A CLASS OF CREATIVE LEADERS
STEP INTO THE EMBA CLASSROOM
Our Executive MBA participants don’t come from a specific mold. They are a unique group of professionals from over 60 countries and a wide variety of fields brought together by a passion to develop as leaders. Bringing diverse experiences to the table, they challenge each other to unlock industry-changing potential and engage with business challenges in a whole new way.
STEP INTO THE EMBA CLASSROOM
Our Executive MBA participants don’t come from a specific mold. They are a unique group of professionals from over 60 countries and a wide variety of fields brought together by a passion to develop as leaders. Bringing diverse experiences to the table, they challenge each other to unlock industry-changing potential and engage with business challenges in a whole new way.
THIS IS WHAT BERLINERS LOOK LIKE
THIS IS WHAT BERLINERS LOOK LIKE
Industries
Position
Industries
Position
Countries
Gender & Experience
Countries
Gender & Experience
MEET OUR PARTICIPANTS & ALUMNI
A Growing Community of Creative Leaders
At the Berlin School, we’re committed to celebrating business creativity by sharing knowledge and connecting creative business leaders around the globe. We have hosted participants from over 60 countries and from a wide range of professions, brought together by their drive to take transformational steps in their careers, businesses and industries. We enable these steps through our range of programs, our curriculum taught by academic and industry experts, and our online campus – which also serves as a content platform – the Home of Creative Business Leadership.
Our participants, with their diverse experiences, skills, and backgrounds, make up the heart of our growing global community. To us, community means creating a safe and immersive environment in which to learn, take risks, connect with others, and experiment. It is the living laboratory in which Creative Business Leadership can thrive and succeed.
MEET OUR PARTICIPANTS & ALUMNI
A Growing Community of Creative Leaders
At the Berlin School, we’re committed to celebrating business creativity by sharing knowledge and connecting creative business leaders around the globe. We have hosted participants from over 60 countries and from a wide range of professions, brought together by their drive to take transformational steps in their careers, businesses and industries. We enable these steps through our range of programs, our curriculum taught by academic and industry experts, and our online campus – which also serves as a content platform – the Home of Creative Business Leadership.
Our participants, with their diverse experiences, skills, and backgrounds, make up the heart of our growing global community. To us, community means creating a safe and immersive environment in which to learn, take risks, connect with others, and experiment. It is the living laboratory in which Creative Business Leadership can thrive and succeed.
MIKA MATIKAINEN
Co-founder, Design
MIKA MATIKAINEN
Co-founder, Design
Wolt
Mika is a multidisciplinary and awarded design generalist with extensive and combined experience covering e.g. digital product design, brand development and creative marketing concepts. He started his career as a hobby by learning how the web works, how services are built, how they attracted visitors and what kind of content got attention. Since then, he’s founded three companies, including digital agency, design consultancy and a scaling tech startup. He believes great things happen if creativity and business are combined in a way that’s valuable and delightful for the customer. He has also won many awards for his design work.
ILKA VOGTMANN
CEO & Founder
ILKA VOGTMANN
CEO & Founder
noA
Ilka is a creative leader who combines a creative heart for unique ideas and execution with global strategies in passion and perfection for big brands. After her studies in Graphic Design in Munich 1993, Ilka worked as a creative allrounder for small creative agencies like Wüschner Rohwer Albrecht as well as for big international networks like TBWA for many years. She has been in charge as Chief Creative Officer of Wächter & Wächter Worldwide Partners for more than 7 years, after being many years Creative Director at SERVICEPLAN.
She graduated in 2016 with an Executive MBA degree in Creative Leadership (Berlin School of Creative Leadership, Steinbeis University), as well as having received the Michael Conrad Outstanding Thesis Award 2016. She is on the graduation juryboard of the design academy U5 in Munich, was graduates supervisor for the University of Rosenheim and the first recipient of the Worldwide Partners, Inc. scholarship for the Berlin School of Creative Leadership EMBA program as well as jury board member of different international award shows. Ilka has won numerous awards and has been a finalist for her work at several industry shows including: Art Director’s Club, BoB, Cannes, Clio, DDC, Effie, Epica, Eurobest, GWA Profi Award, New York Festivals, One Show, Ramses and among several others.
Some of her clients, past and present, include: Apple, BMW, Dannemann, Disney, IVECO Magirus, KIKKOMAN, the City of Munich, LEGO, STABILO, Siemens, Telefonica, O2, Saudia Arabian Airline, Rothmans, as well as numerous others.
At present she is founding noA** – the emotional creagency, as well as offering a Toolkit Training for Creative Leaders how to avoid toxic culture. She is currently working on her first book “BUTTERFLIES OF HELL” – The story about increase of power versus decrease of empathy – especially among “MAD MEN” ( & “MAD WOMEN).
HEIDI HYYTIAINEN
Design Constulant
HEIDI HYYTIAINEN
Design Constulant
Pentagon Design Oy
Heidi defines herself as a Design consultant with business background and experience in driving growth and innovation with design thinking and means with experience in improving customers’ competitiveness by means of design management and design thinking. Working to strengthen customers’ brands and develop sustainable and enjoyable experiences and services.
After graduating with a Masters in International Business Communication, Heidi moved into a Marketing position with Uplause LTD where she was responsible for marketing fan engagement and arena entertainment solutions. In 2011, she took on a Project Manager role with Creadesign Oy before taking on her current role as Design Consultant with Pentagon in 2016 where she works with customers to improve their competitive edge by means of design and design thinking.
PEBBLE GOH
VP Creative Director
PEBBLE GOH
VP Creative Director
BBDO New York
Pebble Goh is a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and multi-disciplinary creative with 15 years of agency experience. As VP Creative Director at BBDO New York, she has worked on a variety of clients including AT&T, Johnson’s Baby, Gillette and more. Pebble received an Effie for Johnson’s Baby and the 1st global brand relaunch in 100 years.
Pebble’s underlying motto is to “create and sell ideas that change behaviours”. Throughout her career, she has transferred within the BBDO network globally 3 times and worked on numerous international pitches for BBDO around the world, from BBDO Malaysia to BBDO Singapore, and finally, the global office – BBDO New York. Pebble says this diverse global experience has given her unprecedented insights on the different needs of different markets.
Pebble has received accolades in Cannes, D&AD, The One Show, Clio, AWARD, AdFest, SPIKES and represented Malaysia and Singapore as a young creative in major regional award shows.
She graduated with a B.A in Graphic Design at Curtin University of Technology where she also made the Dean’s List.
