Princess Ogunbanwo announced as the 2026 Breakthrough Scholar

The Breakthrough Scholarship from THINKHOUSE, TU Dublin & Yugo enters its sixth year, continuing to open doors for the next generation of creative talent

Advertising and Marketing Communications graduate Princess Ogunbanwo has been selected as the 2026 Breakthrough Scholar, as Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) Enterprise Academy, Yugo and THINKHOUSE continue their trailblazing collaboration to create greater access to careers in Ireland’s PR, marketing, advertising and creative industries.

Now in its sixth year, the Breakthrough Scholarship provides a talented student who has faced barriers to opportunity with a fully funded postgraduate degree at TU Dublin, accommodation for the academic year with Yugo, the global student housing brand and operator, and paid industry experience with THINKHOUSE, one of Ireland’s leading independent creative agencies and a certified B Corp.

Since launching in 2021, the scholarship has invested more than €125,000 in supporting talented students from underrepresented backgrounds to access postgraduate education and careers in Ireland’s creative industries. All five previous Breakthrough Scholars have gone on to build careers within the industry, demonstrating the lasting impact of the programme and its role in creating a more diverse and representative talent pipeline.

Meet the 2026 Breakthrough Scholar

Princess Ogunbanwo, a graduate of TU Dublin’s BA (Hons) Advertising and Marketing Communications, has been selected as the sixth Breakthrough Scholar.

With a passion for advertising, creativity and communications, Princess will now take the next step in her career through the scholarship, combining postgraduate study with hands-on experience at THINKHOUSE and student accommodation with Yugo.

As part of the scholarship, Princess will undertake the MSc Digital & Content Marketing at TU Dublin, while gaining practical experience working alongside the THINKHOUSE team.

The opportunity will provide Princess with:

• A fully funded Master's degree at TU Dublin, funded by the Enterprise Academy
• Paid industry experience with THINKHOUSE, one of Ireland's leading independent creative agencies and a certified B Corp
• Free purpose-built student accommodation with Yugo for the academic year

Speaking about being selected as the 2026 Breakthrough Scholar, Princess Ogunbanwo said:

“I really wanted to further my education with a master's, and without this opportunity I’m not sure that would have been possible. I’m so excited to continue my education at TU Dublin, and to get work experience in an agency like THINKHOUSE is amazing. It’s the kind of agency I want to develop my career at. Getting accommodation at Yugo will make my day-to-day so much easier, being close to college, not to mention enhancing my student experience. This is an opportunity I would never have otherwise and I’m so grateful.”

The sixth Breakthrough Scholarship comes at a time of continued growth for Ireland's creative industries. According to the Creative & Communications Association  (formerly IAPI) Census 2025, more than 3,000 people now work across the Creative & Communications Association member agencies, representing 11% year-on-year growth and 35% growth since 2021. The Census also found that 59% of Irish agencies now export their services internationally, highlighting the growing global demand for Irish creative talent.

However, ensuring that these opportunities are accessible to people from all backgrounds remains a challenge. The Creative & Communications Association Census 2024 found that 68% of agency employees come from affluent backgrounds, while just 10% come from underprivileged communities.

The Breakthrough Scholarship was created to help address these barriers by supporting talented people who may otherwise struggle to access postgraduate education and careers in the creative industries, whether because of economic disadvantage, social or geographic circumstances, disability or neurodivergence.

Donna Parsons, PR Director at THINKHOUSE, said:

“When we launched the Breakthrough Scholarship six years ago, we wanted to support talent that lacked opportunity. Six years on, all five of our previous scholars are now working in the marketing industry, building careers in THINKHOUSE and beyond, bringing new perspectives into the creative world. We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Princess as our sixth Breakthrough Scholar. We're excited to see where this next chapter takes her. Giving talented people access to education, experience and opportunity is how we build a creative industry that better reflects the people and communities it serves.”

Alex Gibson, Head of Digital Marketing, TU Dublin, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Princess as the sixth Breakthrough Scholar and to continue our partnership with THINKHOUSE and Yugo in creating opportunities for talented students. As a TU Dublin graduate of our BA (Hons) Advertising and Marketing Communications programme, Princess is a brilliant example of how education can provide the foundation for a career in the creative industries. The Breakthrough Scholarship takes that a step further, combining postgraduate education with meaningful industry experience and support that enables talented people to fulfil their ambitions. We’re incredibly proud to play a part in Princess’s next chapter and look forward to seeing her thrive.”

Ronen Journo, CEO Europe, Yugo said:

“At Yugo, we believe that where a student lives plays an important role in their university experience. A welcoming home and a sense of belonging can help students build connections, grow in confidence and pursue their ambitions. We’re proud to provide Princess with a home within the Yugo community alongside the education and industry experience provided through the scholarship. Through our Live Your Best Life programme, we look forward to helping her connect with the Yugo community and make the most of an exciting and transformative year.”

The Breakthrough Scholarship has now supported six talented individuals on their journey into Ireland's creative industries. The programme continues to demonstrate the value of bringing education, industry and access together to create meaningful opportunities for emerging talent.