NAIROBI, Kenya, June 8 – Project Management Institute (PMI) and Cannes Lions have launched the LIONS Educators Forum, a global initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry and equipping students with skills needed for the future workplace.
The initiative comes amid growing concern that traditional education systems are struggling to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly evolving, AI-driven economy, where creativity, adaptability, collaboration and problem-solving are becoming increasingly important.
The forum will focus on developing future-ready curricula and strengthening pathways between education and employment through collaboration between educators and industry leaders.
According to the partners, the platform will provide educators with access to industry insights, best practices and global networks to better prepare students for careers in creative and emerging sectors.
“Creativity is now one of the most important skills in the global economy, yet the connection between education and industry has never been more critical,” said Steve Latham.
“The LIONS Educators Forum is designed to close that gap by creating a space where educators and industry leaders can collaborate, share insights and shape the future together.”
The forum will be chaired by Vann Graves and supported by a leadership team from Cannes Lions.
The programme will comprise three key pillars: two annual virtual global roundtables, an in-person educators forum during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity scheduled for June 22–26, 2026, and a year-round global network connecting educators and industry professionals.
As a founding partner, PMI will contribute expertise on project management and workforce readiness, emphasizing the skills required to navigate increasingly complex and technology-driven work environments.
PMI Chief Marketing Officer Menaka Gopinath said the future workplace will require more than creativity alone.
“The future of work will reward people who can do more than generate ideas. We need to equip students and the educators who guide them with the skills to bring people together, make sense of complexity and turn creative ambition into real-world impact,” she said.
“Through the LIONS Educators Forum, PMI is proud to help prepare the next generation with the capabilities to not only imagine what is possible, but to make it happen.”
PMI currently works with thousands of academic institutions globally, providing educators and students with industry-aligned tools designed to strengthen project management, innovation and leadership capabilities.
The LIONS Educators Forum forms part of Cannes Lions’ broader effort to promote lifelong learning and support the development of talent across the global marketing, communications and creative industries.
