Akihito Omi’s Creative LIAisons wrap up: Discovering My Weapon That Crosses Borders

Akihito Omi, Copywriter at ADK Marketing Solutions inc., was one of 130 young creatives from around the world who took part in the 2025 Creative LIAisons global education program. Here Omi (pictured left) describes the amazing experience of taking part in the London International Award’s global coaching academy.

“A Dream of Working Overseas”
I’ve always dreamed of working abroad. I want to become a creator who can make an impact globally. That’s why I wanted to test how far my ideas could travel beyond Japan—and I flew all the way to Las Vegas, the city of bold challenges.

The one-week London International Awards Creative LIAisons Program was more than just a training session—it felt like working inside a real international creative agency.

“The Birth of a Multinational Agency: Triple Seven”
The highlight of the program was a workshop where we pitched ideas to a real client, Westfield, within a very short timeframe.

Our team — Laura from Australia, Joey from South Africa, Ana from France, Johannes and Finn from Germany, Siddharth from India, Leonardo and Samuel from New York, Camila from Colombia, and myself from Japan — came together as ten Copywriters and Art directors from every continent, forming a creative agency we named Triple Seven.

Working with creators from such diverse cultures felt like being part of a real global agency — it was an absolutely dreamlike experience.

In Japan, my team members, clients, and target audiences are usually all Japanese. So I was worried — would my ideas resonate with people from such different backgrounds?

But when I finally shared my ideas, they laughed, they listened, and some even said, “I really like that.” It made me genuinely happy.

Of course, I felt the language barrier and struggled to sell my ideas at times. But as we brainstormed together, I realized something important — a good idea has no borders.

Everyone in that room carried their own weapon — a creative power that transcended boundaries.

“What’s My Weapon That Crosses Borders?”
Maybe it’s the ability to quickly spot the real problem.

Or the knack for flipping perspectives to find a new solution.

Or perhaps the instinct to discover the exact switch that turns people into fans.

Coming up with beautiful English copy might be tough for me, but I learned that what I really need is the ability to find surprising perspectives that make everyone say “I never thought of that.” Those kinds of ideas have the power to break through borders.

One of the friend who inspired me most was Leonardo, an art director from New York. He often works in multinational teams, and something he said really stuck with me.

I asked, “Isn’t it difficult to work with creators from different backgrounds, since you don’t share the same cultural insights?”

He replied, “That’s exactly what makes it great. American creators are good at concept thinking, Brazilian creators have incredible craft skills—everyone brings a different weapon to the table. We’re a team that pushes each other to be better.”

That’s when I realized—creativity is a team sport. And I decided to keep sharpening the weapon that only I possess.

“Meeting My Dream CCO”
One of the most incredible things about LIAisons was the chance to meet global Chief Creative Officers — people I had only seen in award photos and interviews.

I’m a big fan of Burger King’s global campaigns, and I got to talk with Gabriel Schmitt, one of the masterminds behind them.

Hearing about the stories and energy behind those award-winning ideas was deeply inspiring.

He told me how, when his team first came up with an idea, he knew it was special — “We got it.”

But the concept was so crazy that they had to figure out how to present it to the client, and how to bring it to life in the world.

Even through all that struggle, they believed in the power of the idea — and made it happen.

I thought to myself, “If I could work with someone like him, I could believe in any idea and take it as far as it can go.”

Now, I have a new dream: to meet him again at an award show — or even better, to work together someday.

“LIAisons: A Place to Meet the Best Creators of Our Generation”
The time I spent with everyone at LIAisons — brainstorming ideas, drinking late into the night, and sharing stories — became one of the most precious experiences of my life.

Seeing everyone’s passion and talent motivated me to push myself even harder.

If you ever get the chance, I truly encourage you to dive into LIAisons.

It’s where you’ll meet the most inspiring peers from around the world — and maybe, lifelong friends.

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