The DDB Apprentice 2006 results: LiJun wins $2,000 and role of Account Executive, Ling wins the role of a Asst Art Director

It's official. The winner of the DDB Apprentice 2006 programme is Lai LiJun, and she walks away with $2,000 in cash and a position in DDB Singapore as an Account Executive. The surprise twist is the job offer to the runner-up, Ling - who wins a position in DDB Singapore as an Asst Art Director.

Overall, LiJun scored and impressive 44.5 out of 50 points, while Ling scored 40 out of 50 points. The scores were tabulated from DDB Apprentice performance appraisals from their direct supervisors.

All DDB Apprentices also received certificates for their participation, courage and spirit.

But because all the certificates were printed in-house, the results leaked and there was a lot of speculation of who the winner was going to be.

So I put in place a devious plan that morning.

I deliberately placed dummy certificates with the wrong winner names on the presentation table (where everyone could see) at the DDB Auditorium to steer the gossip totally off-course.

It worked.

LiJun really thought she wasn't going to win.

My response?

See how powerful word-of-mouth advertising is.

Anyway, here's the sequence of events that led up to the unveiling of the winner of the DDB Apprentice 2006 programme that morning.

First, we lined all the DDB Apprentices up (Jazmin's away on a trip).


The runners-up are then announced - all DDB Apprentices get a certificate of participation signed by the DDB Singapore management. This is Genevieve receiving her Certificate of Participation from our President/CEO, Mr David Tang.


Here's QiMin receiving her Certificate of Participation.


It was then down to just 3 DDB Apprentices. Who was going to win a job, who was going to win the grand prize, and who was going to be out?


Drum roll... Dennis gets his Certificate of Participation!


See the anxiety when the results were whittled down to just the two of them - Ling and LiJun.


Here's Ling picking up her Certifcate of Participation from our CEO; she also got the Letter of Offer to the appointment of a Junior Art Director.


The poppers went off when LiJun was announced as the winner!


And there's LiJun with her grand prize cheque of $2,000, oversized Letter of Offer to the appointment of Account Executive.


And here's the entire DDB Apprentice 2006 team, together with the management.


From left to right: Gary Yip (DDB Apprentice Programme co-head), QiMin (Apprentice #5), Genevieve (Apprentice #4), Ling (Apprentice #1), Dennis (Apprentice #2), LiJun (Apprentice #6), Myself (Xavier, DDB Apprentice Programme co-head), Richard (MD, DDB Singapore), David (President/CEO, DDB Singapore)

Well, that about ends the DDB Apprentice 2006. With over 12,000 hits on this site in 2 months, I must say, it's been a blast and I hope you've enjoyed following the progress 'live' on this blog too.

We sure look forward to the DDB Apprentice 2007! Congratulations to the winners - but remember, DDB Apprentices are all winners from my point of view.

DDB Apprentice 2006 Grand Finale: results on 14 July 2006, 9am, DDB Auditorium!

Genevieve: "Betcha can't see my survival knife behind your back."
QiMin: "Betcha can't see my serrated sword behind your back."

An unexpected twist.

That's right folks. The DDB Apprentice isn't just about the hunt for highly talented people - it's all about surprises, surprises, surprises.

After all, this IS advertising.

As mentioned before, the winner of the DDB Apprentice 2006 walks away with $2,000 in cash, plus a real job offer in the Account Servicing or Creative department. We will officially announce the winner on Friday morning, 14 July at DDB Singapore's very own auditorium. That's only after our officials have collated the thousands and thousands of $5 SMS votes we've received from fans islandwide.

(Okay, just kidding. we didn't collect $5 SMS votes from the public - maybe next time.)


WHO WILL BE THE DDB APPRENTICE 2006 WINNER?


Will it be Ling, DDB Apprentice #1 from LaSalle-SIA, who never failed to put up a smile, no matter how difficult the challenge was?


Will it be Dennis, DDB Apprentice #2 from LaSalle-SIA, who never ate for two days over the pitch?


Will it be Jazmin, DDB Apprentice #3 from LaSalle-SIA, who's powerfully versed in both copy and art?


Will it be QiMin, DDB Apprentice #4 from NUS, who landed in hospital from over-exertion?


Will it be Genevieve, DDB Apprentice #5 from NUS, who dreams of owning her own multi-storey carpark?


Will it be LiJun, DDB Apprentice #6 from NUS, who sang her way into the hearts of Singaporeans nationwide before?


Who will it be?

Is it really who you think it is?

Or will more than one person get a job?

And did Genevieve and QiMin really smooch?