Starting her Executive MBA journey, Pebble says that she is very excited to be meeting creative leaders around the world. “Be it participants or the educators at Berlin School, it will broaden my horizons and keep me motivated to continue pursuing my career.”
DANI SEUBA
Strategic Product Designer
DANI SEUBA
Strategic Product Designer
Dani Seuba is a Strategic Product Designer at Accenture Digital, Madrid. Throughout his years at Accenture, he has led the development of a digital signage product, Poster Digital, and spearheaded a number of client proposals for digital products and services, including commercial projects focussing on the digitization of physical spaces.
In addition, Dani works as coordinator and teacher of the Great Digital Design Course at La Nave Nodriza School, a pioneer and reference school in the Spanish product design sector. Before joining Accenture, Dani worked in a number of creative, strategic and consulting roles across UX, development, art direction, social media and planning with names such as SrBurns, i’move, The Cocktail and Young & Rubicam.
With decades of experience in the creative industries, Dani has become fascinated by industry change and the impact of new innovation models. Beginning his Executive MBA journey, Dani is currently focussing on the next “big leap” in his professional career.
ANDRÉS MARURI
Vice President
ANDRÉS MARURI
Vice President
In 2011, Andrés co-founded Maruri Digital, a digital advertising agency partnering with Maruri Grey. He currently serves as its Executive Vice-President. Leading a team of more than 30 people, his work spans 24 countries for clients such as SABMiller and 3M. In the short time since its founding, Maruri Digital has experienced rapid growth and now accounts for over 20 percent of Maruri Grey’s revenue and profit.
Before co-founding Maruri Digital in 2011, Andrés held various positions with Maruri Grey, including Trade Marketing Director and Senior Account Executive. Andrés obtained a BSc in Management from Purdue University in the US and an MBA from IDE Business School in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Andrés came to the Berlin School of Creative Leadership to enhance his ability to lead in a creative business environment. Exchanging and developing views on how to best integrate traditional and digital ways of advertising is among his main priorities. In his own words, “the Berlin EMBA program provides the opportunity to share experiences with the most creative people from various fields and cultures.”
VINCENT GRAHL
Manager
VINCENT GRAHL
Manager
Axel Springer
One of our youngest participants to date, Vincent is the Head of Project Management at Zuio GmbH in Berlin.
He started his career in digital video in companies such as “Mi Web” and “Divimove” before heading to this original Axel Springer initiative, training young talents in journalism, moderation and production, relying on their talent and allowing them to develop and produce their own formats, publishing them on YouTube.
One of their key issues in this initiative is online advertising and branded entertainment, working together with brands and creating productions and formats that bring advertisers closer to the viewer, something which in his eyes, needs to be further developed in Germany.
“Having a leading role in a company working with creative people can be as rewarding as it can be frustrating. On the one hand you can work with wonderful people that have amazing ideas, on the other hand, it can be very hard to lead creative individuals. I quickly realized that it would take a lot of time and dedication to acquire the skills that are necessary to work with creative people. I would love to get a chance to be inspired by others who are also successfully managing these kind of companies while further developing my leadership skills.“
Vincent started studying Corporate Management and Economics at the Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen before joining the Berlin School’s Alumni Thomas Elstner at Axel Springer.
ERIKS STENDZENIEKS
Creative Director
ERIKS STENDZENIEKS
Creative Director
Partner
Eriks is a Creative Director at !MOOZ in Riga, Latvia. In 2005, he was elected President of the Latvian Art Directors Club. He is also a member of the juries at advertising festivals across Europe including Golden Drum and MIAF.
Eriks’s agency was named “Creative Agency of the Year” in Latvia in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. It has won more than 120 awards, including Cannes Lions, Epica, Golden Drum and Golden Hammer awards. In 2004, !MOOZ won as many awards in Golden Hammer as all other Latvian agencies combined. In 2005, it was ranked 2nd best Agency in Golden Drum and received seven medals at the Latvian Art Directors Club award show.
Eriks designed the Latvian National Pavilion for EXPO 98, and also created and implemented the concept for the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest held in Latvia. He devised the pro-accession campaign for Latvia’s membership of the EU in 2004. His multimedia project ‘9 Speaking Stones’ was installed and displayed in Paris in the Place du Palais Royal in front of the Louvre.
Eriks has a BA Degree in Industrial Design from the Latvian Academy of Arts and a MADC Degree in Communication Design from the London Central St. Martins. He lives and works in Riga, Latvia.
ULRIKE IRMLER
Director Microsoft News Europe
ULRIKE IRMLER
Director Microsoft News Europe
Microsoft
Ulrike began her career in the software industry at Microsoft almost 17 years ago. She started out working on the international versions of the software and over time transitioned to managing content creation and web experiences. Since November 2013, she has been responsible for leading a cross-functional team to re-envision the Microsoft Developer Network’s strategy and direction.
In her own words “by far my most interesting and satisfying assignment was the opportunity to lead a content organization of about 175 full-time writers, site managers, and editors through a transformation from product-centric technical writing and publishing and turn them into a creative, customer-centric communications team during the release of Windows 8 as part of a larger effort to modernize Windows and bring it into the tablet age.”
Ulrike believes companies need to re-examine their approach to cross-discipline collaboration and explore what it means to have a truly interdisciplinary approach. “I would like to research collaborative practices of marketing, creative, and product development teams in my industry sector by identifying challenges and successes of a cross-section of different-sized businesses.”
A German native, Ulrike has a liberal arts background, holding a BA equivalent from the Ruprecht-Karls University in Heidelberg in English Philology, and an MA from the University of Oregon. She also studied towards a PhD at the Department of Germanics at the University of Washington, where she is currently an Affiliate Faculty Member.
NATASHA TSYGANOVAc
Managing Director BBDO
NATASHA TSYGANOVAc
Managing Director BBDO
Natasha has been in advertising since the beginning of her career. Although she joined an ad agency in account management role, her original interest was in developing creative work and working with creative people, rather than in building agency business, growing revenues and working out p&l’s. After a few years of working as an account manager, Natasha had offers from her strategic planning department to become a planner and from her creative department to become a writer. While both were very flattering, she made a choice to stay in account management, as she realized that good account managers were the ones in the driver’s seat, and could influence all parties involved to get to the best result.
LEONARD SOMMER
Vice President Sales, Strategic Alliances & Partnerships EMEA
LEONARD SOMMER
Vice President Sales, Strategic Alliances & Partnerships EMEA
BrandMaker
LORNA HAWTIN
Director
LORNA HAWTIN
Director
TBWA/Manchester
Lorna is Disruption Director at TBWA/Manchester.
