SINGAPORE — Yahoo’s industry-leading talent-building program Yahoo Academy has opened for nominations, with 40 chosen participants set to get a masterclass in future-proofing their careers from world-renowned creative strategists Rosie and Faris Yakob of Genius Steals. Held in Australia for the past 11 years, the 12th edition expands its footprint to include participants from Singapore for the first time, with winners receiving a fully sponsored three-day program in Sydney.
With AI and other emergent technologies already changing job roles and skills needs across the industry, this year’s Academy program will comprise engaging brand-building, networking, and mentoring sessions focused on giving participants from Australia and Singapore the tools they need to navigate an exciting future. It will culminate in a one-day workshop in Sydney led by the Genius Steals founders with an exciting pitch-off competition and an incredible prize, a seven-day trip to a global conference in Sydney in October. In addition, all Yahoo Academy participants will receive a Delegate pass to Advertising Week APAC on August 01 and 02, providing an exceptional experience to fuel growth, shape the future, and make a mark in the industry.
“Yahoo Academy 2023 promises to be our biggest and most effective program yet. With so much happening in the world, we’re thrilled to have two incredible practitioners, Rosie and Faris, joining us to lead what will be a true masterclass in every sense of the word,” said John McNerney, Managing Director of Yahoo AUSEA. “Launched in 2012, Yahoo Academy is the original and one of the best talent development programs in the Aussie industry, with a reputation for nurturing future leaders. As one of the world’s most competitive economies and the top country for talent competitiveness in APAC, I’m thrilled that we will have participants from Singapore joining us for the first time. By arming rising stars with new skills and ways of thinking, we’re helping all of our agency partners to adapt and thrive.”
The full-day workshop is curated and led by Rosie and Faris Yakob, a husband and wife team who run the nomadic strategic and creative consultancy Genius Steals. They work with some of the world’s biggest brands, including Coca-Cola, Twinings, and Activision, helping them refresh their thinking, ignite innovation and improve their marketing outcomes. Industry veterans and thought-leaders, together they write Strands of Genius, a much loved global newsletter for the creative marketing community, and named by HubSpot as one of the “7 Essential Reads for the Curious Creative.”
Rosie and Faris shared, “No one knows exactly what the future holds, but one certain thing is that anything that can be automated will eventually be automated. As AI becomes an increasingly hot topic in the industry and beyond, we believe that the best way to future-proof agencies and careers is to focus on uniquely human attributes, namely creativity, and collaboration.
“We believe that workshops, as with all kinds of work, won’t be any good if they aren’t any fun – so we’re excited to partner with Yahoo to help inspire this group of rising stars and equip them with the tools and vision to lead our industry into a future we can all get excited about.”
Applicants must have one to seven years of experience in the digital media industry and may self-nominate with senior endorsement, or senior leadership may directly nominate talent. If you are a driven, visionary professional ready to elevate your career, this is your moment to shine.
Nominations close on June 23. Apply now for Yahoo Academy here.
