See It Be It

The advertising industry has worked hard in recent years to create equal opportunities for all. But women and non-binary people are still heavily outnumbered at a leadership level. We want to change this.

See It Be It is our response to this gender imbalance. It’s where we rewrite the rules.

See It Be It is the programme that creates space for women and non-binary people in the creative industry – accelerating their careers to work towards gender equality. Our goal is equal numbers, across genders, across all levels of seniority.

Since 2014, we’ve been inviting up to 20 creatives from around the world to Cannes Lions for a four-day learning programme. During these four days, we equip them with tools that’ll help their career progression – including mentorship, masterclasses with industry leaders, backstage access and sessions tailored towards each person’s goals.

If you’re selected for See It Be It, you’ll get a fully funded trip to Cannes Lions, including accommodation and travel. You’ll also get a VIP Festival pass, so you can access every stage and session.

We invite women and non-binary people to apply. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes both cis and trans women and all non-binary people, regardless of presentation or sex assigned at birth. You need to work in a mid- to senior position in advertising, marketing, filmmaking, innovation, editorial, design, PR or any other related disciplines. We don’t have an age limit for See It Be It. If you think you’d benefit from the programme, we welcome your application.

Every year, we receive over 1000 applications for See It Be It – and we judge every application on its own merits through a rigorous three-stage process. First, we use a jury of over 40 See It Be It alumni to create a shortlist. Our jurors are creative directors, art directors, creative partners and copywriters from around the world, so they know exactly what it takes to get into See It Be It and the impact it can have on your career.

We then invite the shortlisted applicants to a telephone interview with the LIONS See It Be It team. Our final decision is based on the outcome of these interviews, as well as the original application.

Applications open: 7 October 2025, 00:01 GMT
Applications close: 5 December 2025, 00:01 GMT
Applicants notified: 22 January 2026

• We've accelerated over 150 women from 44 countries/markets
• 75% of the See It Be It alumni have been promoted and 63% are now operating at Creative Director level or above
• we’ve fostered a close knit community of driven women and non-binary people
• our alumni have come back to Cannes Lions as judges and tutors.

Estefanía López Strategy Director, Connections, TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, USA

Nicky Lorenzo Founder & Executive Creative Director, Twice on Sunday, USA

We’ve put together an entry kit to give you extra information about the programme and guidance on what to expect from the application process. Our goal is to ensure that all applicants feel supported in sharing their mission and passion for the creative industry.

If you have any queries, please contact talentprogrammes@canneslions.com.