As well as her work providing strategic excellence across a broad spectrum of both national and international clients over the past 10 years as Disruption Director at TBWA/Manchester, Lorna Hawtin has authored a number of winning IPA Effectiveness papers. She is a member of the IPA’s Value of Advertising Group, whose aim is the development of effectiveness culture amongst the UK agency and client community. She was particularly instrumental in the development of the IPA’s Eff Test, the first national qualification in effectiveness evaluation techniques designed to elevate the skills of young planners across the industry, and has been invited to become Deputy Convenor of Judges for the IPA Effectiveness Awards 2011 and Convenor in 2013. She is the 2011 recipient of the Sir John Hegarty Berlin School Scholarship.
LARS SAMUELSEN
Chief Strategy Officer Head of Digital
LARS SAMUELSEN
Chief Strategy Officer Head of Digital
Grey Group
Lars is Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Digital Grey Nordic at Grey Group.
He established the first communications planning department in the Nordics at MEC. In the following four years he grow the department to 10 people effectively becoming the largest communications planning entity in the Nordics.
In 2009 he was asked to join UncleGrey as Managing Director. In this role he helped the agency win several Cannes Lions, Eurobest gold and other prestigious awards. In 2010 UncleGrey was selected Creative Agency of the Year in Denmark.
In 2011 the agency was merged with Grey Copenhagen and he took on the role as Chief Strategic Officer as well as Head of Digital. In that role he has been part of teams that have won international recognition by winning both gold and silver Cannes Lions as well as D&AD Yellow Pencil and European Effie gold and silver. Furthermore the agency was named Digital Agency of the Year in Denmark in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
In 2012 he was asked to join the Grey EMEA team as Digital Strategic Director working across the region to establish a more digitally oriented network and helping to emphasize a creative and innovative use of technology as part of every aspect of our business.
In 2013 he completed his MBA thesis at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership with a focus on establishing more innovative and dynamic ways to work with creativity.
In 2014 the agency won both an IPA gold and an IPA special price for best multi-market campaign, making the work the single piece of work that was most highly evaluated by the IPA. Furthermore the year has two silver Cannes Lions and three Bronze all in digital and mobile categories. In the same year he took on the role as Grey EMEA Strategy Lead.
NIKKI DAVIS CRUMP
VP - Account Management Director
NIKKI DAVIS CRUMP
VP - Account Management Director
Burrel Communications
Nikki is an advertising and marketing professional with a twelve-year track record in brand building and consumer communications. Since 2007, she has been Vice President at the Burrell Communications Group in Chicago and within this role, is the Account Director for American Airlines.
Whilst at Burrell, she has also directed the accounts of Allstate Insurance, Ashley Stewart, Nestle Coffee-mate, Verizon, Coca-Cola and numerous Procter & Gamble brands. In 2007, Nikki and her team were awarded the ANA Advertiser of the year award in recognition of their work on the Verizon “Realize” Campaign.
CHLOE JENSEN
Independent Editor
CHLOE JENSEN
Independent Editor
United States
Chloe is an experienced writer and editor. She launched Cabot Dividend Investor in January 2014 to provide trustworthy advice to investors in and approaching retirement. She developed the system behind Cabot Dividend Investor over many years of experience at other publications, including three years as editor of the Dick Davis Digests and a career reporting on distressed debt markets.
Chloe holds a BA in International Relations from Brown University and has also studied in Beijing and Paris. She was a speaker at the 2014 MoneyShow and the Cabot Investors Conference 2013, 2014 and 2015.
SUSANNE ROHRBACH
Fragrance Development Director
SUSANNE ROHRBACH
Fragrance Development Director
Susanne Rohrbach is a Fragrance Development professional and has worked for over two decades in the fragrance industry with major names such as Givaudan, Symrise and IFF. She is currently Fragrance Development Director at Givaudan, São Paulo where she is responsible for fragrance development for fabric softener and detergents.
Throughout her career, Susanne has been a team leader in local, regional and global developments, creating fragrances for clients such as L’Oreal, Natura, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Johnson’s & Johnson’s, BDF, Henkel, and Clorox among others.
She has years of experience in market research and analysis, proposing right fragrances for clients as well as developing guides for perfumers to create the best fragrance for their own consumers.
Susanne holds an Executive MBA from Toronto University / Business School São Paulo and a BA in Social Communication Marketing and Advertising from ESPM-Escola Superior de Propaganda & Marketing, São Paulo.
She hopes that the Executive MBA in Creative Leadership will unlock creative insights to influence the fragrance industry and help manufacturers “to optimize the power of the fragrance language”, leverage product relevance and purpose, and positively impact the lives of its consumers.
MAX OLDHAM
Latin Music Senior Curator
MAX OLDHAM
Latin Music Senior Curator
Max Oldham is Latin Music Senior Curator at ReverbNation, an online platform for independent musicians and music professionals. He is also Director of Because Entertainment, a music supervision and brand/entertainment consultancy based in Los Angeles.
Max grew up in a musically entrenched household, which has influenced his career in music supervision and entertainment. His motto is “Always thinking about the brands AND the bands.”
Starting at an early age, Oldham began working in the music business as an intern at The Firm in for both their music and branding departments, before furthering his marketing experience as a Planner for JWT Bogotá. After this, he launched Satélite Marketing, a Marketing and PR agency, both in Colombia and Mexico, and later became Head of the Latin Division of Beta Petrol, a company based in both New York and Los Angeles, which specializes in original music production, music supervision, and music related strategies for brands and their advertising.
JIM JOHNSON
Instructor of Creativity and Innovation
JIM JOHNSON
Instructor of Creativity and Innovation
Miami University
With a successful career, which combines advertising and academia, Jim is an Instructor of Creativity and Innovation at Miami University.
During his career, Jim also worked as a Creative Director in McGraw-Hill Education, which partners around the world with students, educators, administrators and other professionals to deliver engaging, adaptive and personalized learning solutions that improve performance and results. He was also a Creative Director for the Columbus College of Art & Design and their MindMarket enterprise, where he helped corporations, small businesses and non-profit organizations engage CCAD’s top talent to solve product, branding, fashion, interior and advertising design challenges. He also served as Assistant Professor and taught a senior level course in advanced branding concepts.
