Jury

Clara Benayas
Head of Cultural Strategy
La Despensa
Spain
Head of Cultural Strategy
La Despensa
Spain
"Hello! Clara Benayas speaking. So, let's start at the beginning: if someone asks me how I got into the world of advertising, I have to be clear: it was by chance; but yes, it was an instant crush. How could I imagine that curiosity and organization, two of my favourite things in the world, could be part of my day-to-day work. I was lucky enough to start in the world of strategic planning in two multinational agencies: McCann & FCB. In those years I learned working for big brands like IKEA, L'Oréal, Campofrío, McDonald's and Ron Barceló.
After that I joined the creative agency that, to this day, is still my home: La Despensa. La Despensa is an independent agency with a strong focus on creativity. Because of that I have developed a strategic profile capable of working hand in hand with creative teams. Years later and to complement my profile, I left La Despensa for a year to go to BMC, a global strategy and innovation consultancy. There I was able to learn and work with major international brands such as Coca-Cola Company, EFES Beverages Group, Lindt & Heineken.
Currently I lead the Culture & Strategy Department at La Despensa, where I help clients such as Schweppes, La Casera, Baileys, Tanqueray, Jägermeister or Burger King to understand the importance of subcultures, trends and social tensions to connect with audiences and improve business. I am also a culture freak and that has led me to create Happy Pantry & Happy Pills and to travel around the world for a year to understand other cultures.