My Week at Cannes Lions
observations from the Croisette
Last week, I found myself living what can only be described as a beautifully chaotic version of that meme where the dog sits in a burning house saying "this is fine." The house was the French Riviera, the fire was my schedule, and this actually was fine, because I had an incredible time.
Welcome to Cannes Lions, where advertising awards have evolved into something truly unique. Is it a work conference? An intensive networking experience for industry professionals? A week-long opportunity to connect while running on minimal sleep? The answer, wonderfully, is yes.
Cannes Lions is a remarkable experience of meeting new people, trying new things, and enjoying the French Riviera all while brands transform the coastline with activations and parties and fully produced concerts. The majority of the main events take place on the Croisette, where brands have gorgeous build outs on the beach, as well as suites and rooftops in the hotels along the street. There are also events held at villas 20-30 minutes away, and a few events took place at the stunning Hotel Eden Cap du Roc. During the day, there are meetings and activations, and at night, there are parties, performances, and socializing. Here's a run down of everything I did and wore during this memorable week:
A Day-by-Day Breakdown
Monday began with a delayed flight, because even when you're headed to the French Riviera for work (a sentence that still amazes me), travel logistics can be unpredictable. Gratefully, events like this is that they create their own momentum. I dropped my luggage off, got changed into the perfect white linen dress, and went straight to an event at the Mastercard Villa, then 5 minutes away to another villa hosted by Spotify where Charlie Puth was performing (and making us all tear up.) I ended my night back at the Croisette at a party hosted by MediaLink. I met some wonderful people, but didn't last too long thanks to my jet lag and lack of sleep.
Tuesday started with what might be one of the most 2025 sentences I've ever written: I received an Hermès scarf at a Vayner Media event as gifting from a sponsoring brand. (?!?!) I took a break to change into an evening outfit, swung by a Pinterest event and headed to dinner with my beloved Peloton team - a much needed moment with family. We all went to watch fellow instructor Jess King DJ at a Female Quotient rooftop party, who absolutely crushed it.
The night ended at Hotel Eden Cap du Roc, which sounds fancy because it absolutely is, where I ran into some old friends, met some incredible new ones and drank up the view overlooking the water.
Wednesday brought the day that I was there for with Peloton! I woke up at 5am to teach a yoga class at 7:15 AM on Media Link Beach. Moments like this remind me why I do what I do: to help people find 5% more freedom. It's easy at an advertising conference to get caught up in the comparison and competition, to feel less than, or not enough, to feel that our value is based on some external measure of success. Practice brings us back home, to being present within ourselves, to know that our value comes from within, we get to decide what success looks like, and to remember that we are human, and so is everyone else we interact with.
Anyway, I immediately went home after class for a much needed nap.
Then I rallied for an event with Cosmo, where there was customized ice cream made on the spot, swung by a Marriott event with an F1 driver special guest, and headed out to an unforgettable night. I watched Cardi B and Mark Ronson perform at Spotify beach (incredible!), followed by Diplo at Yahoo beach. Yahoo had a food truck serving late-night fries, which is the kind of genius touch that is deserving of Cannes Lions.
Thursday, I flew directly back to New York so I could teach yoga in Times Square on Friday morning. I slept the entire flight and landed feeling incredibly grateful for the whole experience.
What I'm Taking Away From All This
The thing about weeks like this is that they reveal something both wonderful and thought-provoking about how we live now. The boundaries between work and play, between personal brand and actual personality can become quite fluid.
But there's something magical about meeting people you admire, learning about new technology, experiencing creativity and generosity, spending time with colleagues in different contexts, and connecting deeply through practice in the midst of it all. I learned so much about people, business, and my own capacity to connect with others.
Sometimes, the most honest thing you can say about your life is that it's unpredictable but feels exactly right. And sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do is embrace things as they are: the jet lag, brand activations, late-night fries, and all.
Sounds like a magical week and I love the lessons learned just by being so observant in the present. Thank you Aditi. I’m finishing my own vacation now reflecting on things learned as well. I appreciate you sharing!
"boundaries between work and play, between personal brand and actual personality can become quite fluid" - what a dream to be realizing this, not aiming for perfection in tidying each component of my life into a tiny box w a bow but trusting there can be harmony - it is achievable (uncomfortable or unconventional, maybe) but making life a bit softer one day at a time. Thank you for sharing (: