2025 AMA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE
From April 2 to 5, the AMA International Collegiate Conference 2025 took place in sunny New Orleans—a large event that brought together more than 1,600 students from over 350 universities across the U.S. This wasn’t just a student event—it was a place where future industry leaders are made.
This year, Mykola Lukashuk, founder and CEO of Marketing Link, had the honor of serving as a judge in one of the conference competitions: “To be honest, it was not only a challenge but also a big responsibility. Three days of marketing battles.”
The conference program included several formats:
- Team competitions in marketing strategy development
- Discussions with industry experts
- Career workshops, pitch sessions, and networking
- A job fair where students could talk directly with employers
One of the most interesting challenges was a 90-minute task to create an impact strategy for their campus. No Google, no templates, no hints. Just creativity, analysis, and teamwork.
Mykola Lukashuk noted: “While judging the student cases, I saw a lot of unexpected things—unconventional thinking, bold ideas without fear of failure, and most importantly—a sincere desire to grow. It wasn’t just evaluating presentations—it was a dialogue between generations—experience and innovation. It’s great to see that the future of marketing is already taking shape in rooms like this, where students aren’t just taught—they’re thrown into real challenges.”
What I personally took away: sometimes a ‘naive’ student idea sounds fresher than a polished deck from an agency. Young people aren’t afraid of AI—they naturally build it into their strategies. Communication and networking are the number one skills—and this conference really strengthens them.”
The AMA International Collegiate Conference is not just a conference—it’s an investment in the future of the industry. I’m glad I could be part of this event and support the young people who will soon be making strategic decisions in agencies, companies, and startups.
