Fully Funded Marketing Scholarship 2026: How to Win the Jodi Harris Scholarship and Go to Cannes Lions

If you work in brand or client-side marketing and secretly pause Cannes Lions highlight reels thinking, “One day…”, this scholarship is your shot at turning “one day” into “this year.”

The Jodi Harris Scholarship 2026 is not a vague “professional development opportunity” that gives you a PDF and a webinar. It is a fully funded, high-touch, career-changing programme for just 10 emerging marketing leaders—built around the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and powered by AB InBev, one of the most awarded marketing organizations on the planet.

Think flights, accommodation, daily allowance, full Festival pass, curated learning, private sessions with AB InBev’s senior marketing leadership, and access to some of the sharpest minds in global advertising and brand-building.

You don’t pay. You show up, learn, and seriously upgrade your career.

And yes, it’s competitive. But if you’re the kind of marketer who reads award case studies for fun and believes creativity should move both hearts and business metrics, you’re exactly the person this was designed for.

Jodi Harris Scholarship 2026 at a Glance

Why This Scholarship Actually Matters for Your Career

Most marketers spend years trying to get their company to fund one trip to Cannes Lions. This scholarship skips the negotiating and goes straight to:

• You at Cannes, not watching from LinkedIn.
• You learning directly from global CMOs, not from someone summarizing their talk in a blog post.
• You in the room with other high-potential marketers who will be tomorrow’s decision-makers.

The programme is built in memory of Jodi Harris, a marketing leader at AB InBev who helped shape how one of the world’s biggest advertisers thinks about creativity, culture, and capability-building. Her work wasn’t just about making “cool ads.” It was about:

• Building a culture where creativity has measurable impact.
• Treating marketing capability as a strategic asset, not a side project.
• Opening doors for talent, especially those who might not usually get a front-row seat in this industry.

This scholarship continues that work by identifying high-potential client-side marketers whose own legacies are just getting started—and accelerating them hard.

If you’re serious about becoming a Senior Marketing Leader, VP, or CMO, this isn’t a nice-to-have. This is the kind of thing that shifts how your company and your peers see you.

What the Jodi Harris Scholarship Actually Offers

Let’s unpack what you get if you’re selected—because it’s much more than “a free trip.”

1. A Fully Funded Trip to Cannes Lions

If you’re chosen, they cover:

• Flights to and from the Festival
• Accommodation for the duration
• Allowance for meals and incidentals
• All the logistics that usually make your finance team break into a sweat

That means you don’t have to convince your employer’s budget committee. You just need their blessing to attend.

2. Brand Marketers Festival Pass (With Real Benefits)

This isn’t the cheapest pass tier. You get a Brand Marketers Festival Pass, which includes:

• The same advantages as a Gold Pass (premium access to talks, content, and key sessions)
• A customised learning programme designed specifically for brand-side marketers
• Opportunities for collaboration with other marketers, agencies, and partners
• Private sessions for senior marketers, where the conversations are frank, specific, and not recorded for YouTube

If you’ve ever left a conference feeling like you sat through 12 hours of fluff, this is pretty much the opposite. It’s built for people who are already in the game and want to operate at a higher level.

3. Curated Scholarship Programme with Industry Leaders

On top of the Festival itself, you get a curated programme, including:

• Exclusive sessions with industry thought leaders
  Expect conversations about:

  • How to protect creativity in large organizations
  • How to build marketing teams that actually ship bold work
  • Balancing brand, performance, and experimentation

• Access to AB InBev’s executive marketing team
  These are the people whose work:

  • Wins multiple Cannes Lions every year
  • Drives growth in extremely competitive categories
  • Proves creative ambition and commercial discipline can co-exist

That kind of access is rare outside of internal leadership programmes at big companies—and even then, only for a small inner circle.

Who Should Apply: Is This Really for You?

Let’s translate the eligibility criteria into real-world terms.

You’re a strong fit if:

• You work for a client-side brand, not an agency.

  • Example: Brand Manager at a consumer goods company.
  • Example: Senior Marketing Manager at a bank, telco, tech platform, or retailer.
  • Example: Marketing Manager for a fast-growing African consumer brand expanding regionally.

• You are at Manager or Senior Manager level.
  Not an intern, not a CMO (yet). You’re in that “muscle of the organization” level where:

  • You lead projects or small teams.
  • You influence campaigns and strategy.
  • You’re expected to deliver real numbers.

• You were born between 26 June 1989 and 22 June 1995.
  That typically means:

  • You’re early to mid-career.
  • You have enough experience to have made mistakes, learned from them, and want to operate bigger.

• You aspire to become a Senior Marketing Leader, VP, or CMO.
  You’re not just trying to make pretty campaigns. You actually care about:

  • P&L.
  • Brand equity.
  • Building teams and cultures.

• You see creativity as essential to growth, not decoration.
  You’re excited by:

  • Bold ideas tied to sharp business thinking.
  • Creative work that actually moves market share, not just “wins an award.”

The call specifically welcomes big dreamers—people who want their work to matter beyond their next quarterly review.

