South Africa, Aug. 18 -- "When we tap into the specific, like cultural nuances, sensory details, and lived experiences that shape us - the work becomes so much more meaningful," she says.

She adds that the talks that resonated most were the ones rooted in honesty and identity. "It reminded me that there's power in telling stories that come from exactly who you are."

Like many people in advertising, I stumbled into it. It probably started when my dad made my five-year-old self feel very important by archiving all my scribbles in a flip file - the ultimate childhood gallery. His constant encouragement led me to pursue my dream degree in fine art.

After that, I dabbled in design and completely fell for the process: the problem-solving, th...