Wolf BKK Thailand’s Panupong Putong’s wrap-up of the LIA Creative LIAisons in Las Vegas

Wolf BKK’s Senior Art Director, Panupong Putong, was one of the 130 talented young creatives, selected from around the globe, to attend the LIA Creative LIAisons training program that runs concurrently with the LIA judging week at the Encore Hotel in Las Vegas. Here Putong wraps up his learnings from the week.

1. What were your expectations coming in to the Creative LIAisons program and did it live up to your expectations?
I came in hungry, not just for an In-N-Out burger after a 20-hour flight, but hungry to learn, genuinely excited to hear how the best in the world think, make, and fight for great work. I did get that, but I also got something deeper. It wasn’t just about craft or awards; it was about the creative mind itself, how we think, doubt, and think again.

2. What were your 3 to 5 individual highlights of the Creative LIAisons program? Explain why.
What I didn’t expect was how much the in-between moments would matter. The late-night conversations were pure gold: beers, late-night Strip walks with new friends, trading stories about work, life, and creativity. That’s when I realized we’re all fighting the same battles, just in different languages and time zones. By the end, I didn’t just learn how to make better work; I learned to trust my gut again. Big props to LIA for building something that felt less like a conference and more like a creative reboot.

One line from a panel that stuck with me was, “If you have imposter syndrome, it means you’re in the right room.” That hit hard, but that sentence flipped it. Discomfort means you’re growing. The speakers, CCOs, and creative legends from around the world came in with zero filter, just real stories about their creative lives, inspirations, and self-doubt. It reminded me that people at the top aren’t perfect; they just care more and dare harder.

3. What was it like sitting in the back of the LIA Statue jury discussions? What did you learn?
Being one of the few Thai creatives there made me realize something. Thai creativity truly connects: humor, contradictions, and all. Sitting in the LIA jury room, seeing that process up close, I noticed they didn’t just vote; they debated. They questioned everything: What’s the real insight? Is it new? And honestly, while they judged, I found myself judging along in my head too. We all had our own winners.

What amazed me was how open they were. Every juror welcomed questions, paused to explain, and even shared what they’d learned from years of fighting for ideas. You could feel the generosity in that room. The best people in this industry don’t just create, they share.

4. What’s your advice to anyone attending next year?
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone coming next year, the taco stand next to the Wynn Hotel is insanely good. Not the first one, the next one (Taco El Gordo). Just trust me. (Okay, kidding… but not really.)

It’s this: come ready to break your own patterns. And by the way, ask questions, even dumb ones. Talk to people outside your comfort zone. The official sessions will fuel you, but the real spark happens between them, in hallways, at bars, or during random 2 a.m. burger runs.

Every day, take one thing that hits you and figure out how to bring it home. And when the day ends, after all the panels, beers, and laughs, there’s always one question that sums it all up: “So… who’s up for In-N-Out tonight?”

READ MORE LIA WRAP-UPS FROM CREATIVE LIAISONS BELOW:

One Hand Clap Mumbai’s Siddharth Kumar
Leo Ho Chi Minh City’s Bao Ngoc Vuong
ADK Marketing Solutions inc’s Akihito Omi