The One Club for Creativity today announced 13 young creatives in the Middle East & Africa region who are among the 120 entrants from 30 countries who are shortlisted for Next Creative Leaders 2025, a free global competition recognizing women and non-binary creatives on the rise.
Celebrating its 10th year, Next Creative Leaders was created in partnership with The 3% Movement as the industry’s only free portfolio competition that identifies, celebrates, and provides a global platform to talented women, non-binary, and trans creatives who are making their mark on the world with both their work and unique point of view on creative leadership that’s changing the industry for the better.
Creatives from the region on the NCL 2025 shortlist are as follows.
Jordan
Raya Abujaber, creative director, VML Amman
Kenya
Divya Buddhdev, associate creative director, Ogilvy Africa, Nairobi
Olive Wangai, associate creative director, Dentsu Creative Kenya, Nairobi
Lebanon
Farah Abou Chacra, associate creative director, Webedia Arabia, Beirut
South Africa
Michelle Marais, creative director, Dentsu Creative, Cape Town
Jasmin Vandersteen, copywriter, and Zainab Mitha, art director (team), Joe Public, Durban
Lesego Molaudi, art director, Ogilvy South Africa, Capetown
UAE
Revati Anilkumar Patil, associate design director, Leo Burnett Dubai
Maya Sfeir, associate creative director, Dubai
Archna Singh, freelance creative director, Dubai
Paula Zambrano, senior art director, Saatchi & Saatchi MEA, Dubai
Zainab Yasseen, senior art director, M&C Saatchi, Dubai
NCL 2025 entries were judged by an esteemed jury of 39 top creatives from 21 countries. The complete NCL 2025 shortlist can be viewed here.
Along with announcing global winners on November 4 based upon the highest jury scores, the competition will also recognize regional winners in APAC, Europe, Latin America, Middle East& Africa, and North America. An archive of past NCL winners, sorted by year, can be viewed here.
A special virtual NCL winners celebration will be held on November 6, and include a celebration of all winners and discussion with judges and winners. More details and registration for the online event can be found here.
Eligible participants for NCL were those who are stepping into leadership roles, including copywriters, art directors, designers, ACDs, content creators, and recently promoted creative and design directors with less than one year in the role, and creative teams who are doing game-changing work. To make NCL as accessible as possible, there is no fee to enter.
They were judged on four-to-six pieces of creative work and information about how they — and their work — are pushing the industry forward and making a positive contribution in terms of diversity, mentoring, and advocacy.
Each NCL winner receives a one-year complimentary individual membership with The One Club, with opportunities to serve on juries for one of The One Club’s awards programs, and receive a complimentary ticket to a One Club professional development conference ($1,000+ value), panels, and mentorship events.
Winners also have their work showcased on The One Club website and social channels, covered by media partners, and have potential opportunities to speak at NCL events.
Branding for Next Creative Leaders 2025 was designed by Du Nieto (he/they), an NCL 2021 winner who serves as lead designer at Revolut, and independent creative at dadada.work. Font for the branding – Romie Light Italic – was donated by Margot Lévêque Studio, based in New York.
Please visit the Next Creative Leaders 2025 website for more information.
