LAS VEGAS, USA — The cards were on the table as the 2025 London International Awards (LIA) celebrated its 40th year with the opening of the Creative LIAisons program at the Encore Wynn Hotel. Over 130 emerging talents from around the globe gathered for an extraordinary opportunity: five days of mentorship, inspiration, and unfiltered access to some of the most influential names in creativity.
Guided by Creative LIAisons Moderator Chris Smith, Principal and Chief Creative Officer of Plot Twist Creativity Dallas, the rising stars began their journey with a day of dynamic sessions that blended candid advice, creative philosophy, and industry-defining wisdom.
Honoring a Legend: Dörte Spengler-Ahrens
Day 1 culminated with a landmark moment — the presentation of the LIA Legend Awardto Dörte Spengler-Ahrens, Non-Executive Chairwoman of Jung von Matt Group Germany.
Introduced in 2023, the award honors industry leaders who go beyond creative brilliance to mentor, empower, and elevate the next generation. Spengler-Ahrens’ career has been a trailblazing series of firsts: founding MARIA, Germany’s first women’s agency; becoming the first female president of the Art Directors Club Germany; and leading iconic campaigns for BMW, Audi, Nivea, Zalando and more. She has also been a tireless champion of diversity and women’s empowerment.
Presenting the award, Barbara Levy, President & Founder of LIA, said: “This year, I am proud and honored to present the LIA Legend Award to a creative leader who has impacted the industry, not just in Germany but around the world: Dörte Spengler-Ahrens. And it gives me great joy to present this award here in Las Vegas, a city that holds a special place in her heart: the city where she got married.”
Everything You Ever Wanted to Ask a CCO, But Were Afraid To
Jetlag was no match for curiosity as Liz Taylor, Global CCO of Ogilvy, moderated an unfiltered Q&A with some of the world’s top creative leaders: Chaka Sobhani (DDB Worldwide), Gabriel Schmitt (Grey), Perry Fair (Mattel El Segundo), and Peter Khoury(TBWA\Asia & TBWA\Singapore).
Questions came fast and candid: career setbacks, risks worth taking, the future of creativity. A recurring theme was vulnerability — staying emotionally connected to the work even when the stakes are high.
For the many young women in the room, Chaka Sobhani left a powerful reminder: “Never be afraid to find your voice, and fight for it.”
Suzanne Powers & Andrea Diquez: Creativity’s Secret Weapons
In a lively session, Suzanne Powers (Founder/CEO, Powers Creativity and All& Westport) and Andrea Diquez (Global CEO, GUT) reframed creativity through the lens of business and strategy.
Their advice: stay obsessed with people, not screens; venture into the world to feel what moves audiences; and never underestimate the collective power of teamwork — from strategists to office managers.
They left attendees with a mantra: “Always say yes to everything, even if it’s a boring brief or scary new task, because no matter what happens, you’ll learn from it.”
Unleashing the Power of Creativity in Media
Media met creativity in a masterclass led by Linda Cronin (.monks, Jury President), Jackie Lyons (Havas Media), and Dino Myers-Lamptey (The Barber Shop London).
The trio emphasized collaboration as the secret sauce: when creatives and media planners work together from the start, ideas not only reach audiences but resonate with them.
Linda distilled it best: “Collaborate early in the process. They are your audience behavior experts who might take your idea to the next level with a new angle or insight.”
Why Craft Matters More Than Ever
Jurors Dan Lucey, Michael Ritchie, Umma Saini, and Juan Woodbury reignited the conversation on craft, stressing its enduring power to differentiate in an age of saturation.
They urged creatives to embrace platform-specific tailoring while never losing their human touch, even with AI at hand. As Umma Saini summed up: “Good craft gives your ideas an unfair advantage in the face of noise.”
Thriving in a Social-First World with Nicholas Spiro
Closing the day, Nicholas Spiro (CCO, Viral Nation) brought the audience into the fast-moving world of social-first creativity. With case studies and insights, he showed how lo-fi content, UGC, and authenticity often outperform polished production.
His parting advice: “Move at the speed of trends and culture. Then engage the community to amplify your ideas wide without losing authenticity.”
A Seat at the Table
For the 130 rising stars who stepped into the Wynn today, Day 1 of Creative LIAisons was more than a conference — it was an invitation into the inner sanctum of global creativity. With legends, trailblazers, and mentors shaping the conversation, the stage is set for four more days of inspiration, candor, and connection.
