Ziada Abeid, Enniye Timiebi, and Eniola Ogunmekan are three brilliant women in marketing and advertising who will be representing Africa on the global stage at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this year.
Each of them has a unique, inspiring story of how they applied for the Women in Marketing Africa Cannes Lions ERA pass, how they felt when they won - and what they’re hoping to take from the experience.
Ziada Abeid – Co-founder, Communications & Media Consultant at Crescendo Digital - Tanzania
Ziada nearly missed her chance - until her business partner made it her mission to remind her every single day to submit her application.
“She messaged me at 8am daily: ‘Record the video!’ After 20 takes, I hit send with a few hours to spare.”
A few days later, the acceptance email was waiting in her inbox. She immediately called her friend who’d pushed her to apply.
Now? She’s looking forward to:
- Deepening knowledge on creative leadership
- Connecting with global agencies
- Amplifying Africa’s voice in the industry
“It’s like being a kid in a candy store - surrounded by the agencies I’ve admired for years.”
Enniye Timiebi – Consumer Marketing Manager, West Africa at Spotify - Nigeria
Having faced rejection from another Cannes opportunity, Enniye had nearly shelved her dream - again. But she spotted a WiM Africa post just as the deadline was extended.
“If it hadn’t been extended, I wouldn’t have seen it.”
After battling procrastination and video-editing apps, she submitted - and didn’t sleep that night.
“I kept refreshing my email. When I finally got the news, I’ve been on a high ever since.”
She’s going to Cannes with a clear mission:
- Embrace creative chaos
- Let go of overthinking
- Return transformed for her Q4 campaigns
“I’m leaving my rational mind at home this time! I want to come back changed.”
Eniola Ogunmekan, ARPA - Senior Group Head at Insight Publicis – Nigeria
After being turned down for another Cannes opportunity, Eniola had made peace with not going - until a friend insisted she try again.
“I sent in my video at 11:59pm, the night of the deadline. I just didn’t want another heartbreak.”
She almost missed the acceptance email - and saw it just one hour before the RSVP deadline!
“Winning this feels like a breakthrough—it’s global domination now!”
She’s excited to:
- Learn from leaders shaping global creative thinking
- Network with top talent
- Merge creativity with sharp business strategy
“This is the Oscars of creativity. It’s already been life-changing—and we haven’t even landed in Cannes yet.”
Follow their #CannesLions adventures with Women in Marketing Africa #WiMAfricaAtCannes on LinkedIn and Instagram (@WomeninMarketing_Africa) and witness how African talent is rewriting the global creative narrative.