Esosa Osagiede, Creative Director at Insight Publicis and a bold voice in global advertising, has been appointed as a juror in the Print & Publishing category at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. One of the most coveted honors in the global creative industry.
This milestone marks yet another defining moment, as she continues to break boundaries and elevate African creativity on the world stage. From being the only West African selected for the prestigious Cannes See It Be It programme (a platform that spotlighted 15 exceptional women leaders in advertising from across the globe) in 2023. Esosa continues to raise the bar and amplify African creativity on the world stage.
Now, she returns to Cannes — not just to witness creativity, but to shape it- entrusted with helping to set the standard for global creativity.
Reflecting on the moment, Esosa shared, “I have admired this from afar for a very, very long time. Every year, I’d rush to check the jury list like it is the Grammys. Who made the cut? Who are these brilliant minds handpicked from around the world to bring fresh perspectives and award metals to the most exceptional works? It always felt like an opportunity for a chosen few, until I realized that I belonged in that room too. And now here we are. I’m incredibly humbled and honored (still a little numb), to be a print and publishing juror at Cannes Lions. I can’t wait to bring my voice to the juror room to assess the groundbreaking creativity that will set the creative benchmark for another year.”
Esosa’s journey in advertising has been anything but conventional. She began as a copywriter in Nigeria, quickly building a reputation for big ideas that challenge norms and spark culture. From her creative work on global brands like Burger King and YouTube to helping crown Insight Publicis as Agency of the Year at LAIF 2024, her influence is both deep and far-reaching.
Recognized globally for her work, Esosa has earned numerous accolades over the years. She was named Creative Personality of the Year at the 2024 Edge Awards and won Most Outstanding Creative Director at WIMCA in both 2023 and 2024. Her widely acclaimed campaign for TERRA, “Unwrap Joy, Unleash Taste,” won a Grand Prix at LAIF in 2023, further showcasing her ability to craft emotionally resonant, high-impact work. In 2025, she was also listed on the DARE! List, which celebrates Black creative leaders who are shaping the global future of advertising.
Esosa’s leadership has not only advanced the creative output of leading brands such as Pepsi, 7UP, Heineken, Nestlé, British American Tobacco, Mondelez, and First Bank, but also helped redefine what it means to be a cultural innovator. She is a frequent juror on top international panels, including CLIO, D&AD, The One Show, The ANDYs, Publicis Giraffe, and LAIF.
More than her awards and professional milestones, Esosa is deeply committed to mentoring young creatives, especially women, through her work with advertising schools and industry initiatives. Her advocacy for inclusivity and her drive to push boundaries make her appointment to the Cannes Lions Jury not just a personal triumph but a symbolic win for a new generation of African storytellers.
Esosa Osagiede’s story continues to be one of imagination, courage, and impact. Her journey from Lagos to Cannes is a shining reminder that the world’s biggest creative stages are not just for the few, but for those bold enough to believe they belong.