One of the guys behind Volta Ferrorama – a campaign which won a gold Lion in 2011. Leo Ehrlich was born in Brazil and studied Visual Communication in Rio, where he also worked at several agencies, including DDB Brasil, before moving to Grupo W in Mexico. Now, he works in yet another continent as a senior art director for Wunderman in Dubai. Time for a quick ‘n short interview.

Could you tell us something about yourself?
I love everything that involves creativity and hate everything that involves bureocracy. And also I play the drums.

How did you get your very first break in the industry?
I think it was when I won a bronze lion in 2009 that I thought; ‘now I’m into advertising’.

How’s advertising in Dubai, compared to the rest of the world?
It’s a new market with few good agencies and not so many passionate people.

And Brazil?
Brazil is a very competitive market, people really love what they do and the importance they give to awards is huge. That’s why it’s on the top five of most awarded countries.

What skills are most important for a creative?
Lots of patience, free imagination, communication skills, receptiveness to new things, cultural and artistic references.

How important is finish? If ideas are the most important thing, can sketches be enough?
The most important thing is not to have the idea, but to sell the idea. So everything that can be done to sell an idea in the best way possible, is what counts.

And lastly, what’s the best advice you can give to students around the world, who are trying to get into the business of advertising?
Just get into the business – Join a good agency, no matter what the salary is and learn the maximum you can by trial and error. If you have passion and commitment, things start to happen before you even know.