How the Selection Process Works

The application isn’t a random draw. There’s a three-stage selection process:

1. Initial Application Review

   • A jury of Senior Marketers at AB InBev reviews each application.
   • They shortlist candidates based on your written materials—this is where clarity, ambition, and evidence of impact matter.

2. Telephone (or virtual) Interview

   • Shortlisted applicants speak with the LIONS Jodi Harris team.
   • They’re checking:
     • How you think about creativity and growth.
     • Your potential as a future senior leader.
     • How clearly you can articulate your work and ambition.

3. Final Decision

   • Decisions combine your written application + interview performance.
   • They’re assembling a cohort, not just picking 10 individual stars. That means they think about diversity of background, market, sector, and experience.

Insider Tips for a Winning Jodi Harris Scholarship Application

You’re competing for one of 10 spots globally. You can’t afford a bland application. Here’s how to give yourself a genuine shot.

1. Tell a Clear Before-and-After Story

Don’t just list projects. Show transformation.

• What was the problem or opportunity?
• What exactly did you do?
• What changed in:
  • Brand perception?
  • Sales?
  • Loyalty?
  • Internal culture?

Use numbers where you can:

• “Grew penetration by 6% in 12 months.”
• “Increased consideration among Gen Z from 23% to 34%.”
• “Doubled campaign ROI while reducing media spend by 15%.”

2. Make Your Ambition Uncomfortably Specific

“Want to be a CMO one day” is too vague.

Try:

• “I want to be the CMO who proves an African-born brand can dominate globally through world-class creativity.”
• “I want to lead a marketing function that’s measured not just on efficiency, but on the new value it creates.”

State where you’re heading, and how this scholarship plugs into that path.

3. Show That You’re Curious, Not Just Credible

They’re explicitly looking for people with natural curiosity.

Signal that by:

• Mentioning books, thinkers, or case studies that shaped your thinking.
• Showing how you test, learn, and adapt—not just execute.
• Highlighting times you pushed for experimentation in conservative environments.

Curious marketers age better than those who peaked in one campaign.

4. Own Your Context, Don’t Apologize for It

If you work in a market with:

• Tiny budgets,
• Complex regulation,
• Fragmented media,
• Or less glamorous brands,

that’s not a disadvantage. It’s a story angle.

Talk about:

• How you’ve made creativity work under real constraints.
• What you’ve learned from operating in tough environments.
• Why your perspective adds something valuable to a global cohort.

5. Treat the Interview Like a Strategic Conversation

If you’re shortlisted, the interview is not a quiz; it’s a test of how you think.

Prepare to:

• Explain one or two specific projects in detail.
• Share what didn’t work, not just your highlights.
• Talk about a time you changed your mind after new data or insight.

You’re not auditioning to be perfect. You’re demonstrating that you’re coachable, reflective, and ambitious.

Application Timeline: Work Backward from December 5, 2025

Here’s a realistic way to manage your time.

By October 15 – 31, 2025: Clarify Your Story

• List your top 3–4 career moments where:
  • Creativity mattered.
  • You made a difference.
• Choose 1–2 that best show your potential as a future senior leader.

Early November 2025: Draft Your Application

• Write your first draft answering:

  • Who are you as a marketer?
  • What have you actually done?
  • Where are you trying to go?
  • How will this scholarship help you get there?

• Avoid jargon. Write like you’d speak to a smart friend.

Mid-November 2025: Get Outside Feedback

• Ask:
  • A peer,
  • A non-marketing friend,
  • And, if possible, a more senior marketer

to read your application.

Ask them:

• “Does this sound like me?”
• “Would you pick this person for a high-potential programme?”
• “Where are you bored or confused?”

Revise accordingly.

By November 30, 2025: Final Polish and Submission

• Check:

  • Dates of birth eligibility.
  • Role/level requirements.
  • Spelling, grammar, and clarity.

• Submit at least 3–5 days before December 5 to avoid tech drama.

Required Materials: What You’ll Likely Need

The portal may vary slightly year to year, but you should be ready with:

• Professional Profile / CV

  • Focus on marketing roles, progression, and scope of responsibility.
  • Highlight campaigns, initiatives, or transformations you’ve led.

• Short-Answer Responses or Motivation Statement
  Expect questions like:

  • Why do you want this scholarship?
  • How have you used creativity to drive results?
  • Where do you see your career in 5–10 years?

  Write in plain English. Avoid buzzwords like “synergy” and “ecosystem.”

• Company & Role Details

  • Official job title (Manager or Senior Manager level).
  • Industry and size of your company or brand.
  • Overview of your responsibilities.

• Proof of Eligibility

  • Date of birth (must be between 26 June 1989 and 22 June 1995).
  • Confirmation that you work client-side, not at an agency.

• Contact Information for Follow-Up

  • Make sure your email and phone number are correct and monitored; this is how they’ll invite you to interview.

Have digital copies ready so you’re not scrambling when you open the portal.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Based on how programmes like this usually assess candidates, your application will stand out if it shows:

1. Clear Evidence of Creative Impact

They’re not just hunting for people who “like creativity.” They want:

• Campaigns that changed minds or behaviour.
• Brand work that improved perception or loyalty.
• Initiatives that made marketing more respected inside your company.

