Spikes Asia recently announced the names of the 10 finalists selected to take part in the festival’s first See It Be It career acceleration program for female future leaders. See It Be It is designed to help women within the branded communications industry achieve their full professional potential and accelerate their careers, whilst faced with diversity challenges in the Asia Pacific industry.
From over 150 applications received, ten of the most promising female talent from across APAC have now been selected. The SIBI cohort will take part in an inspiring curated executive learning program of bespoke speaker sessions, executive training, mentoring, networking sessions and leadership challenges during the Spikes Asia Festival, from 25-27 September 2019, in the See It Be It Hive, Suntec, Singapore.
One of the finalists is the country’s very own Nikki Sunga from BBDO Guerrero. Starting out as a Multimedia Artist, her work has been awarded and recognized in multiple international & local award shows, and some of her greatest achievement to date was being chosen to represent the Philippines in Cannes Lions, Spikes Asia, and AdStars as a young creative competitor.
adobo magazine caught up with Nikki Sunga on how it feels to be part of the first-ever See It Be It program in Asia.
How did you first hear about See It Be It?
In 2016, I attended Cannes Lions and met Knox Balbastro who was then a See It Be It finalist. She introduced the program to me and since then I’ve been applying to SIBI every year. For me, it was really about persisting and trying to represent Filipina creativity. This is my fourth application actually– thrice for Cannes Lions, was shortlisted in 2017, and finally now for Spikes.
What made you decide to join See It Be It?
I decided to apply to See It Be It this year because the timing felt right—FINALLY in Asia. I’m no longer venturing the ad industry alone now that I’m a Creative Director. I will be bringing my team, the female creatives, and the entire creative department with me. “If I thrive, others thrive” is something I take to heart. I felt that in See It Be It, I’ll be able to find the mentorship I need in order to set out and sail as an effective leader.
How does it feel making it into the list of finalists for the first year of SIBI in Spikes?
I recently met Joe Pullos (current Spikes Asia Festival Director) and as I was just telling him how thrilled I am to be part of the first SIBI in Asia, he described the program as “life-changing” based on past SIBI finalists’ experiences. As much as being a finalist is already a great feat, it’s such an honor to even be shortlisted for this given the number of amazing Asian women who also applied. I can’t wait to come home and share how we can create “life-changing” opportunities for one another.
What are you most looking forward to?
From what I’ve read and seen, See It Be It opens new doors to different insights for women and also creates a sisterhood amongst its finalists all over the globe.
There are two things I want to bring back to the Philippines—a support system and spaces for other creatives to thrive in. Our responsibility is to look out for one another and our future female leaders as a whole. I’m looking forward to learning from the industry’s best mentors as to how they did things the wrong way and the right way. See It Be It is a support system that understands that we, women of this industry, are in this together.
See It Be It aims to nurture a community of like-minded women who can inspire and support others on their journey. See It Be It launched in 2014 at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and at Dubai Lynx festival two years ago, before launching at Spikes Asia this year.
For further information see https://www.spikes.asia/the-festival/see-it-be-it
adobo Magazine is the official media partner of Spikes Asia, Asia’s most prestigious festival of Creativity.
