Owame Mapedi is one of 12 Global Fellows selected from hundreds of applicants from 10 countries.
ACA And Effie South Africa It is proud to announce that Owame Mapedi, a third and final year BCom Marketing Management student at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has been selected as an Effie Lions Foundation 2026 Voice of the Future Fellow and is one of 12 fellows from 10 countries around the world selected from hundreds of applicants for the inaugural year of the programme.
Voice of the Future is an eight-month global fellowship program created by the Effie Lyons Foundation to identify, train and place a global cohort of culturally fluent, AI-native marketing students. Voice of the Future provides access and experience as entry-level talent pathways shrink, and culturally connected marketing talent becomes essential to the future of the industry. The program's 2026 presenting sponsor is Adobe, and the fellowship aims to expand access to careers in marketing by equipping globally diverse, high-potential students with the skills, networks, and real-world experience needed to succeed in the industry.
As part of the fellowship, Mapedi will join the 2026 cohort at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in France this June, one of the most prestigious events in the global marketing and creative industries.
“I am extremely proud of Owame's selection for the prestigious Voice of the Future Fellowship. This is a significant achievement that recognizes both his extraordinary talent and his potential to become a future leader in African marketing. My role at the University of Johannesburg is to support our talented African youth to be proudly African and able to hold their own on the world stage. Owame's selection is a confirmation of that objective and I am sure he will make us proud as a member of this group and do so. This That's just the beginning,” says Professor Frans van der Kolff, Professor of Practice, Business Management at UJ.
“At the Effie Lions Foundation, we know that accessibility is the key to unlocking the future of the marketing industry, and we're proud to partner with Adobe to create pathways for emerging marketing leaders. Through Voices of the Future, Fellows receive leadership training, digital skills, AI fluency, mentorship, and industry connections that can shape their careers and empower them to shape the future of the industry,” said Allison Knapp Womack, Global CEO, Effie Lions. The foundation said.
Jay Goodman, Chair of the Effie Lions Foundation Board, said: “Voices of the Future comes at the perfect time as the marketing industry is undergoing profound change. Now is the time to rethink the global talent pipeline and bring emerging voices to the table. This program ensures that the next chapter of our industry will be shaped by the broad perspectives and bold ideas it will need to move forward.”
Owame Mapedi was selected through a competitive global application and interview process following her participation in the inaugural 2025 Effie College South Africa program as a member of UJ's Adventurers team, finishing third. In South Africa, the program is designed to link classroom learning and professional practice while strengthening effectiveness skills among rising talents.
For more information visit https://effie.org/partners/south-africa/ Or www.acasa.co.za
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