will stick with me forever, “You were never Little Red Riding Hood. You were always the wolf.” 

The world knows how big and bad you are. They just don’t want you to know. So be curious, ask questions, veer off the path, and become the wolf you were always meant to be. 

Find your pack.

I came to Cannes expecting to be inspired by the world’s best creative. And I was. But I left inspired by so much more. I now have 19 new sisters from across the globe to move with me through this crazy career. We call ourselves the wolf pack. Every day, their creative brilliance and stories of resilience move me beyond words. And while everyone can’t fly to France to find their pack, people can join forces with the beautiful minds around them.

If you are thinking about heading to Cannes and your inner beast is anything like mine, she’ll discourage you from applying to See It Be It next year. She’ll come up with excuses like, “There aren’t enough past participants who look like you. You can never win a competition against that many people. You don’t check enough boxes to apply.” When that happens tap into your inner wolf. Hit the submit button. And howl to the moon and back.