Jim is particularly interested in how technological innovations are shaping the future of higher education in the creative fields. He came to the Berlin School of Creative leadership to build on his vision of adequate educational tools and methodologies for an age of rapid information dissemination. “While higher education has traditionally held a manufacturing mindset to creating degrees, it will thrive and remain relevant only if it prioritizes the empowerment of creativity in people of all ages. As advancements in technology make long-term careers obsolete, the ability to ‘learn how to learn’ becomes the most valuable currency we can provide our graduates.”
Jim held various executive positions in the global advertising industry, including Executive Creative Director at Stonefly Communications Group and Global Creative Director at Grey Worldwide in New York. He obtained a BFA in Fine Arts and Painting from Louisiana State University.
KAROLIEN KOOLHOF
Founder
KAROLIEN KOOLHOF
Founder
Quiet Quality
Karolien Koolhof coaches gifted introverts to take the next step in their lives and careers. She started her career in journalism, where she learned a lot about various ways of communicating. It was a tough world to hold on to herself as a gifted introvert, so she eventually decided to make a career switch towards coaching. She’s also the author of a book on introvert leadership, which stresses the importance of neurodiversity in the workplace.
RUY LINDENBERG
Partner and VP of Creation
RUY LINDENBERG
Partner and VP of Creation
Mar Comunicação
Ruy Lindenberg is the VP of Creation and a Partner at Mar Comunicação, Sao Paulo.
He previously worked for W/Brazil, Talent and DPZ Brazil. Lindenberg has received awards from both Brazilian and international festivals including Cannes Lions, New York Festival, Fiap, El Ojo, the London Festival, the Art Directors Club of London and many more. In 2006 he was invited to be part of the Print and Poster jury at the Cannes Festival. Under his leadership Leo Burnett Brazil was chosen as the best office within the Leo Burnett group in 84 countries. In 2007, Leo Burnett Brazil was voted the best Brazilian agency. Ruy writes monthly articles for the Meio & Mensagem magazine and is a regular columnist for Radio Band News. Ruy studied at the Fundacao Getulio Vargas, School of Business Administration and works and lives in Santana de Parnaiba, Brazil. Ruy Lindenberg won 5 Silver Lions at Cannes 2008.
KEN CHAN
Senior Lecturer
KEN CHAN
Senior Lecturer
Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Ken developed his love for theatre as a kid in Hong Kong before immigrating to Canada, earning a degree in Theatre Production from York University, and managing the Technical Direction Department for companies such as The Canadian Opera Company, and the National Ballet of Canada. As a Senior Lecturer and leading the Technical Direction Stream for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the largest theatre school in Asia, Ken utilizes creativity to share his international experience with the next generation of theatre professionals.
BART DAEMS
Creative Director
BART DAEMS
Creative Director
Pink Entropy
Bart began his career in the creative industries in 1992 as a young graphic designer. His long professional background in digital design and multimedia includes working as web/interactive designer and web director in Belgium, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates, and co-founding several start-ups.
He is currently the Creative Director of Pink Entropy, an agency that delivers innovative marketing strategies and engaging interactive experiences. His main interest focuses on how to create outside the norm, to disrupt but to do so with deliberate and careful thought and deliver results, which brands and businesses can measure. His drive encompasses leading a team of creative artists, finding their strengths and nurturing their talent so they can also create and deliver compelling design and art that resonates with people. “How can I best inspire creative people as a leader? I believe that, although deadlines need to be reached, as a creative leader it is more important to be a mentor or a coach than a commander.”
A Belgian native, Bart was Head of Creative Team at HGW Media, the publisher and brand promoter for Rolling Stone Magazine Middle East. Before this, he spent 5 years as digital media specialist with The Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi.
Bart obtained a Certificate Figure Drawing and Printing Techniques from the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium, as well as a BA in Graphic Design from the St. Lukas University College of Art and Design (LUCA) in Brussels.
SIMON HIGBY
Creative Director
SIMON HIGBY
Creative Director
Partner
Simon is currently working as a Creative Partner for the advertising agency DDB Stockholm.
He has just returned to DDB Stockholm from a two-year stint at the sister agency DDB Copenhagen, after leading that office to their best ever result at Cannes Lions and a Grand Prix at the Advertising Effectiveness Awards. Prior to DDB Stockholm & Copenhagen, he has had stints in both the UK and Australia, working on great brands like Volkswagen, McDonalds, MTV & Unicef to name a few.
Prior to Stockholm, Simon worked as a creative in both the UK and Australia with McCann Erickson and The Works Sydney, working on great brands like Volkswagen, McDonalds, MTV and Durex. Simon’s awards haul includes a Titanium lion, a Cannes Cyber Lions Grand prix, 9 other cannes lions, the Eurobest Outdoor Grand Prix 2010, the Eurobest Outdoor Grand Prix 2011, 14 other Eurobest statues, multiple one show pencils, two Gold and 4 silver eggs at Guldägget (swedish awards), DDB’s highest accolade The Bill Bernbach award, the grand trophy, green trophy and platinum trophy at the international effectiveness awards plus awards at every other major show.
He was also recently picked out by creativity magazine as being a creative to watch. Simon chose the Berlin School of Creative Leadership to work with and learn from a global creative community. “I realize that to work on the global stage I must understand how every culture works and be able to adapt and use differing methods in differing situations,” he said. “I plan to leave Berlin with a better understanding of how exactly to do this.”.
NIKOLAY STOEV
Executive Director
NIKOLAY STOEV
Executive Director
At the present time, he has been working in the commercial design industry for 14 years. While it is clear that there is more to design than aesthetics, the aesthetic component is tied to the final product. In order for the final product to come to life, there are many steps that lead to product finalization, and this involves the business of design. To be a global leader, he’s realized that I must excel at the business of design. It demands attention in multiple areas, such as, branding, human resources, communications, management, construction, and transport, to name a few. A company needs to have a comprehensive understanding in each of these areas in order to excel in today’s dynamic marketplace. To stay ahead of competitors, a company should function efficiently on all levels, have a creative edge, as well as have insight into customer needs.
During his time in this industry, he’s had the privilege of working alongside inspirational people, bringing world-class projects to life. The most notable projects include the Burj Khalifa, Dubai, and the National Museum of Singaporea. The Burj .Khalifa project is filled with animated video projections of experiential scenographic design for those making their way to the top of the tower at the 124th floor, where they can view the entire city of Dubai. The National Museum of Singapore project brought wonderful creative challenges on all levels. Their vision was to present artifacts using state-of-the-art technology, connecting them with modem design materials, which appeal to a broader audience in this modem era.
These international projects helped fuel my love of design by allowing him to create something innovative, while drawing inspiration from both local culture and modem art.
