Roger Hatchuel Student Academy

Maria Paula Mera, Ecuador  Roger Hatchuel Academy Alumni. Strategic Planner at DDB Ecuador. 

I am a Strategic Planner, currently working at Paradais DDB, Ecuador. My work has been recognized by the Effie Awards in 2020 - 2021; winning several Effies, including the Grand Effie in Ecuador and a gold award in Effie Latam (regional). I am a Roger Hatchuel Academy Alumni for the Cannes Lions Festival and Ecuador's 2019 representative for the Google Creative Lab. I was also recognized for my creative work in student awards, such as El Ojo de Iberoamérica (Latam) and Cannes Young Lions (Ecuador) in 2020. I graduated from communication and marketing at Universidad Casa Grande, and during my career I developed as a copywriter in creative agencies. After my experience in Cannes I discovered my drive into strategy. Since then, I got into several courses in important creative schools, such as Brother School of Creativity. My goal is to prove how strategy can be creative, as well as that everyone can be creative. I also work with projects towards inclusion and empowering people with disabilities in my country. Traveling is my passion, I travel to live and to have stories to tell; I am convinced that stories are out there to be turned into ideas.

Shawn Ngatia, Kenya

RHA Academy Alumni. Formerly Content Manager at The Marcus Graham Project.

I am a Digital Content Creator currently working in Influencer Marketing. I believe in the art of storytelling and being able to embrace that in all aspects of creativity is important and I strive to do that in each space I am involved in, creating a broad spectrum of what creativity looks like.

Maksimilian Kallhed, Sweden Creative Consultant or Director, Amongst Friends | Hyper Island AI Chairperson

Maksimilian is an independent innovation consultant and entrepreneur. He founded The Pop Up Agency in 2012 and has since then popped up in over 55 countries working with a span of clients from governments to global brands and advertising agency networks.

Today Maksimilian's mission is to democratize creativity and break the stereotypes of whom we consider 'creatives'. He believes that this is done through inclusions. In 2018 Maksimilian was listed as one of the top 50 male advocates for equality in marketing and media, globally. In 2021 he was appointed Advisory Council Member for the World Woman Foundation.

Maksimilian has been invited to some of the most prestigious stages in the creative industry to share his philosophy. Maks appreciates the opportunity to facilitate change on large scale, but he also believes in the power of creating change with the new generation. He works teaches at institutions such as Hyper Island, Central Saint Martins, and over the last five years, he has been the Course Designer of Cannes Lions’ Roger Hatchuel Academy.