Jill Kramer’s Post

It was my first time back at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity since 2022, and it was so good to be back. For me, the best part of the week was the people. The familiar faces you haven’t seen in years. The new connections that immediately feel meaningful. The moments, planned and unplanned, that remind you why being together in person still matters. A few of my favorite moments from the week: - Catching up with Jim Lesser and discovering that we both started our marketing careers as receptionists. Proof that there’s no single path into this industry. - Spending time with my dear friend Marisa Thalberg at the Canva Creative Cabana and talking about what’s next for our brands, our teams and the craft we both love. - Reconnecting with Gail Horwood and spending time with the Novartis marketing team for a Cannes Lions Curated session. I loved the candid discussion about the challenges facing our industry and where marketing is headed next. - Joining Nili Klenoff and a remarkable group of CMOs for brunch aboard the Axios Yacht. We discussed the shifting role of commerce in an agentic era and what it means for brands. - Speaking with fellow CMOs including Manuel "Manolo" Arroyo, Michelle Klein and Suhayl Limbada as part of Cannes Lions' "CMOs in the Spotlight" series. We had an honest conversation about the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of our profession. - Taking the stage with Regina King and hearing more about her incredible journey. We spoke about inclusion, resilience and the power of turning hardship into opportunity. - Celebrating alongside our Mastercard team and partners at McCann as we accepted the inaugural Creative Brand Lion. A proud moment that reflects what’s possible when strong partnerships are built over time. - Accidentally convincing Jessica Jensen to get in the wrong elevator and ending up stuck in the basement of the hotel and laughing harder than I laughed all week. Not every Cannes memory makes the official agenda, but those are sometimes the best ones. - Braving the Cannes heat with Kyle Werner and spotting Mastercard logos in the wild. There’s nothing quite like seeing the brand show up in moments big and small. - Seeing my daughter, Abigail Kramer, shine in her own career as she experienced her first Cannes Lions. Seeing the week through her eyes was truly priceless❤️🧡 I left Cannes grateful for the creativity that brings us together, and even more grateful for the people behind it. Because as much as our industry is powered by ideas, it’s the relationships, friendships and shared moments that make it all worthwhile. #CannesLions #WeAreMastercard #Priceless