His work on projects such as these culminated in recognition by his peers and being honored with the award of Grand Prix of Design – FERDIE, – 2014, for the project of Lumenpulse at the Lightfair International trade show.
ADRIANO GOMES
Pre-Sales Director
ADRIANO GOMES
Pre-Sales Director
LATAM
Adriano is an engineer when it comes to the nature of his profession. He loves challenges and solving problems. He’s curious about how things work, and how they could be improved. Adriano truly believes that teamwork is the best way to achieve greater results, and has carried out this philosophy throughout his professional career. He had jobs where he could exercise all of these elements and he’s always looking for new things to do, new ways to impact others’ lives.
NATALIIA KNIAZIEVA
Director, Partner
NATALIIA KNIAZIEVA
Director, Partner
Sauce Advertising Agency
As Executive Director and owner of Sauce Advertising Agency, Nataliia Kniazieva manages more than 20 employees in the creative, strategic, and client service departments, develops new businesses, ensures profitability of the agency, and integrates new competencies to compete successfully in Russia. With her new leadership position within her own agency, Kniazieva came to the Berlin School of Creative Leadership to fuel new ideas and develop a clear vision on how to develop her business. “I believe that the Berlin School of Creative Leadership EMBA will help me to become more effective as a pro and more creative as a personality. I really hope that I will have the chance to flesh out my ideas and build a clear vision of how to transform my business into one of the best creative agencies in Russia.”
Before starting her own agency in 2011, Kniazieva held positions of Strategic Planning Director of SOREC Group and Group Brand Manager for SUN Interbrew Ukraine/AB InBev. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Management and her Master’s Degree in Management and Marketing from National Technical University of Ukraine.
JAAKKO TAMMELA
Product & Experience Director
JAAKKO TAMMELA
Product & Experience Director
Dasa
As Product and Experience Director at Dasa, a healthcare company in São Paulo, Jaako leads product innovation and new product development. Prior to Dasa, he worked at Accenture Brazil as Design Practice Lead for Strategy and Consulting. And before that, Jaako worked his way up from Service and Business Designer to Group Director at Fjord. Additionally, Jaakko was founding partner at Brainpool and partner of GrimpaXD, an experience design house consultant that works with innovation projects to brands such as Honda, Tiffany, Tamontina and Brandesco. His portfolio of work, as an independent design and innovation consultant for over 15 years, consists of local and global brands such as Ekos, Kids In, Natura, Intel and much more.
Beyond all of the above, Jaakko’s professional experience includes being Senior Future Insights Manager for Whirlpool Latin America, as well as Senior Design Manager. He also previously co-founded another company, Sincrodesign, which worked with many global brands. Additionally he was a professor, teaching branding and strategic design. He was a coordinator and curator for the extension program at IED São Paulo. During his almost 13 years of experience, Jaakko received more than 30 international and national design awards, such as GOOD, Design Prize, IF Design Award, Red Dot and IDEA USA and Brazil. He holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design from PUC-Rio and an MBA in Marketing and Business from ESPM-RJ.
Jaakko decided to come to the Berlin School of Creative Leadership in order to add a strong understanding of business theory to his professional experience. “Now, I think will be a perfect time to put together the practice, experience, theory and dream and help to design a new creative business model that helps me and others to design future business.”
JOANA PESSOA TEIXEIRA CANDIDO
Partner
JOANA PESSOA TEIXEIRA CANDIDO
Partner
Pro-i9
Fluent in four languages and a citizen of both Brazil and the UK, Joana is a media executive with a truly international focus. She has produced TV shows, documentaries, and feature films leading up to her current role as International Producer for Neon Rio. Joana played a leading analyst role in the team that was awarded an International Emmy on “Lacos de Sangue”, a Brazilian-Portuguese telenovela co-production. Besides content production, she has also worked as a business developer and sales executive in the creative industries on two continents.
Joana came to the Berlin School of Creative Leadership because she aspires to be an innovation leader. She concentrates on the Brazilian TV industry, which has recently seen rapid change and expansion, delivering a series of challenges and opportunities in the years to come. “All of a sudden, a lot of content has to be delivered without any specialization, experience or know-how. How can we organize the relationship between cable networks, broadcasters and indie producers?”
Before joining Neon Rio as an International Producer in 2013, Joana worked in various positions in the media industries of both Brazil and the UK. Among others, she was a business developer with Pindorama Filmes and a Senior Content Analyst for TV Globo. Joana obtained a Master’s degree in International Business Management from the University of Grenoble and an MBA in Marketing from Pontificia Universidade Catolica in Rio de Janeiro. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Pontificia Universidade Catolica.
EMA PRISCA
Integrated Creative Director/Brand Builder
EMA PRISCA
Integrated Creative Director/Brand Builder
Garcia & Prisca
Ema is an integrated Creative Director and Brand Builder at Garcia and Prisca.
Preceding this, Ema was Creative Director at Graffiti BBDO Romania where she headed various prominent campaigns including Pepsi, Wrigley and Mars.
Prior to joining BBDO Prisca was Senior Copywriter at Leo Burnett Romania, where she worked on successful campaigns for clients such as P&G and Vodafone. Prisca has won numerous awards for her work, and is a founding member of the Art Directors Club Romania.
RITA KIRYAKOS
Data and Technology Consultant
RITA KIRYAKOS
Data and Technology Consultant
Freelance
Rita is a results-driven, highly effective sales, business development, and strategy leader with over 20 years of experience in data, digital media, and technology. Rita is an ambitious, passionate, and hardworking professional who has led sales initiatives for startups and growth-mood companies in generating millions of new business revenues, creating successful go-to-market strategies, and leading stellar teams in achieving company goals year after year.
Rita has held senior-level management roles with advertising technology companies including Interclick, Resonate, and Coull. Currently, Rita is a freelance consultant helping digital media and ad tech companies with sales, business strategy, business operations, and market roll-out.
MASSIMILIANO ROSSI
Strategic Director
MASSIMILIANO ROSSI
Strategic Director
Massi is a communication specialist with vast experience in the digital field, having worked with clients such as Giorgio Armani and L’Oreal Luxe, Heineken Group, Disney and Lavazza. He has developed an expertise in key communication industries such as Advertising, PR and Digital Marketing and he is able to conceive, manage and implement project and campaigns through owned, paid and earned media, combining both strategic and creative approaches.
