To kick off Cannes Lions, Canvas Worldwide welcomed an incredible group of marketers, creators, innovators, and industry leaders to the breathtaking LVMH Villa, perched above Cannes with views stretching across the sea. 

Our annual “Canvas Gets Candid in Cannes” series is about creating space for honest dialogue, fresh perspectives, and the kinds of conversations that challenge conventional thinking. And the event delivered exactly that!

First, we explored the future of the creator economy with the inspirational duo — Creator & Entrepreneur Dhar Mann & Zillow's Vice President of Brand and Product Marketing Beverly Jackson, examining how influence, storytelling, and community will continue to reshape the relationship between brands and consumers. 

We then turned our attention to one of the most powerful forces in modern marketing: fandom. Canvas Chief Investment Officer Ed Gentner had a fantastic conversation with The New York Times Pulitzer-winning journalist Pablo Torre, Amazon's VP, Global Live Sports Production Jared Stacy, and PepsiCo CMO Mark Kirkham — all who brought remarkably different perspectives (from journalism to streaming and live events to global brand building)… but arrived at a common truth: the strongest brands don’t just build audiences, they cultivate belonging! 

And finally, Canvas SVP, Programmatic Sally Lee closed the day with a conversation that perfectly captured the spirit of our industry at this moment. She moderated a fireside chat with Global Creative Director of Microsoft AI Mark D'Arcy and Zillow CMO Ravi Kandikonda as they shared brilliant perspectives on creativity, AI, innovation, and leadership, reminding all of us that technology is truly at its most powerful when it amplifies human ingenuity.

These discussions were a masterclass in understanding passion, participation, and cultural relevance!