LIA Creative LIAisons Global Virtual Coaching Program officially kicks off

The 2025 Creative LIAisons Virtual Coaching Program is officially underway. This year, the program includes 225 Coaches and 225 Mentees from across the globe—spanning North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and Africa.

As a Mentee, you’ll have the opportunity to create a wish list of Coaches you’d like to be paired with. And it’s always an inspiring list—proof of the creative community’s generosity and collaborative spirit.

Because this program is designed by creatives for creatives, we don’t prescribe how sessions should be structured. Every journey is unique, and it’s up to each Coach and Mentee pair to decide what approach works best for them.

Among the coaches who will generously give their time to nurture the younger generation of creatives are: Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer, Grey; Mihnea Gheorghiu, Global Chief Creative Officer, Le Pub; Susan Credle, Global Creative Advisor, Interpublic / Former Global Chair / CCO, FCB; Oriel Davis-Lyons, Chief Creative Officer, Mother, New York; Samira Ansari, Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy; Kate Stanners, Chairwoman / Global Chief Creative Officer, Saatchi & Saatchi; Matt Murphy, Global Chief Creative Officer, 72&Sunny; Justine Armour, Global Chief Creative Officer, Forsman & Bodenfors; Carlos Camacho, Chief Creative Officer, Asia, GUT; Collette Douaihy, Global Chief Creative Officer, Health, Dentsu Health; Motonori Sugiyama, Executive Creative Director, Droga5 part of Accenture Song, Tokyo; Shannon Washington, Global Chief Creative Officer, Gotham; Jouke Vuurmans, Global Chief Creative Officer, Monks.

In 2021, as Covid-19 restrictions were still in place, LIA’s Virtual Coaching program was born. To ensure that as many young creatives as possible benefit from Creative LIAisons, the virtual program has become an integral part of our Global Coaching Academy.

“Having a mentor or coach is important,” said Laurissa Levy, Creative LIAisons Director. “Even the great David Ogilvy, widely known as the ‘Father of Advertising’, was said to have regarded Claude C. Hopkins, early 20th century ad man, as his mentor. Over the years, we have received countless stories from past mentees about how this program has helped them go further in their career. Many of them are still in contact with their coaches. Having face-time between mentee and coach is, as one coach called it ‘gold dust’. LIAisons is happy to be able to facilitate this meeting of creative minds.”

The program has been praised by many top industry leaders who have served as LIAisons Coaches. As Judy John, Global Chief Creative Officer, Edelman, commented: “With the Virtual Program, I’m learning and taking notes, but also just giving back and sharing with the community, helping creatives understand how to grow within the creative community and expand their skills.”

Since the inception of the Creative LIAisons Virtual Coaching Program more than 750 up-and-coming stars of the industry have benefited.

You can view all the 2025 Coaches on the LIA website. The page is fully searchable and downloadable by country, network and company.