JAN HUMBERT
Creative Director
JAN HUMBERT
Creative Director
United Design Group (UDG)
As Design Director of UDG, an architecture and planning company that has a staff of 1,000 people, Jan’s responsibilities range from extensive branded commercial spaces to individual brand retail spaces within UDG developments, which include top-range themed hotel destinations to automotive showcases. His goal is to use digital media to coordinate and synchronize exchange between the company’s branches and run online visual content management system to fuse inspiration in the design process fostering creative excellence.
Jan served as Senior Designer at HELLER MANUS, Int., where he initalized and managed an independent design center in Shanghai. He has also worked as a Project Architect, an Architectural Design Manager for various architecture companies, as well as taught architectural design methods at the Technical University in Dresden, Germany. He received his degree in Architectural Design at the Technische Universitaet Berlin.
In deciding to come to the Berlin School of Creative Leadership, Jan believes the both the education and the networking opportunities will help him achieve his creative leadership goals. “Working and learning close with media related creative professionals will inspire my future activity as Executive Creative Director or Design Principal.”
PAOLO MERCADO
Senior Vice President
PAOLO MERCADO
Senior Vice President
Nestlé Philippines Inc.
Paolo worked in advertising for more than twelve years in the Philippines and Paris. He served as Global Communication Manager for Nestle’s Dairy Strategic Business Unit in Switzerland, before moving to Nestlé China and later to Nestlé Philippines. With a background in Psychology, he is passionate about consumer insight and its applications in advertising and marketing effectiveness. In the Philippines he worked closely with the University of Asia & the Pacific (UA&P) as a lecturer in Consumer Insight and Integrated Marketing Communications.
Paolo grew up in a creative family. His father was an adman who founded his own agency, and his mother a writer. He has a strong passion for the performing arts and spent more than 10 years acting, writing and directing theater productions.
Paolo attended Ateneo de Manila University where he obtained a Bachelor degree in Psychology and did post-graduate studies in Social Psychology. He began his creative marketing journey as a Strategic Planning Director at Publicis Philippines, and worked in various positions at Publicis Worldwide Paris, Publicis Manila and Publicis Worldwide Paris before joining Nestle in the summer of 2008.
A strategic planner at heart, Paolo pursues creative effectiveness from within Nestle China, challenging their agency partners to innovate and deliver work that will help build Nestle brands in a fast growing market. He comes to the Berlin School to strengthen his business leadership fundamentals, while at the same time learn how to sharpen and leverage his
creative side.
SERGIO ALCOCER
Founder
SERGIO ALCOCER
Founder
Rest of the World
Sergio Alcocer is the founder of Rest of the World.
Sergio was President and Chief Creative of LatinWorks, a leading multicultural agency in the US based in Austin, Texas. Sergio is one of the most respected and versatile advertising creatives in the US and Latin America. He has a long history of crafting effective award winning campaigns for some of the biggest brands in the world. In 2007 Sergio was awarded at the Cannes Lion Awards for his commercial for Bud Light ‘Classroom’. He led LatinWorks development of the Bud Light Campaign for the 2007 Super Bowl that was recognized as #1 in polls by the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Sun Times, the Kellogg School of Business and Washington University. Sergio has won several other creative awards at the Cannes Lions Festival, FIAP (Argentina), San Sebastian (Spain), the CLIOs (NY Festival), National Addy’s and Grand Prix at Festivcal Caribe (Panama). In 2009, Sergio won „Best of Show“ and most awarded multicultural agency in the US at the AdAge creative awards and LatinWorks won a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lion Festival in Film for Starburst (“llama” spot).
Sergio is a proud graduate of the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. His EMBA Thesis proposes the creation of Virtual Innovation Partnerships in creative cities around the world to counter the effects of the loss of talent in the US due to immigration reforms and the rise of emerging economies.
In his own words:
“I am a marketer who specializes in Multicultural communication in the USA. I am the President and Chief Creative Officer of LatinWorks, based in Austin, Texas. I provide creative solutions for big American companies to win with the 50 million plus Hispanics living in the USA. LatinWorks has been named Multicultural Agency of the year of 2009 by the two leading trade magazines, Advertising Age and AdWeek. During 2008 and 2009 no other agency in our space won more new clients or received more creative awards than us. I can assure you is not a coincidence that I was enrolled at the Berlin School from February 2008 to August 2009. The impact that the school had on me and through me, on my agency, has been huge.
I first heard about the Berlin School while attending the Cannes Advertising Festival in 2007. It felt like a perfect fit right away. Of course I knew who Michael Conrad was so I looked into it and decided to apply. From the first time I heard about it I knew it was something very needed for our industry. After twenty plus years as a creative, the last ten running an advertising agency, I needed to re ignite my passion for the business. I found myself in my mid forties stuck in my own knowledge, tired and a little burned out. Successful as I was I knew I needed to look forward and prepare for the enormous wave of change in our industry. In a nutshell I came into the Berlin School looking for the tools to start the second half of my career. I got that and much more.
The core of the Berlin School is about how to lead creative business. In our field one gets to the top by starting at the bottom. Many of us are self made, meaning that we learned our trade while doing it, not necessarily in a Business School. But when you get to a point in which it is now your turn to lead an agency, are you truly prepared to lead? That’s what the Berlin School gives you: a framework to apply all what you know as a seasoned professional in a more structured way.
The Berlin School taught me that the real role of a creative leader is to create the circumstances for others to create. Having creative people on top of companies is a great way to infuse creativity through out the organization. Creativity needs to be defined more broadly, it’s an attitude, a fresh way to bring solutions to our clients.”
ARTHUR YEZEKYAN
CEO SHANT TV
ARTHUR YEZEKYAN
CEO SHANT TV
Arthur is a self-made media business owner and executive who built his business from nothing and grew it up to the market leader in country.
He is President and CEO of SHANT TV since the day of its foundation in 1994. Under his leadership the small regional TV channel with a staff of 11 persons grew to country’s leading TV Network with a staff around 500 people. The company fundamentally changed the modern look of the Armenian TV bringing all modern trends and developments of the world TV industry to the country. The projects designed by Arthur radically changed several spheres in culture such as: folk songs and music, folk and modern dances, film and TV series production, thanks to which was awarded by the President of the country with a medal (Movses Khorenatsi) for outstanding achievements in the field of the Television and Culture.
MARÍLIA LOBO
Learning Strategy Consultant and Facilitator
MARÍLIA LOBO
Learning Strategy Consultant and Facilitator
Brazil
Marília has 15+ years of experience in the intersection of communication, education, business strategy and leadership. She holds a Bachelor in Public Relations, a Post Grad in Business Strategy and is an Executive MBA alumna from Class 18.
