SAO PAULO, BRAZIL // For the past three years, Luiza Baffa has been leading AKQA’s 100-person operation in São Paulo, called AKQA Casa. The Brazilian office is an innovation studio that works with artists and brands such as Netflix, Google, Nike, AbInbev, Spotify and Coca-Cola. During this period, the office has grown 3 digits and became one of the ten most awarded agencies in the world. In 2023 AKQA became TikTok’s AOR and won 3 new clients.

Amongst her recognitions during her career, Luiza has 3 Cannes Grand Prix and 2 Grand Clios, as well as receiving Contagious’ Best Strategy in the World for her work with Nike and also being ranked in the Forbes 30 under 30 in 2021.

Besides the work being done with brands, AKQA São Paulo launched 2 new initiatives: one focused on music and the other focused 100% on impact.

The impact department launched an education program called SOMA. In 2022, the initiative, created and taught by in-house talents, received support from Unicef ​​and WPP’s global Racial Equity program. Last year the platform trained 1000 Black students and the goal is to have 1000 more by the end of 2023.

As for the music initiative – a JV called AKQA Coala.Lab – AKQA builds connections between artists, brands and audiences through the creation of engaging and culturally relevant content in innovative formats. The company has already put brands on the Emmy stage and artists in the Cannes spotlight, with a Grand Prix. AKQA developed projects with Usher, Elton John, Anitta, Criolo amongst others and in 2022 won a Grand Clio at Clio Music. In 2023 Luiza was invited to be a juror for Music Video in SXSW and in the 2023 Clio Music Awards.

In 2023 AKQA was nominated Campaign’s Digital Global Agency of the Year and was recognized as the 9th Most Loved Workplace in the World by Newsweek. AKQA São Paulo won 11 lions at Cannes 2023, including 1 Grand Prix and 2 Golds, while having developed the 2 most awarded campaigns in Brazil and being ranked the #1 agency in the country.