SMG is committed to nurturing up-and-coming talent and this year is sponsoring the Young Lions Storytelling Academy at Cannes. We’ll also have a number of rising stars on the ground, including Renuke Samarasinghe, SMG UK. Here’s his story.
1) Tell us more about your honor and how you were selected.
I’m extremely happy and it is a great honor and a privilege for me to be given this opportunity to represent the SMG London hub at Cannes. It is a great chance for me to learn some new things and meet some really knowledgeable and respected people in the industry. I was selected by a panel internally who appreciated the work I have been doing for the business for the past few years and my loyalty to the business.
2) What is your role at SMG and how long have you been here?
I’m a Digital Account Manager and have been here 6 years.
3) What do you like most about your job/working in the media industry?
The dynamic nature of the industry and especially the digital aspects, where there is always something interesting, challenging and that gives us the opportunity to drive better experiences for people and innovative opportunities for our clients.
4) What will you be doing while in Cannes?
I will be going to events with some of the best speakers to learn new things, find out different perspectives on various aspects of our industry by key industry personnel and networking to establish some useful connections.
5) What do you most hope to learn while in Cannes?
A stronger perspective on the media landscape, capabilities and thoughts of leading industry figures on those points.
6) How do you expect your experience in Cannes to help your work back home?
I would share my experience and learning with the teams to help give them and also myself a different point of view on things, which would also help us in driving our business and our clients’ businesses forward. Also making new connections would help me share our knowledge and experiences from the London Hub across the wider business and across other companies as well as learn from them to help myself and our London team with our day jobs in terms of learning, new perspectives, capability and opportunities.
To read about other SMG rising stars headed to Cannes this year, click here.