As always - stay tuned or else.

DDB Apprentice 2006 Programme officially ends today: results next week!

From left: myself, LiJun, Sharon (not DDB Apprentice), QiMin (Genevieve is hidden behind my head).

I took the 3 remaining DDB Apprentices out for lunch today. It's probably the last time we're getting together because it's today's the last day of the DDB Apprentice 2006 programme.

Well, a total of 9 weeks have passed since the DDB Apprentice 2006 started in May.
The LaSalle-SIA students started 8 May 2006. They ended their stint with us 30 June 2006.
The NUS students started 16 May 2006. Their stint ends today, 7 July 2006.

Each batch experienced 8 full weeks of real advertising life, and completed their tours of duty through account servicing, creative, production and traffic. Each DDB Apprentice demonstrated a range of strengths and weaknesses through a variety of situations and challenges, and have formed powerful new friendships with each other, as well as agency people. For the time I've come to know them, I've come to see their positive spirit, youthful energies and great attitudes.


"Let's all share a plate of salad like this every day, so we can lose weight together in 8 weeks! Yay!"

We've put them through their paces with the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge pitch, we've seen how tireless they are and we've seen how resourceful they can be. Jazmin, Ling, Dennis, LiJun, QiMin and Genevieve have taken on this programme on like champs and while we'll be selecting the champion who wins a $2,000 prize and a job offer next week, they're all winners in their own special way, every day.

I have to thank all of them for having me as their mentor, guide and leader of this programme, and I hope the lessons taught and learned will be valuable and useful to all of them in their future careers.

Sometimes when you've led a team of dynamic, bright, young adults towards their future, you can't help but feel something when it comes to an end.

Here's wishing them a brilliant future ahead.

DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge Results: Winner is Agency DDBang – LiJun, Genevive and Jazmin.

Yes, LiJun (NUS), Genevieve (NUS) and Jazmin (LaSalle-SIA) of Agency DDBang are collectively $500 richer. So if you’re a friend of any of these Apprentices, don’t forget to ask her for a treat (of course, the treat has to be less than $166, since each member gets that amount when it’s divided amongst the 3 of them).



Those are the scoresheets the judges used. The DDB Apprentices were judged based on these criteria:
• Strategic Development 35%
• Creative Ideation 35% (relevance 10%, originality 10%, impact 15%)
• Teamwork 10%
• Presentation 20%

It all adds up to a total of 100%

Agency DDBang scored 69.74% in the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge, as opposed to Agency DDBoom’s 51.96%. It’s a pretty close fight, if you look at the scores.

John Zeigler was very impressed with Agency DDBang’s level of teamwork, confidence and presentation skills.

“You presented in an old way, but because you presented so well, you got away with it. I’d hire you all,” said John as he smiled, DDB’s Asia Pacific’s CEO/President.

I must say, the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge was one heck of an adventure – one Apprentice got hospitalised, another Apprentice is suffering from migraine and one more has taken off for a trip. And they’re all from Agency DDBoom (QiMin [NUS], Ling [LaSalle-SIA]and Dennis [LaSalle-SIA]). Which probably explains why DDBoom wasn’t present at our DDB Singapore’s Friday morning presentation, when we announced the winner through a movie-style trailer. There were cheers and who knows, perhaps even a few tears.

Well, that just about ends the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge exercise, but DDB Apprentice 2006 isn’t over just yet.

Now that the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge is over, we have a few announcements.

First off, the DDB Apprentices from LaSalle-SIA, Jazmin, Ling and Dennis have officially finished their experience with us, as at 30 June 2006.

Secondly, the DDB Apprentices from NUS will complete their experience with us next week, 7July 2006.

After that, we’ll be selecting the DDB Apprentice 2006 winner.

I’m sure everyone’s waiting with bated breath on who the winner of the DDB Apprentice 2006 is going to be. He or she will walk away with $2,000 cash and a job contract with DDB Singapore. I'll also get an instant new colleague in the process.

Interesting.

The DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge presentation: DDB Boardroom, 4pm

"Did you just call me something?"

"No... uh... oh look, I have an elbow! That's what they call this part of the body, isn't it? Elbow!"

No, that didn't happen. That's a shot of DDBoom's Dennis at the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge presentation. The two teams tossed a coin to see who'd present first and DDBoom, with just Ling and Dennis (QiMin in hospital) took the judges through the strategy and creative boards. Benita, another intern, helped them by playing her role as a Powerpoint clicker. As an added twist to the entire story, we had John Zeigler, President and CEO of DDB Asia/Pacific there to judge the Apprentices.


