Ahead of a panel at Cannes Lions this year as part of New Digital Age’s Panel Power initiative, our industry-leading speaker training programme, we’re talking to Cannes veterans to get their tips on how best to show up at Cannes Lions.
Giles Ivey runs his own consultancy, Opsimatters, and works in various capacities as Exec Chair, Board Advisor, an Investor and sometimes as a human being just trying to help other good, interesting human beings.
So “my Cannes” is very different to many peoples. If you turn up and don’t know a ton of folk maybe packing your calendar with back to back meetings feels like the way to do it but this technique, often fuelled by demands from CEOs and CROs from the other side of the pond, that you’ve got to be meeting people from dawn until dusk (6am yoga anyone?)
I’d say this doesn’t always get the results you’d hope for. It often leads to lack of “space” and less opportunities to randomly run into people you don’t know, you didn’t know were there, or people you’d never have expected to be so interesting!
And the dusk to dawn approach can lead to people packing their calendars with people they know very well and can see in London whenever they like.
Everyone talks about “showing up” at Cannes, but what’s the difference between being visible and being genuinely memorable, and have we collectively confused the two for too long?
I think having a massive knees up at Baoli Beach bar can be memorable but it’s not for everyone. Bottles of champagne at multiple thousands of Euros a bottle impresses some, and many have nights there that they’d rather forget than will never forget.
Also I’m way closer to 60 than 50 so I’m not judging (I am!) but it’s not for me. My favourite dinner is a dinner I host in Cannes on the Monday night. In the old town. Set dinner with few choices. Local wine (would you like red, white or rosé?.)
Also an eclectic crew with little agenda other than knowing they’ll probably meet someone interesting and are as likely to talk about beekeeping as they are about adtech and how great their business is doing. And you get to see a beautiful part of Cannes that some people still don’t know is there.
The old Cannes formula was proximity to power, parties, panels, and posting proof you were there. What actually creates long-term career momentum now, especially for people without a huge profile or senior title?
I tend to get away from the main drag. Cannes is massive and while there are thousands pacing up and down the Croisette there are thousands trying to escape it. I think if you’re part of that escape from the Croisette plan then people will remember you as the ones who took them away from the carnival – even if just for a few hours.
It’s a break, a chance to get your breath back, an opportunity to not have to greet someone every few paces and just to take stock.
Also, in that frame of mind, I think you have more interesting and deeper conversations. And, if you’ve ever been blown out in Cannes, it maybe because someone is having a better time away from the action than they are in the whirlwind of the yachts, the parties, the dive bar and all the other fun things to do in Cannes.
Overall my message is be less obvious than those around you. Less is more.
To attend the Panel Power event on Wednesday 24 June, 10-11am at Maison NDA in Cannes, click here.
