Then I headed over to Amazon Beach were I saw Leah Kateb, Faby Torres, Sofia Colantropo, and Carly Zipp. The talk was titled The Winning Strategy of Nostalgia Marketing. As a dedicated fan of Love Island, seeing Leah felt like a dream. The reason many fans loved her is because of her fashion - mostly vintage designer - that she wore on the show. She talked about her style and how it came to be. Faby Torres, CMO of Gap, gave great insight to the resurgence of Gap as well.
My next talk was Laughing at Doom: Using Humor to Talk About Illness/ Hellscapes. Bill Nye was one of the speakers and he focused on the need to bring back comedy into advertising. He stated that there has been a declining amount of humorous ads around the world (33% down 2000 and 2020). Secondly, he stated that laughter lowers stress, improves memory, and enhances attention and engagement. So, it is very reasonable for brands to work more humorous content back into their campaigns.
This morning at FQ, I sat in on two back-to-back panels that really focused on leadership and partnerships. The first, “From Vision to Velocity,” was all about how top leaders move quickly from big ideas to real results. I loved hearing how execution isn’t just about speed. It’s about clear communication and having the guts to take bold action. Then in the second talk, “Partners in Growth,” leaders from the WNBA, Delta, Deloitte, and State Farm explained how strategic alliances can elevate a brand by focusing on shared values and storytelling. What stood out to me most was how collaboration, not just sponsorships, is what actually drives growth and cultural relevance.
Quick pit stop mid-day to go to the Pinterest beach and get a tattoo! My friend and I (before the first talk of the day) signed up for a time slot. Once we arrived at our time, we had an artist all set up for us and had to choose a design from an already created Pinterest broad. It was such an amazing experience getting a tattoo literally on the beach in the south of France!
Last - but certainly not least - I got to see one of my favorite influencers Brandon Edelman at the Creators Lounge. He had a 30 minute panel and he talked about his journey from corporate to where he is now. He talked about staying consistent especially on social media. It took him 6 months before anyone started to see his videos. Overall, you have to stay true to yourself and do not give up on something you truly enjoy because you never know where it could take you!
On Thursday, we did not attend the award show. But I do still have three main takeaways from the day. Laughter needs to be brought back into ads, to be a creator you need time and effort, and lastely do not work with a brand if it does not feel authentic.