Many students are curious about how it all works, when it comes to the Roger Hatchuel Academy Selection.The Alternative School for Creative Thinking has managed to train, select and send Romanian talent for several years to Cannes and have them experience the exclusive courses held by amazing & highly skilled teachers at the Roger Hatchuel Academy. We are continuing our series of interviews with the lovely Diana Oprea, who managed to become the Romanian representative in 2019, attending Cannes Lions and visiting the Google Headquarters in California, learning exclusive insights directly from the source.

How did you feel when you found out you won the local Roger Hatchuel Academy contest?

I was out of Bucharest. I almost dropped my luggage. The news almost killed me… with joy. It was overwhelming, I didn’t know how to react. Basically, I applied so I can get professional feedback from the school’s founder, the mentor who guided me. At first I was afraid to apply, not because I would lose, but because I would win, because I knew I had a good application with her help. Because winning means getting out of your comfort zone and tasting the unexpected. Turns out that’s what I actually needed at that moment.

What activities did you have during the academy?

During the Lions, we would listen to superstar speakers from all over the world everyday. From CEOs, creatives, strategists, to music producers, actors and journalists. We could freely ask them questions and they provided us with fascinating insights. Two days in a row we had discussions and workshops with Google employees at Google Beach. We had access to Cannes Lions Awards galas and could watch the best campaigns of the year. Not to mention the parties. Every. Night. At Mountain View Headquarters, every class with the Google speakers was a delight. From groundbreaking news and information in the industry to improving soft skills like communication and networking, it was all so professional and light hearted at the same time. We visited the campus, the „secret laboratories” of Google X, and different organized amazing activities every evening, like cooking in teams or the cruise in San Francisco.The best part is that at both Cannes and Google you can actually network with the speakers and this kind of intimacy is usually the best way to learn something from somebody.

What does Roger Hatchuel Academy mean to you?

For me, Roger Hatchuel was about realizing that people have more in common than they think. There were more similarities than there were differences. It also meant professionalism, insightful information and over-the-top memorable conversations, but it was really about people connecting through our passion and learning about each other’s cultural backgrounds.

What was the best part of Roger Hatchuel Academy?

…Free delicious food?! Everywhere. I am joking, although that was the naked truth…Regarding the activities, gaining different perspectives on some things we thought we knew. I mean we knew, but from only one angle. Working in teams felt amazing. On a personal note, meeting new people. That was the highlight. My favorite memory is when we all gathered at Cannes after the program in our classroom and started to dance to music coming from different countries. We learned traditional dances and had a great time together.

Do you recommend Roger Hatchuel Academy? If so, why?

It would be so funny to speak beautifully about this academy and then answer „no” to this question. Like „Do you recommend Roger Hatchuel ?- No!”If you don’t want to grow, if you don’t want to meet amazing speakers and mentors and friends with different perspectives, if you don’t want to have international connections, if you don’t want to share knowledge and creativity, if you don’t want to return home smarter and more fulfilled, then Roger Hatchuel Academy is not your place. Stay away from it.”

Do you have any advice for the new applicants?

Don’t wear purple lipstick on your video because it’s going to look horrible and you will have to record the whole thing. Other than that, my advice is to just do it. Don’t think about it at all. Do it. I did it without even thinking about the outcome, I did it because I simply wanted to be creative, through both a resume and a video. It was just an opportunity to express myself and you should consider it the same.

How has RHA influenced your life?

I am way more proud of myself and trust my intuition more. It had a deeper impact on me than I imagined. It was an experience that helped me both professionally and spiritually. I was more appreciated at job interviews for this experience. I used the information I received there in what I do and now I feel inspired and more courageous to do the things I am really passionate about.

Has it changed your perspective on your career?

Yes. I came home with some tips and tricks about so many fields in advertising that I’m interested in (creative, strategy, prototyping) and I was really enthusiastic to apply them here.

Top 3 skills you’ve improved in this learning journey:

Networking, performing under pressure, active listening. Top 3 teachers/speakers you recommend following: Jessica Kassel - Head of Talent, HEAT & Julia Hammond Managing Director, HEAT, Wyclef Jean - Music Producer & Lewis Samuels - Insights and Marketing, Google.

Top 3 classes you remember:

“Solving a brief in 48 hours”, with our deans from The Pop Up Agency, Maksimilian Kalhed & Abraham Asefaw; In conversation with Noor Tagouri, American Journalist and the Google X talk, featuring Aisling O’ Gara, Communications Manager at X & Olivia Evans, Marketing at X.

For applications for the new Roger Hatchuel Academy selection, subscribe to our social media channels or drop us a line.

Many students are curious about how it all works, when it comes to the Roger Hatchuel Academy Selection. The Alternative School for Creative Thinking has managed to train, select and send Romanian talent for several years to Cannes and have them experience the exclusive courses held by amazing & highly skilled teachers at the Roger Hatchuel Academy. We are continuing our series of Roger Hatchuel Alumni interviews with Anca Ifrim, who has become a design expert and a successful executive creative director in her own right.

