Farah Al Beaini, Group Account Director, Burson - Lebanon, UAECannes Lions has revealed its cohort for the 2026 See It Be It talent programme, designed to accelerate the careers of women and non-binary talent. From the Middle East region, Burson’s Farah El Beaini has been chosen for Cannes Lions’ See It Be It 2026 cohort.
Taking place at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, between 22 and 26 June 2026, the programme includes mentorship opportunities and private masterclasses with industry leaders, as well as backstage access and sessions tailored to each participant’s career goals.
The 2026 cohort selected for this unique learning and development programme includes 20 creatives from 15 markets, with Serbia and South Korea being represented for the first time.
Frank Starling, Chief DEI Officer, LIONS, said, “The See It Be It programme is a cornerstone initiative at Cannes Lions, embodying our unwavering commitment to elevating underrepresented talent in the creative industry.
Starling added, “This year, the programme welcomes a dynamic cohort representing a broad range of creative disciplines and global markets. Their unique perspectives and experiences will undoubtedly enrich our SIBI community – a network dedicated to fostering career development and paving the way forward for women and non-binary talent in the industry. Congratulations to the 2026 cohort, we look forward to welcoming you at the Festival.”
The cohort will be supported by alumni tutors, including Leena Gupta, Creative & Founding Member, Talented Agency, India and Natasha Lashly, Founder & ECD, Piña Colada, Venezuela.
Commenting on her appointment, Lashly said, “The week I came back from Cannes, I wrote a little “moonshot” in my notebook: come back one day as a SIBI Tutor. This programme has a way of changing you. You arrive for the professional growth, but you leave with something deeper: confidence, clarity, and a global sisterhood.
Lashly added, “Being a tutor now feels like the most beautiful full-circle moment. My role is simple: hold the space, share the sunshine, and remind every brilliant woman and non-binary creative that they truly belong here.”
Gupta said,“Being part of See It Be It 2025 shifted something fundamental in me. It reminded me that the right room can change the trajectory of a career. Coming back as a Tutor feels like a full-circle moment.”
Gupta added, I’m excited to hold space for twenty extraordinary women as they question bigger, speak louder, and build braver. If SIBI 2025 taught me anything, it’s that when women see what’s possible, they don’t just rise; they smash the ceiling.”
The 2026 cohort are named as follows (in alphabetical order by first name):
- Aidovhioghie Anani | Deputy Creative Director, X3M Ideas, Nigeria
- Alba Abelló Balmes | Senior Creative, Twitch, UK
- Beatriz Fiori | Senior Copywriter, GUT São Paulo, Brazil
- Dana Buckhorn | Creative Director, Copywriter, Mischief @ No Fixed Address, USA
- Eugene Park | Creative Excellence Lead, CJ Cheiljedang, South Korea
- Farah El Beaini | Group Account Director, Burson, Lebanon / UAE
- Haylie Craig | Global Associate Creative Director, LEGO Group, Denmark (they/them)
- Hilary Ngan Kee | Head of Strategy, Motion Sickness, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Holly Attrill | Senior Creative, Wieden+Kennedy London, UK
- Kristen Gaerlan | Creative Director, Weber Shandwick, USA
- Liesl Lategan – Kyriakou | Founder/Executive Producer, Spitfire Films, South Africa
- Liyana Hidhir | Copywriter, Independent, Singapore
- Micaelle Lages | Creative Director & Co-Founder, thecode, Brazil
- Natalie Narh | Co-Founder & CEO, NewComma, Ghana
- Padcha Tanviruch | Independent Creative Director, Thailand
- Priscila Ramos de Sousa | Associate Creative Director, Area 23, USA
- Shreya Arora | Creative Strategy, Ultrahuman, India
- Shyaire Ganglani | Associate Creative Director (Copywriter), Leo Australia, Australia
- Svetlana Ćopić | Founder & Creative Director, No Agency, Serbia
- Valentina Bezzolo Briceño | Senior Creative Copywriter, DDB Chile, Chile
Since its inception in 2014, more than 150 women and non-binary talent from 44 markets have participated in the programme. Designed to combat the gender imbalance of creative directors in the industry, the programme has expanded to include See It Be It Connect events.
From Kenya to India, the Connect events offer regional touchpoints that extend the impact of the programme year-round, helping foster a global community set on achieving real change.
This year, the programme further extended into the APAC region with See It Be It Connects: Spikes Asia running in Singapore earlier this month.
For any enquiries, please get in touch at [email protected]. Further information on this year’s Festival can be found at canneslions.com.
