Talking in Creative Circles

Recorded live at Loeries Creative Week, this conversation pushes back against the myth of a singular "African creative style" and dives into the rich, multi-layered textures that make our work distinctive on the world stage.

Host Kabelo Moshapalo (Chair of the Creative Circle & CCO, Ogilvy Johannesburg) is joined by industry giants Lanre Adisa (Founder & Group CEO/CCO, The Ark Group / President of the AAAN, Nigeria) and Max Ngari (CCO, Dentsu Creative East Africa, Kenya).

Across East, West, and Southern Africa, they explore the real craft behind cracking big ideas from simple briefs, why creatives must "fall in love with the problem," and how to navigate shared hurdles like talent drain and AI. A masterclass in uncovering overlooked cultural truths and proving that African creativity is wildly regional, globally lethal, and always unified in texture. Creative Circle website

Cannes Lions is one of the world’s leading creative awards festivals, but what actually happens inside the jury room?

In this episode of Talking in Creative Circles, guest host Danni Pinch, ECD at Accenture Song Cape Town, speaks to two South African creatives who judged at Cannes Lions 2026: Suhana Gordhan, CCO at LoveSong, who judged Glass: The Lions for Change, and Jabulani Sigege, Group ECD at Machine, who judged Audio and Radio.

Danni also shares her own experience from the Entertainment Lions for Gaming jury.

Together, they unpack what makes work stand out, how juries move entries from shortlist to metal, and why the best work needs craft, context, honesty and real-world impact.

The conversation also explores standout winning work, the importance of clear case studies, what South African agencies can learn from Cannes, and why local creative talent belongs in global rooms. Creative Circle website

Ad New Year is that brief moment after The Loeries when the industry resets after a busy award season and looks forward to new work. In this episode, we look back on the past year and on tackling new challenges.

This episode features guest host Fran Luckin, CCO at VML, along with Jacquie Mullany, ECD at FCB Africa, and Saf Sindhi, CCO and co-founder of the new independent agency Bananas.

This episode centres on the importance of fostering a positive work culture, navigating the impact of AI on the advertising industry, and maintaining creativity in award-winning work. The conversation also highlights personal experiences from the past year, including challenges, strategies for motivation and innovation, the rise of independent agencies, changing criteria for creative judging, and the role of joy and humour in creative projects. Creative Circle website

Radio and audio ads are thriving in the digital age, and South Africa has a strong track record of global wins in this discipline. In this episode, guest host Grant Sithole, CCO of Dopemine, talks with Sbu Sithole, CCO of The Odd Number, and Ravi Naidoo, Programme Manager at Jacaranda FM. They cover new opportunities, the craft, and some behind-the-scenes insights into making great radio work.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Radio and Audio Ads

00:51 Welcome and Guest Introductions

02:42 The Evolution of Audio Advertising

02:47 The Boom in Podcasting and New Audio Formats

05:04 The Power of Radio: Theatre of the Mind

08:01 Crafting Great Radio Ads

13:38 Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Radio Advertising

19:03 Nostalgia and Iconic Radio Campaigns

20:59 Insights from a Veteran Programmer

21:08 Engaging Branded Content

21:15 Creative Advertising Examples

21:58 The Importance of Open-Mindedness in Media

22:47 The Odd Number's Unique Flavour

23:34 The Recipe for Effective Radio Ads

27:07 The Role of Gut Feel in Advertising

27:32 The Courage to Pull an Ad

34:12 The Power of Shorter Ads

37:02 Final Thoughts and Future Possibilities Creative Circle website

Global awards season is with us and it’s time to ask that eternal question yet again. Do we have what it takes to be competitive? (spoiler alert: of course we do, but in the words of Olivia Rodrigo “its brutal out here!”)

Our guests are all fresh from the jury rooms of One Show and delve into the challenges of competing globally, how SA talent is coming to the party, and share the work that stood out.

This episode features:

Carl Willoughby, Chief Creative Officer of TBWA\Hunt Lascaris;

Pete Little, CCO, Publicis Groupe Africa; 

Naledi Manama, an Independent Group Head Art Director, and

Suhana Gordhan, CCO, LoveSong.

Recorded just ahead of Cannes Lions so expect more on this topic shortly.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Panel Overview

01:33 Judging Experiences and Insights

04:14 Challenges and Reflections on Judging

08:43 Impact and Innovation in PR

12:59 Film Craft and Budget Considerations

19:14 Highlighting Notable Case Studies

19:31 Johanna's Favorite Piece: In Transit

21:44 Exploring Magnetic Stories

22:34 The Tail Orchestra for Pedigree

23:59 Challenges and Opportunities in PR

24:53 Crafting and Case Studies

25:35 The Importance of Time in Creativity

27:35 Final Thoughts and Reflections

36:14 The Glamour and Reality of Judging

37:49 Closing Remarks Creative Circle website

In this episode of 'Talking in Creative Circles,' Julie Maunder, founder of Ididthat.co, hosts a discussion with industry veterans Xolisa Dyeshana, Chief Creative Officer at Joe Public, and Alex Goldberg, Creative Partner at Ogilvy Cape Town. They delve into the highlights of the Creative Circle Best of Year Awards, discussing standout campaigns and the judging process.