"Hey look, I can move my elbow now. When I move it really quickly, it goes into a blur. See? See?"

There were a total of seven honourable judges present at the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge presentation. They were:
• John Zeigler, President and CEO of DDB Asia/Pacific,
• David Tang, President, DDB Singapore,
• Richard Bleasdale, MD, DDB Singapore
• Yvonne Low, Partner, DDB Singapore
• Terrence Tan, Creative Director
• Charles Yuen, HR Manager
• And of course, myself, Creative Group Head and DDB Apprentice Co-Head

Handicapped by one hospitalised member, I could see Agency DDBoom had tried their own personal best to take the presentation through. John had some very wise words to say - he advised that presentations are like selling beliefs, and sometimes when you believe in an idea so much, you don't even need boards.

So, to heck with the colour printers, I say.


"Here's the plan. We send the army of trained talking frogs into the presidential palace to distract the guards. Gen will then do a karate-kick and break the padlock. After that, LiJun runs in to sing to the decision-maker at the throne. That way, we can reach the 10% of people who influence the 90% of the audience!"

No, that's not what they said. I'm just kidding. Again. That's Jazmin of Agency DDBang leaning by her storyboard, with her team members LiJun and Genevieve in tow. Her storyboard's finish is amazing. It's not drawn or sketched - it's all photoshopped pictures. Wonder how much time she took to work them out.

Then again, didn't she say she wanted to be a copywriter?


"And now I shall croon you this strategy in D-minor."

Nah, that's not what she said. LiJun's a very proficient presenter - actually all DDBang members are excellent presenters. Even Genevieve, the girl who aspires to own a carpark destined to make millions from overtime charges, presented very well.



I must say, the DDB Apprentices certainly had a unique experience that day. How often do you get to present to the local office President/CEO and the Asia-Pacific President/CEO at the same time.

Like what I tell the Apprentices, it's not about winning or losing. It's about the relationships you've formed and the friendships you've gained in this programme. Don't gloat if you win, don't sulk if you lose. What's important are the bonds you've formed - those bonds will take you through your future careers for the rest of your life.

DDB Apprentices from LaSalle-SIA end their stint on 30 June 2006, which means their last day's today. DDB Apprentices from NUS end their stint on 7 July 2006.

So who'll win DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge? Stay tuned and find out.

What's more important is who'll emerge tops in the DDB Apprentice 2006. Now that's the kicker.

DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge: minutes before the presentation

Minutes before the Final Challenge presentation, DDB Apprentices of Agency DDBang show their appreciation for the support they've received from their friends and agency folks.


That's Benita, another intern (not of the DDB Apprentice programme), helping to stand in as an extra pair of hands to help Agency DDBoom with their work. DDBoom is down by one member - remember QiMin is in hospital from her epileptic fit.

1.5 hours to D-Day: The DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge pitch

"No, no, I don't want my Ferrari red. That's too common. I want it in Prada-rossa pink. And get me Michael Jackson's manager. NOW."

That's post-epileptic-fit-QiMin at the Observation Section at the A&E department of SGH. As you can tell, she's quite the businesswoman and is doing very well.

Anyway, she has to stay in the hospital because of doctor's orders, but that sure doesn't stop her from progressing with her DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge pitch remotely. She's preparing her Powerpoint presentation and ready to pass it to her team members of DDBoom via a thumbdrive (sorry no, SGH doesn't have wi-fi).


And this is DDBang – they've been stuffed in this room for hours and the room smells like... uh... someone ate something a long, long time ago, from a galaxy far, far away. They're pushing on and they're pushing hard.

This is an incredibly resilient team, I tell you. When the smell doesn't matter and you're at your notebook punching out ideas at the keys, you have to be resilient somehow. At least by your olfactory senses you are.



That's Dennis from DDBoom rushing out to get something; Ling's in my room busy getting the final layouts done. Dennis hasn't eaten. I asked him if he was a plant and lived solely on love and sunlight, and he just smiled. I think this man's on a diet. If this diet works, Hollywood might pick it up and call it the No-Sleep-No-Eat Diet: lose up to 10 pounds in 24 hours!

Just 1.5 hours folks, to the big presentation these DDB Apprentices have been waiting their whole lives for.

Rmember, 4pm TODAY is the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge presentation.

Stay tuned!

D-Day today: DDB Apprentice hospitalised, DDBoom agency down by one team member

QiMin of DDBoom is in hospital from working too hard.

The DDB Apprentice 2006 is all about real people, real experiences and real-life drama.

