Senior Copywriter at AKQA’s Portland studio, Tahirah Edwards-Byfield has been selected as a finalist for the Cannes Lions See It Be It programme.

See It Be It is a women’s empowerment programme designed to put senior female creatives in the spotlight and accelerate their leadership potential. Thousands of women from around the world apply each year, and only 15 are selected. As a finalist, Tahirah will take part in a series of seminars, get behind-the-scenes jury room access, and receive one-to-one mentoring from industry experts.

See It Be It first launched in 2014 to identify promising mid-to-senior-level talent in the advertising world. In order to score a coveted spot in the program, most honorees have won some level of industry recognition but have never attended the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Louise Benson, Executive Festival Director of Lions Health, Lions Entertainment and Eurobest said: “This year’s group come from all over the world and bring a wide range of experiences and strong leadership potential. They will be exposed to the best inspiration Cannes Lions has to offer, with exclusive mentoring sessions, workshops and a program of events designed to extend and enhance their network.”

Additionally, Madonna Badger – whose agency is responsible for the #WomenNotObjects campaign – will serve as the See It Be It ambassador for the 15 women this year.