From AUS to Cannes Lions: A journey from classroom to global creative stage

From AUS to Cannes Lions: A journey from classroom to global creative stage

American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumna Jana Bunni refreshed the page again and again as she waited for the results of the MENA Young Lions competition.

Alongside her colleagues at Gambit Communications, she was holding her breath after days of preparation and a 24-hour creative sprint to develop a full campaign under strict competition conditions, knowing everything came down to one announcement.

When the results finally appeared, it was the scream of a colleague that broke the silence and within seconds, the entire office erupted in celebration.

In the middle of it all, Bunni’s first call was to her mother.

“She’s my backbone and my number one supporter,” she said. “My family believed in me throughout the entire journey.”

That moment secured Bunni’s  place on the global stage at Cannes Lions, one of the world’s most prestigious festivals celebrating creativity in advertising and communications.

For Bunni, the journey that led her there began years earlier at AUS, where she found the confidence to think differently, challenge conventional ideas and turn her passion for storytelling into a career. Today, she is a communications professional at Gambit Communications, working at the heart of storytelling, branding and strategic communications in the region.

“AUS gave me the space to unlock my creative potential,” she said. “My professors constantly encouraged creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. For the first time, I felt like I could genuinely pursue what I wanted without feeling restricted.”

The opportunities she encountered at AUS extended far beyond the classroom. Through internships with organizations such as Majid Al Futtaim, she gained early exposure to the communications industry, while the AUS Career Fair introduced her to Gambit Communications—a connection that led to her first professional role.

The university, she said, made her transition from student to professional feel gradual, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and the realities of the workplace. It was also the AUS community that left a lasting impression. She collaborated with fellow students on several projects and continues to work with some of them today.

“It wasn’t one single experience that shaped me,” she said. “It was a collective effort from professors, classmates and opportunities across campus.”

This strong foundation would later prepare her for the MENA Young Lions competition, where she and her teammate, Alaa Arnaout, were tasked with developing a campaign in just 24 hours for a charity supporting labour workers in the UAE. The brief focused on upskilling workers to improve their careers as well as their personal, physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

What followed was a fast-paced sprint to build a full campaign under extreme pressure.

“We had to analyze the brief, develop creative concepts and create a strategy that was practical and impactful,” she said. “We completed an entire deck in 24 hours—no sleep, no breaks. Just pure hustle. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.”

Their concept was a skill-exchange program that allows young people to learn hands-on trade skills while also equipping labour workers with soft skills to help advance their careers and open up new opportunities.

The experience tested more than creativity. It tested confidence.

“Self-doubt and imposter syndrome were definitely challenges,” she said. “This time, I wasn’t only representing myself, I had a partner and the incredible Gambit Communications representing alongside me, which came with a much greater sense of responsibility.”

Despite the pressure, she leaned on preparation and instinct.

“You have to trust yourself and your abilities,” she said. “You can’t let fear take away an opportunity you’ve worked hard for.”

Now preparing to represent the UAE at Cannes Lions, Bunni describes the moment as surreal but motivating.

“This is the most incredible honor,” she said. “But I’m ready for it. I’m excited to learn, grow and give it everything I have.”

Looking ahead, she is inspired by how communications is evolving in the region.

“In the GCC, brands are no longer just trying to be seen—they want to stand for something,” she said. “Audiences are young, digitally native and culturally aware. That pushes the industry to be more authentic and impactful.”

Her approach to storytelling has evolved with it.

“It’s no longer about telling a good story for the sake of it,” she said. “It’s about shaping narratives responsibly and creating work that can genuinely influence how people think and feel.”

For current AUS students, her advice is simple:

“Trust your gut instinct. Keep showing up, keep trying things, and stay outside the box—even when it feels uncomfortable.”

And through it all, she holds onto a guiding principle that continues to shape her journey:

“Trust in God, but tie your camel,” she said. “Believe in what’s meant for you, but do everything within your power to prepare and work hard.”