Last year, Yajashwi Shakya and Saroj Maharjan became the second-ever team to represent Nepal at the ADFEST 2017 Young Lotus competition.
 

We asked Shakya to reflect on his experiences in Pattaya last year. He said being one of the only people from Nepal to attend the Young Lotus Competition at ADFEST was “overwhelming … sharing the same room with some of the best young creatives in South Asia is a dream come true.”
 

On top of making a bunch of great friends, Shakya says he learned lots of valuable lessons that he’s now applying in his role at Outreach Nepal, where he is Manager, Client Relations.
 

What was the most important (or memorable) thing you learned?
 
Rightly said by Constantine Chew, Creative Lead at Cheil Worldwide, IDEA IS THE KING. Coming from Nepal, we are heavily influenced by Indian media. We are more into execution than creating ideas, so this is something that I have been practicing after the workshop.
 

You only had 24 hours to respond to a brief during the Young Lotus competition. What was the toughest part?
 
Coming up with the actual idea for the brief had to have been the toughest part. We focused more on the execution rather than the idea itself.
 

Has being a Young Lotus helped your career or opened any doors?
 
I have been using the learning in my current position in Outreach Nepal, where I am Manager, Client Service. My goal for 2018 is to create campaigns that help solve human problems and make a win-win situation for both the brands and society.
 

Do you have a hero or mentor who inspires you?
 
Mr. Wain Choi, Chief Creative Officer  at Cheil Worldwide. I am inspired by his thought, “Global is Asia”, which positions Asia as the creative hub for the rest of the world.
 

Can you tell me about the city where you live, and how it inspires you creatively?
 
I live in Nepal - the country of the mountains. My city Kathmandu is famous for its culture and monuments. It is also a migration hub for the rest of Nepal. Everyone sees the capital as the place for infinite opportunity. This spirit inspires me.
 


www.outreachnepal.com