Cannes Lions Is a Media Business Buffet on the French Riviera. Here's What Women Founders Need to Know Before They Go

If Cannes Lions has been all over your social media feed, you're not imagining things. What started as the advertising industry's version of the Oscars has quietly evolved into one of the most interesting places a founder, ad executive, or creator can be for a week. Brands are there. Investors are there. Oprah was there. Your favorite business creators were there.

I went for the first time this year and planned at the last minute. I showed up overtired, jetlagged, and underprepared. I still had an incredible experience, met my goals, and left with renewed connections, new friendships, and a very long list of things I’m going to do differently next year.

Here's everything I wish someone had told me before I boarded the plane, and what you need to know for next year.

What Cannes Lions Actually Is

Cannes Lions is an all-you-can-eat spread of panels, parties, celebrities, ad execs, creators, and founders across the French Riviera for an entire week. The second you land, you feel the pull to consume it all. Every activation, every dinner, and every rooftop feels essential. You paid to be here; you might as well get your money's worth, right?

Here’s what I want you to remember: You can’t do it all.

People will try, and they’ll have an armful of wristbands to prove it. But the key is to go with intention. Know what you want from the week before you arrive and then trust that you are exactly where you’re meant to be once you’re there.

The Heat Is a Whole Situation

Let's address this upfront, because it will shape your entire experience. You saw the news about the heat, and it was 100% accurate. Cannes is hot. Relentlessly, aggressively, nowhere-to-hide hot. No shade when you need it, no AC where you want it. I struggled with the heat, and I called Stephanie, crying. More than once.

Your #1 packing essential? Anything that helps you survive the heat. Pack portable fans, misting sprays, and a neck fan (yes, they work; no, they aren't cute, but neither is being wiped out by 2 PM). I’ll also be shopping from Entreprenista-owned brands for the lightest possible clothing next year.

Eat real meals even when you're running between activations. And if you find an easy IV drip situation, please tell me, because I spent the whole week looking for one, and Cannes has not figured this out yet. Shelley, let’s team up on an Entreprenista + FQ IV drip activation next year!

The Networking Doesn't Feel Like Networking

This is the part that surprised me most. If you've always found traditional networking exhausting, Cannes may genuinely be your place. You can build meaningful business relationships everywhere you go. Walk into a hotel or event, and there's someone worth knowing. Step outside for air and end up in a conversation you didn't plan. The environment does a lot of the work for you because everyone is there for the same reason.

Creators, founders, investors, ad execs. Everywhere.

You can run into Oprah or Hoda just by walking along the Croisette or sitting in a hotel lobby. But don't count on serendipity entirely. Know what you're there for, whether it's brand partnerships, media relationships, investor introductions, or founder connections. Decide before you land and trust that you'll find your way to the right rooms.

One thing I'd tell every first-timer: start conversations with people you do not know. In lines, in the bathrooms, in the hallways. Everyone is there to meet people and build relationships. Lead with something simple:

"Hi, I'm [name], and I [what you do]. First time here. What brought you to Cannes?"

That's it. That's the whole script.  

I had the opportunity to finally meet Maggie Sellers Reum, host of Hot Smart Rich, and Vivian Tu, Your Rich BFF, just by walking up to them and saying hello. I know this will be the start of something meaningful, as there truly is so much opportunity for collaboration. And that’s what it’s all about!

Cannes Lions Nights Are Where the Magic Happens

The daytime panels are incredible, but the evenings are when the real business magic happens. Next year, I’ll plan my daytime schedule around the evening events, so I have the energy to go out at night.

My favorite activation of the week was the FQ Lounge. Shelley and her team always deliver, and this year she surprised everyone with a conversation with Oprah!

They also know exactly what women need most at this event, and they had by far the best and most useful swag: fans and band-aids. I know what it takes to produce impactful events, having just come off of producing our Entreprenista Founders Weekend, and I was in awe of the experiences created by Sports Beach, Canva, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

Next year, my Cannes week strategy will be much simpler: plan key meetings and events ahead of time, rest during the hottest part of the afternoon, and show up fresh for the evenings. That’s when I want to be in the rooms with the people and brands I came to connect with most.

Tips for First-Time Attendees

Where to stay

Stay as close to the Carlton Hotel as possible and get a hotel if you can. The days are long and hot. Real AC and a comfortable bed will be your keys to success this week.

How to connect

Instead of chasing the crowd through the heat, anchor somewhere, and invite people to you. Send this text: "I'm here until 3pm. If you're around, I'd love to connect." People aren't ignoring you. They're just as overwhelmed as you are.

Schedule meetings in advance

I planned last minute and had a list of people I wanted to meet, but no confirmed times. Going with the flow can work, but a few intentional meetings locked in ahead of time will help you make the most of the week.

Start inside your community. Find out who is attending and ask for introductions through mutual connections. Then head to LinkedIn, connect with others attending, and set up meetings before you land.

Fellow Entreprenista Jenny Stojkovic shared how she used AI tools to plan and build her schedule and build relationships with the right people. I will absolutely be doing more of that next year.

Pitch yourself for speaking opportunities

I partnered with Portrait Media Group on the "Culture Writes The Guest List" panel with Bonin Bough, Rich Santiago from 72andSunny, and Alex Raff, CMO of Goop. Look for opportunities that put you in the right rooms and connect you with people you want to meet. Speaking can be one of the best ways to create credibility and open doors before you even arrive.

Reach out to brands in advance

Brands are sponsoring business creators who will meaningfully be a part of their activations and storytelling. Reach out far in advance to start building relationships early so you’re top of mind for opportunities.

Travel with a fellow Entreprenista

Cannes Lions rewards the outgoing. Bring someone who will match your energy or exceed it, pull you out the door when you're tired, hype you up in your room, and be your wingwoman. The week is better with backup. I was grateful that there were 20+ Entreprenista League members in attendance that I could meet up with throughout the week.

Recovery matters

Don't land and walk into a packed schedule. If you can stay in Europe a few extra days before and after, do it. Most people left on Thursday or Friday. The ones who stayed had a noticeably different experience.

Should You Go to Cannes Lions?

Attending Cannes Lions is a real investment, so it’s important to know your why. Between flights, lodging, food, and Ubers, you’re looking at $5,000 to $20,000 per person. Before you commit, get clear on what success looks like for you. Is it brand partnerships, media relationships, investor introductions, speaking opportunities, or founder connections? Once you know your goals, build your plan around them.

Go if:

• There are specific people there who can meaningfully change your business, and this is the most direct path to them.
• You're prepared for extreme heat, physically and mentally.
• You're comfortable talking to strangers or want to practice getting there.
• You can disconnect from the day-to-day of your life and business. You have to be present to get anything out of this week.

Industry veterans say Cannes Lions has evolved well beyond its advertising roots, and based on what I saw this year, I believe it. The Airbnbs were already overpriced, the Ubers were hard to get, and the heat was relentless. Come for the right reasons, with the right preparation, and you'll leave with your goals accomplished.

Why Cannes Lions is Better with Community

One of the highlights of my week was having 20+ Entreprenista members there with me. We made introductions for each other and dropped names in rooms we weren't even in. It made the whole week less overwhelming, more fun, and more productive.

If you're thinking about Cannes next year and want to experience it alongside women founders who are there with real intention, that’s exactly what the Entreprenista League is built for. Now that I know how the event works, I'll make sure our members are prepped and connected before they even land. I’m already planning ideas to share with our community for next year!

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