As a learning strategy consultant, instructional designer and facilitator, she has been working for a range of brands and educational institutions across the globe, curating, designing and delivering learning experiences —online, hybrid or in-person— to leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators. From ideation to implementation, including marketing and business development strategies, she consults leaders, corporations, and business schools on how to build and nurture strong and creative learning communities of life-long learners and high-performance teams (i.e. corporate university design, executive education workshops, seminars and experiential learning).
Marília has also served from 2017 to 2020 as the Director of Strategy and Learning Innovation at the Berlin School. During her mandate, she led a portfolio of breakthrough business growth opportunities in executive education and has decidedly contributed to sustain the curatorship of our global Executive MBA degree liaising with learners, academics, practitioners, partners, business school and international institutions, including the complete redesign of the program to a hybrid format in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A native of Brazil, based in Berlin, Marília believes in a vision that combines the essence of communication and education to build human capacity through lifelong learning, self-leadership, collaboration, creativity and strategic planning thus fostering human and organizational development.
Before moving to Germany, she founded and led an award-winning communication, M&A and crisis management consultancy. Her team has provided personalized projects in internal and corporate communication, change management, mergers & acquisitions, corporate culture and executive learning to an extensive range of customers, including the largest brands across all verticals, such as Avon, Braskem, CNN, Carrefour, Duke Energy, Dupont, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Mercedes-Benz, Pfizer, Unilever and Volkswagen, among others.
Parallel to her working experience within the creative industry for several years, Marília has always been involved with educational initiatives as faculty member, visiting professor, keynote speaker and is a writer at heart.
STEFAN IORDACHE
CEO, Founder
STEFAN IORDACHE
CEO, Founder
Leo Burnett Romania
After working 18 years in the Advertising business, Stefan heads a group of companies that includes 2 creative agencies, 2 media companies, 3 digital operations, and 2 small technology companies. Having started the agency back in the 90’s with a team of three people that included his sister, Stefan’s expertise and management skills were soon put to the test when they got picked up by Leo Burnett and started expanding. He now leads 200 people throughout these companies.
“I believe I have learned and grown as much as I could by doing things as I did so far. I need to ‘enlarge’ my world. I need to swim in a larger pool, see different things, meet different people, and have different experiences that could inspire me.”
Stefan has spent much of his 18-year career leading his own agency, growing it from 3 people to two-hundred. He studied design at Institutul Politehnic Iasi, Textile in Romania.
YAROSLAV ORLOV
Creative Director
YAROSLAV ORLOV
Creative Director
As Creative Director at Instinct BBDO Moscow, Yaroslav concentrates his efforts on strategy, which includes creative brief development and creative message finalization. With expertise in copywriting, film and other media production as well as campaign development, Yaroslav helps lead the agency’s ever expanding team of creatives.
Yaroslav has 15 years of experience in advertising, including work with BBDO Moscow, Saatchi and Saatchi Bates Moscow, and Avrora FCB. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Management/Marketing from RANEPA.
Yaroslav comes to the Berlin School of Creative Leadership at this point in his career to further his role as a leader and learn what makes up truly great creative leaders.
“The history of advertising shows a lot of agencies named and built around its leaders. But I believe the healthiest of them managed to benefit from people who took the agency name as their personal name and lived and worked to make it respected.
So, my motive for the program is to widen my view on how to turn personal motivation into the driving factor for the team for the longest time possible.”
IKE ANAND
Founder
IKE ANAND
Founder
Zeus Digital
With more than 15 years of experience in the media and advertising industry, Ike runs his own agency Zeus Digital in Singapore. In his words, “Zeus is part tech startup, part digital agency, creating insightful digital products and marrying compelling content with clean code to create 21st century sorcery: it’s not about social media, it’s about social ideas”. Zeus views brands as the drivers of change, not only giving consumers what they need but also involving consumers in co-creating change and contributing to their lives and that of their social milieu.
Previously, Ike worked thru-the-line as Creative Director and Sr Creative for integrated agencies in Sydney, London and Singapore. Agency experience includes the likes of Ogilvy, DDB, Euro RSCG, Sapient Nitro, Iris, TPG, Squake, Maverick, Donor Cardwell Hawkins, etc. Client experience includes NTUC Insurance, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Intel, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Nokia, Vodafone, Sony, Sony Ericsson, Discovery, Unilever (Axe, Dove, Sunsilk), Reckitts Benckiser, Emirates, Audi, Toyota, Hino, Lexus, Hennessy-Moet, Jack Daniel’s, BlackBerry, Dewar’s, Bacardi-Martini
He also teaches Creative Thinking, Art Direction, Copywriting and Digital Planning at the Chatsworth Media Academy, which is in his words is “his way of giving back”.
An Australian national, Ike obtained a BSc in Commerce and an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University in London, where he graduated with a distinction. He also did a variety of professional courses at the Australian Writers & Art Directors Association, Australian Direct Marketing Association and Hyper Island.
CHRISTIAN LÜRZER
CEO
CHRISTIAN LÜRZER
CEO
Lürzer’s Archive
Christian Lürzer is CEO at Lürzer’s Archive in Vienna.
Preceding this, Christian has worked for Wunderman in Munich as a Creative Director; and was Creative Supervisor at Wunderman in Frankfurt. Prior to this, Christian worked as a Creative Director at EuroRSCG, Vienna and as a Copywriter at FCB Kobza, Vienna.
TOMÁS KOPECNY
Managing Director
TOMÁS KOPECNY
Managing Director
Scholz & Friends Prague
Tomás Kopecny is Managing Director at Scholz & Friends Prague.
Preceding this, Tomás Kopecny was Creative Director at Publicis Prague. Prior to joining Publicis, Kopecny worked from 2002-04 at Fabrika, Prague and from 1996 – 1999 at Art Drive in Prague. Kopecny began his advertising career in 1995 at TBWA/Ceska reklamni Prague.
Kopecny’s creative awards include the Silver Addys Florida, the Best Show and Portfolio Award at the Miami Ad School, and the Young Lions in Cannes. In 2003, he was the Jumper of the Year and was nominated several times for Hyundai campaigns, Caprisonne, Panasonic and Clarion.
Kopecny received a BA from the ESCM School of Business and Management. He also attended the Miami Ad School and the New York Film Academy.
JOÃO DIAS
Head of Strategy
JOÃO DIAS
Head of Strategy
Creation
J. Dias is a strategist driven by purpose. Born and raised on Europe’s west coast, he is constantly designing bold strategies for his clients, regardless of their size, industry or budget. He believes that an idea has the power to move a billion men.