I got a surprise call at 5.58am this morning. 5 DDB Apprentices were standing around Jazmin's mobile phone were having an urgent conference call with me. Apparently, DDBoom's member, QiMin suffered an epileptic fit this morning and they called the ambulance to admit her to hospital.

"We were all doing our thing in the morning and suddenly I heard a scream," said Dennis of DDBoom. "When I went over, she fell over and was banging her head. She was delirious after that, saying strange things, smiling and even showing a 'V' sign with her hand when she was placed on the stretcher."

"When I told her she was suffering from fits, she responded, pointing to her shoes. She was saying 'Feets? Are they the latest?' And she was smiling," said Ling.

I say it's a good thing the Singapore General Hospital's 100 metres away.

And a psychiatric institution next door would make things just perfect.

Okay, okay, I'm just kidding.


Here's DDBoom's Ling facing DDBang's Jazmin this morning at 8am. I bought them some McDonald's breakfast to try to cheer them up. In case, you're not aware and wondering why they're suddenly working so hard, today's the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge pitch presentation. Both teams must present their strategies and concepts to the management today.

• DDBang: LiJun [NUS], Jazmin [LaSalle-SIA] and Genevieve [NUS]
• DDBoom: Dennis [LaSalle-SIA], Qimin [NUS], Ling [LaSalle-SIA]

Seems the DDB Apprentices had stayed up all night to get their presentation materials ready for today's big show to our board members at 4pm at the DDB Boardroom. They'll be facing David Tang, Richard Bleasdale, Neil Johnson, Gary Yip, Yvonne Low, Charles Yuen and me today.



That's QiMin at the observation/waiting area at SGH. Charles and I turned up with a few cuddly stuffed bears to keep her company. In case you're wondering, she's in a stable condition and is still her bubbly ol' self. She says she cannot remember what happened. She only remembers working at the notebook, then waking up in SGH. If only life were that simple all the time, eh?

"I blacked out and when I woke up, there was this suitcase with a million US dollars in unmarked bills next to me."



DDBang's banging on with their pitch materials. They're as focused as ever and seem determined to forge on. You can't see it here, but none of them have slept a wink since yesterday.



There's DDBoom. Or what's left of them. With QiMin in hospital, they're down to just two members to carry on with the presentation today. As in any real-life pitch, the show must go on, with or without the sick creative director or account director. As I had reminded them, when it comes to a big pitch, we can't tell the clients to hold when we have to.

"Sorry, Mr $100 Million Client, our powerpoint failed and one of our Creative Directors is flying off to Tahiti tomorrow. Can we present it next week instead? Please?"

Probably not.

Tune in soon to find out which team - DDBang or DDBoom - wins the pitch today. And ends up $500 richer.

Eve of the DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge

Jazmin: "Your idea sucks."

Ling: "No way. Your idea sucks."

Jazmin: "You should go back to your holiday."

Ling: "Yeah? Well, you should go stick your head in a pig."

SFX: Friendly giggle. Cigarette butt thrust into left eye.

No, that didn't happen, of course, but it would be terribly interesting if it did. Jazmin and Ling are having a friendly banter over a short break while trying to crack our DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge brief. I hear most of the things are in place - boards are done, the strategies are written, the case studies have been penned out.

How they're doing this baffles me, because I haven't seen any phyisical boards. Which means they must be doing it in utmost secrecy.

Wow.

Tomorrow's the D-Day for them: 4pm. Stay tuned.

DDB Family Day, 24 June 06

It's Family Day at DDB and the DDB Apprentices are helping out - all 6 of them turned up bright and early on Saturday morning 7.30 to help out with reception duties. And there's LiJun and Dennis welcoming a young visitor, about to hand out goodie bags and balloons.



There was an all-day Flea Market selling anything but fleas. There was of course food and more food, music and plenty of refreshments to go around. Here are DDB Apprentices Jazmin and QiMin helping to put together a picture frame over a polaroid picture, which were given out free that day.



Then there was the face-painting competition to bring out the best of our future make-up artists and art directors:



And here's a lined-up shot of the heroes who volunteered for their creative facials. Somewhere in there, you've got Skeletor, Mr Incredible, Butterfly Girl, Batman (less his rubber outfit) and so on.



And of course there's always the prize-giving presentation. Our jolly HR Manager, Charles, is the guy next to me with the wings and the painted face.



And while all this happens, our DDB Apprentices must prepare for their DDB Apprentice 2006 Final Challenge. Which is this Thursday, 4pm. I await with bated breath.