How did you feel when you found out you won the local Roger Hatchuel Academy contest?

I was aiming for Young Lions Design at the time. So, initially, I was disappointed. In hindsight, it was the best learning opportunity at the perfect time.

What activities did you have during the academy?

Inside the academy, seminars & workshops in the morning. Then, we were encouraged to check out the rest of the festival for part of the day. We’d share these experiences back “at base” in the evening.

What does Roger Hatchuel Academy mean to you?

An international community of young, fresh, creative minds.

What was the best part of Roger Hatchuel Academy?

The “muchness”/ abundance of everything: people, nationalities, cultures, ideas, campaigns, advice, information, emotions.

Do you recommend Roger Hatchuel Academy? If so, why?

Of course. Do everything that opens you up to anything

Do you have any advice for the new applicants?

Do the hard work. Passion trumps talent. That catchy one-liner or minimalist logo you famously know has weeks of research behind it & tens of less successful iterations.

How has RHA influenced your life?

It was my first touchpoint with the advertising industry. It has shaped the vision of how the industry should look like, in its best form.

Has it changed your perspective on your career?

As a graphic designer graduate, advertising isn’t something I was aspiring towards. It gave me hope that one can do decent creative work in a commercial framework.

Top 3 skills you’ve improved:

Social skills, lateral thinking, general creative mindset.

Top 3 speakers:

George Lois and what was memorable from his talk:

“The minute people force you to do bad work, you’re through. You’ll never be great.”About Andy Warhol on the Esquire magazine cover:” – Andy, I’m gonna put you on the cover of Esquire.

– How?

– I’ll have you drowning in a giant Campbell Soup can.

– Won’t you have to build that giant can?

– No, schmuck! “

”Vivienne Westwood.Amongst the things she said: “the human genius can make the world a better place” / “culture is about human evolution in the pursuit of excellence” / “listen to your best self” / “the world has forgotten more than it remembers” and she almost shouted at the end: “Keep having opinions! It’s what will save us”.

Mary Lee Copeland.The most vivid speaker we’ve had, some sort of “emotional godmother”. A lesson in how to make emotion; emotion being defined as “a cluster of feelings, negative and positive”. We had to hold hands and look into each others’ eyes and somehow realize that storytelling is in fact the structuring of the emotional response from an audience.

For applications for the new Roger Hatchuel Academy selection, subscribe to our social media channels or drop us a line.

Many students are curious about how it all works, when it comes to the Roger Hatchuel Academy Selection.The Alternative School for Creative Thinking has managed to train, select and send Romanian talent for several years to Cannes and have them experience the exclusive courses held by amazing & highly skilled teachers at the Roger Hatchuel Academy. We are launching our series of Roger Hatchuel Alumni interviews with Mara Cristina, who, after the experience, became a marketing executive, a sponsor for the next Roger Hatchuel Academy Winners and later on, a successful personal coach.

How did you feel when you found out you won the local Roger Hatchuel Academy contest?

A mix of surprise, curiosity, overwhelm, and fear. I didn’t think I would belong there.

What activities did you have during the Academy?

We had speakers just for ourselves, which was awesome, so we had inspiring workshops and masterclasses every day. In the last few days, we went through the creative process of The Pop Up Agency and worked in teams on a brief. This part was so full of energy, enthusiasm, and action. There were also afternoon activities at the beach, a party or two, lots of fun and socializing.

What does Roger Hatchuel Academy mean to you?

One of those BIG experiences of my life. Confirmation of my knowledge and potential at that time. Now a reminder of the endless possibilities and potential of international teams, of how achieving the right energy in a group can create magic. A celebration for overcoming my fear and feeling of inadequacy.

What was the best part of Roger Hatchuel Academy?

The people and having the opportunity to connect with them. And I am talking about everyone. My colleagues, the coordinators of the Academy, the speakers, the Pop Up Agency team, everyone was a blessing to meet. I would also say the feedback. Being in such a high-level Academy was an opportunity to get honest feedback about my knowledge and capacity in the creative industry.

Do you recommend Roger Hatchuel Academy? If so, why?

I do. It is something special that can’t be easily described in words. It is an experience worth living. Something different than anything else. An opportunity for growth in a top, creative, supporting environment. It opens up your mind to a lot of possibilities and that is exactly what a young person might need.

Do you have any advice for the new applicants?

Be you, authentic, do your best & look at applications from previous years and different countries (find them on Youtube) so you can get an idea about the level of professionalism that you are supposed to achieve for this journey.

How has RHA influenced your life?

I used the tools I received there for so many years after. I am still using them in my activities. They are evergreen and super useful. I also use the confidence that I got out of that experience.

Has it changed your perspective on your career?

It opened my eyes to a lot possibilities.

Top 3 skills you’ve improved:

Teamwork, ideation, adaptability.

For applications for the new Roger Hatchuel Academy selection, subscribe to our social media channels or drop us a line.