Middle East, Africa and Oceania were important experiences in his professional career, but it is in Portugal where he spends most of his time shaping new concepts.
GIACOMO GROFF
Head of Strategy
GIACOMO GROFF
Head of Strategy
Dentsu Aegis Network
Giacomo joined the Dentsu Aegis Network in late 2014 to help establish Huckleberry, the world’s first full-service agency model within the group. As Strategy Director he works closely with the CEO to establish a unified business model and oversees the quality of the strategic work and creative output of the agency.
In his previous role as Partner, Associate Director of Strategy and Technology for M&C Saatchi, he led the merge and acquisition process between M&C Saatchi and Ambulance – the independent digital advertising agency he co-founded in 2009.
After graduating from ESPM with a BSc in Social Communications, Giacomo went on to complete courses in Strategic Communications and Creative Disruption at the Sao Paulo School of Creative Economy.
His advertising career began at Ogilvy & Mather as a Planner in Brazil, and later as Partner/Director of Marketing Strategy at Ogilvy’s headquarters in New York. He remained at the agency until 2009, when he left Ogilvy and co-founded Ambulance.
Giacomo believes the EMBA at the Berlin School will bring him the perfect combination of creative, strategic and leadership excellence. “Since the day I co-founded Ambulance until the merge and acquisition four years later, I believe all the challenges and lessons have given me the ability to become a better leader and learn how to absorb, adapt, and take advantage of this constantly changing scenario we’re in. I’m sure that the EMBA will help me broaden my view and see new possibilities to improve my approach to solving problems and deal with the future.”
CASPER DALL
Managing Editor
CASPER DALL
Managing Editor
DR – Danish Broadcasting Corporation
Casper is a former political journalist and now Managing Editor at the largest regional radio station in Denmark, P4 Copenhagen. He is passionate about journalism, content, and new media trends, in a time where both public service media and private media are struggling to keep the attention of the consumers. He has a BA in journalism and was selected as participant at the 2015 Leadership Seminar at Georgetown University, Washington DC.
JULIANE ECKSTEIN
Manager
JULIANE ECKSTEIN
Manager
Beyerdynamic GmbH
Juliane is Head of Product Design at Beyerdynamic GmbH in Heilbronn, one of the leading suppliers of headphones, microphones and conference systems.
After working for well-known designers such as Marc Newson, Studio Alain Mikli Paris and also companies like Suzuki Europe, Juliane became the Product Design Manager at Beyerdynamic in 2008. By directing product design, she is heavily involved in the development of the new and innovative audio products of the company. Her works have been exhibited at fares worldwide, reviewed in the international press and awarded.
Juliane studied product design at Braunschweig University of Arts and at Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design.
CAMILLA ENGELSHARDT
Executive Director
CAMILLA ENGELSHARDT
Executive Director
Lederne
Camilla has an extensive track record of holding leadership roles. Today, she is the Executive Director at Lederne, Denmark’s largest professional organization for leaders. Prior to this she was CEO & Founder of Koncept, helping clients grow through technology, creative concepts and strong customer centric focus. Before this she was First VP and Head of Digital Channels and Innovation at Lyngby and before that Director of Digital Product Experiences for Lego.
Prior to the above, she was Head of Online for Alka Insurance in Denmark, where she led the entire development of the digital sales and service channel fort the large company, including a major increase in online sales, developing a multi-channel strategy, and instituting chat services as well as mobile services. She was also on the committees for business development, strategy implementation, and product development.
Before joining Alka in 2009, Camilla served as a Project Manager for Denmark’s largest telecommunications company TDC. She received her degree in Business English and Spanish from Copenhagen Business School.
Camilla is eager to meet others who are leading creative teams at the Berlin School of Creative Leadership. She says, “In order to keep pace, Alka needs to have visionary leadership and embrace the type of leader who can lead creative teams to perform their best and drive the digital transformation.”
BADA AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON
Country Manager
BADA AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON
Country Manager
Viacom International Media Networks Africa
“Bada” Akintunde-Johnson is Country Manager (Nigeria) for Viacom International Media Networks Africa. Bada’s role is to run the entire scope of Viacom’s Markets overseeing brands such as MTV, MTVBase, Nickelodeon, Comedy central, BET and MTV Shuga.
Prior to joining Viacom, Bada was Creative Director of Globacom at SO&U, where his legacy was to transform the advertising portfolio of a telecommunication brand struggling for identity, resonance of message and relevance. Within two years, it would become one of the fastest growing data networks in Nigeria by shaping positive perception for the brand and winning multiple awards along the way. Previous to this, Bada’s media career included roles as a Presenter, Producer, Copywriter, and Creative Director for several media and broadcasting organisations across Nigeria.
Bada’s work has afforded him several industry awards including being selected as one of the ten most powerful people under 40 in the media in Nigeria by ynaija, Nigeria’s most popular youth news platform.
A passionate musician, producer and vocalist, Bada describes himself as a ‘music junkie’.
Bada hopes that his Berlin School journey will help him to step up his game especially as he leads “in an industry that’s grappling with the harsh realities brought about by the explosive growth and aggressive penetration of mobile and digital media.”
MELANIA HALSBAND
Digital Director
MELANIA HALSBAND
Digital Director
HWP Costa Rica
Melania began her professional career as a Brand Assistant at HWP Costa Rica, an agency founded in 1982 as a small creative boutique, which has become one of the leading advertising and communication agencies in Costa Rica and Central America.
Aware that digital platforms are essential for marketing and communication strategies, HWP developed a specialized unit in digital communication called BIT, where Melania started as the coordinator and a year later became the Department Director. “I knew from the beginning BIT was the best way to diversify the agency’s services, and a great prospect for me as an independent entrepreneur”. In January, BIT became an independent company, separating itself from HWP.
“We have grown in personnel and in revenues. Our clients trust their whole digital communication plans with us. This EMBA is the perfect opportunity for me to take this project in the right way with the right tools.”
Melania has a varied background combining design and ballet. While in high school, she studied Classic Ballet at the Costarrican Youth Ballet and went on to do Classic Dance Studies in the School of Art and Culture of Buenos Aires while completing an exchange in Industrial Design at the University of Palermo, also in Argentina.
She completed a training course to teach ballet in Costa Rica and a Professional Grade in Classical Ballet at the National Ballet School in Cuba before obtaining her BA in Product Design at Veritas University.
Before becoming the BIT Department Director, she worked as Accounts Executive for HWP with clients such as Scotch-Brite from 3M, Pfizer, Subway and AutoStar.