The conversation covers some of the categories including film, print, audio, and digital communication, emphasising the importance of storytelling, compelling case study creation, and client-agency collaboration.

They reflect on the evolving standards in South African advertising, highlighting innovative campaigns. This episode is packed with insights and advice for creating award-winning work, making it essential listening for anyone in the industry.

Key moments:

00:58 Overview of Creative Circle Best of Year Awards

01:18 Meet the Industry Experts

01:55 Judging the Best of the Year

04:17 Debating the Top Work

06:39 Innovation in South African Advertising

09:35 Creating Award-Winning Campaigns

14:58 The Importance of Case Study Videos

19:01 Client-Agency Collaboration

30:21 Integrated vs. Film Categories

32:55 The Power of Storytelling in Advertising

33:43 Crafting Compelling Film Pieces

34:18 The Impact of Integrated Campaigns

37:45 Celebrating Excellence in Print

40:59 Radio: South Africa's Strong Suit

44:37 Innovative Out of Home Campaigns

46:55 Design Excellence in Advertising

49:59 Digital Communication Highlights

54:58 PR and Media Communication Success

56:44 Final Thoughts and Industry Insights Creative Circle website

We’re talking all things design with some Loeries judging insights and a wider conversation about the state of the discipline.

On this episode our guest host Liana Liebenberg, Creative Partner at Design Bridge and Partners, talks to Wade Moonsamy, Co-Founder & Creative Director at BCKRDS and Vumile Mavumengwana, Creative Director at VM DSGN.

00:00 Introduction to South African design

01:24 Meet the Guests

01:44 Challenges in the design industry

03:35 The role of awards in design

07:23 Impact of AI on design

11:43 Innovation in design

18:28 Judging the Loeries

23:57 Distinctiveness of African design

30:49 Conclusion and future of African design Creative Circle website

When it comes to Cannes, South Africa has a history of punching way above its weight. But not this year. What’s shifted? What is needed to get back up on that global stage? Is it an industry issue, an agency issue or is it simply not a priority anymore?

Join our SA Cannes judges Keith Manning, Executive Creative Director at TBWA Hunt Lascaris, Zee Ntuli, a director from Darling Films, and Thandeka Gilbert, Creative Group Head from McCann Joburg, as they discuss our performance and their experiences at this year’s Cannes Lions awards.

00:00 South Africa's Struggle at Cannes Lions

01:54 Judging the Industry Craft Category

03:10 Judging the Film Craft Category

04:49 Challenges in Judging and Producing Work

08:22 The Importance of Craft and Time

11:22 Agility vs. Quality in Advertising

16:02 Breaking the Cycle and Innovating

21:32 Embracing Local Identity in Film Craft

22:44 The Importance of Authenticity and Originality

24:09 Challenges with Client Approval Processes

27:16 Understanding Client KPIs for Better Results

30:55 Building Creative Communities and Fandoms

35:30 The Role of Bravery in Creative Success

40:11 Incorporating Creative Accolades as KPIs

43:23 Final Thoughts Creative Circle website

Are the days of advertising being an Old Boys' Club really in the past? Today, there are plenty of women in Adland, but are they staying? And has the glass ceiling disappeared, or has it just become harder to see?

In this episode, the leaders of the Open Chair movement share how they believe it can help make the advertising industry better.

Open Chair exists for two main reasons:

1. To inspire and uplift women in advertising and marketing, ensuring that they stay and take up senior roles.

2. To help make the industry safer for ALL our people.

The women at Open Chair recently launched #OnMyWatch - a code of conduct that aims to tackle the problems we still face, that are rarely spoken about.

Join the conversation with Independent Creative Leader Suhana Gordhan, Nkgabiseng Motau, CCO of Think Creative; Melina McDonald, Executive Producer at Darling Films and guest host and Chairperson of the Creative Circle, Carl Willoughby.

00:00 Introduction: Gender Disparities in the Industry

01:01 The State of Women in Advertising

01:42 Personal Experiences and Challenges

07:51 The Role of Open Chair

12:25 Code of Conduct: A Movement for Change

19:28 Support and Future Vision

35:45 Conclusion and Call to Action

Get in touch with Open Chair via [email protected]

Connect on social media:

Instagram: openchair_

Facebook: Open Chair

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/openchairsouthafrica/ Follow on LinkedIn · Creative Circle website

In this episode we talk the highs and lows of Earned Media with Keri-Ann Stanton, PR Strategist and Creative at KAMuses; Steph Van Niekerk, ECD at TBWA\ Hunt Lascaris and Mike Sharman, Chief Creative Officer at Retroviral.

They break down what sets earned media apart from paid and owned media, why PR is crucial from the start of a campaign, and how to create content that catches media attention and engages audiences.

Listen in for practical insights on going viral, navigating the changing media landscape, and crafting genuine, impactful messages. Creative Circle website