2. Thoughtful Leadership Potential

You don’t have to manage a big team yet, but you should show:

• Moments where you influenced stakeholders.
• Times you advocated for bolder ideas.
• How you support and grow the people around you.

Leadership is a pattern, not a job title.

3. Strategic Thinking, Not Just Execution

It’s not enough that you “ran the social media campaign.” Show:

• How you framed the problem.
• How you chose the strategy.
• How you decided what success would look like.

They’re picking future strategic leaders, not just strong operators.

4. Alignment with Jodi Harris’s Legacy

You’ll stand out if your mindset resonates with:

• Championing creativity, even when it’s hard.
• Caring about people’s growth and opportunity.
• Building marketing cultures that respect craft and results.

You don’t need to name-check Jodi in every sentence; just show through your examples that you work in a similar spirit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A few ways good candidates accidentally take themselves out of the running:

1. Being Vague About Results

• Weak: “The campaign performed well and boosted engagement.”
• Strong: “The campaign led to a 40% increase in brand searches and a 12% uplift in sales during the period.”

If you don’t have perfect data, use directional or proxy metrics—but give something concrete.

2. Writing Like a Corporate Bio

If your application reads like it was approved by three departments and legal, it will blend into the background.

Write like a human:

• Use “I” when you mean you.
• Be honest about your role.
• Own both wins and lessons.

3. Hiding Your Ambition

This programme is literally for people who want to rise to VP or CMO level. Don’t downplay that because you think it sounds arrogant. The trick is to pair ambition with humility and self-awareness:

• “I want to be a CMO who… and I know I still need to grow in X, Y, and Z.”

4. Ignoring the Eligibility Details

Don’t waste your time if:

• You were born outside the specified dates.
• You’re currently in an agency role.

If you’re on the edge (for example, hybrid role), clarify how you meet the “client marketer” requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I have to be based in Africa?
Not necessarily. The opportunity is tagged with “Africa,” which often signals a particular outreach focus, but the scholarship itself is for client-side marketers who meet the role and age criteria. Always check the official page for any region-specific notes.

2. Does my company need to be well-known?
No. You can work at a global giant, a regional champion, or a fast-rising local brand. What matters is what you’ve done, not how famous your logo is. In fact, doing bold work in challenging contexts can make your story even more distinctive.

3. Can agency marketers apply?
The scholarship is explicitly for those working in a role for a client marketer at Manager or Senior Manager level. If you’re currently at an agency, you wouldn’t be eligible unless your role formally sits on the client side.

4. What if my job title isn’t exactly “Manager” or “Senior Manager”?
Titles vary by company. Focus on:

• Do you lead projects or small teams?
• Are you responsible for brand, campaign, or portfolio performance? If you’re not sure, you can often clarify in your application or contact the organizers via the official site.

5. How intense is the Festival programme?
Expect it to be dense, energizing, and slightly overwhelming (in a good way). Between:

• Cannes Lions content,
• The curated scholarship sessions,
• Networking, you won’t be bored. But it’s the kind of intensity that sends you home with a notebook full of ideas and a brain buzzing with possibilities.

6. Will I have to stay with my current company after attending?
There’s no public requirement like that. However, be smart—attending Cannes on a prestigious scholarship tends to increase your value. Whether that’s within your current company or elsewhere is up to your path and agreements with your employer.

7. When will I hear back after the deadline?
Timelines can vary, but expect:

• Shortlisting and interview invitations sometime after the deadline.
• Final decisions once interviews are completed.

Check your email regularly (including spam) and ensure the contact details you submit are current.

How to Apply: Next Steps

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for,” treat that as your cue.

Here’s what to do now:

1. Confirm Eligibility

   • Check your date of birth: between 26 June 1989 and 22 June 1995.
   • Confirm you’re in a client-side marketing role at Manager or Senior Manager level.

2. Gather Your Materials

   • Updated CV/resume focusing on marketing work.
   • A short list of your proudest campaigns or projects with specific results.
   • A rough draft of your career ambition and why this scholarship fits into it.

3. Draft Your Application Answers Offline First

   • Don’t compose inside the portal. Write your responses in a document so you can edit and reuse if needed.
   • Aim for clarity, honesty, and energy. You’re making a case for why your future is worth investing in.

4. Submit Before the Rush

   • Don’t wait for December 5, 2025, itself.
   • Aim to submit at least 3–5 days early to avoid any last-minute issues.

Ready to move?

Get Started

All applications are submitted through the official LIONS portal.

Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page here:
https://auth.lionscreativity.com/u/login?state=hKFo2SBKOTNheENEWmw4b0RKNWo5X20wYXJSSDE4Q19QeHhjSaFur3VuaXZlcnNhbC1sb2dpbqN0aWTZIDlZNHc3NUNSZmFmOGd1SjMyTE8wdGdmTW9hOThUQ2xCo2NpZNkgWG8zakNWT0REQk0xUXVGa0F1ME1TaXM0d2pYQ0ZrNUc

Mark December 5, 2025 in your calendar—but aim to be done well before that. Ten people will get that call. There’s no good reason one of them shouldn’t be you.