Employee profile – Alain Tremblay, Digital Strategist

Alain Tremblay, a digital strategist at Tink since January 2019, talks to us about his expertise, his projects, and what inspires him.

In a few words, how would you describe your role and typical daily tasks?

A digital strategist advises clients on their digital strategy and can provide support in a variety of areas depending on their business needs: some companies want us to review a single section of their website, while others are looking for a full digital overhaul. In some cases, we guide organizations through every step of their digital transformation.

The duration of our projects can vary significantly. Some involve just a few days of work, but more often, they require several weeks or months. We get to know the client’s needs and expectations, as well as the stakeholders involved in the project. Some clients even stay with us for years, which allows us to develop and implement more complex strategies together.

Oftentimes, our job as digital strategists is to conduct research and analysis to identify issues that our clients’ customers may encounter on their websites. We need to understand their business objectives in order to figure out what to prioritize.

Every project is different and interesting in its own right. Personally, what I enjoy most is getting to know our clients. We get to meet people who are incredibly skilled in their field, but need web expertise to achieve their goals. That’s where Tink comes in!

My colleagues are also an endless source of inspiration. Working with them on a daily basis makes me a better professional and allows me to work more efficiently.

In your opinion, what hard and soft skills are required to succeed in a position like yours?

Digital strategists have to be able to put themselves in their clients’ shoes and find solutions that will help them achieve their goals. You need to have solid business and tech skills to determine if a potential solution is the right choice and whether or not it’s feasible.

Since I’ve always worked in tech, I can communicate with programmers and analysts. I think that’s another useful skill to have as a digital strategist.

I’d also say that having a passion for numbers will help you succeed in this role. Besides being a techie, I’ve always been interested in data utilization, which is incredibly useful when it comes to understanding website issues and finding solutions.

Lastly, in terms of soft skills, digital strategists must be curious and eager to learn. It’s a stimulating position that allows you to explore new things, meet new people, and learn about new products and industries. Let’s just say that if you prefer having a predictable routine, this position probably isn’t for you!

What have you learned during your time at Tink?

It’s really interesting to meet with clients and learn about their business needs, the specifics of their market, and the key challenges they face in their competitive environment. Over time, however, I’ve noticed that their problems are frequently caused by internal factors. Their marketing and IT teams, for instance, often have very distinct goals, and sometimes our job is to explain what’s not working within their organization.

My time at Tink has also taught me that you can never claim to have found THE answer to a specific problem. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution; every client and industry is different. That’s what makes our job so rewarding!

What do you like about Tink, and what makes you stay?

• Tink’s people-first attitude appealed to me from the get-go. The company values and trusts its employees and encourages them to reach their full potential.
• I often say that Tink recruits people who reflect the company’s values. If you talk to upper management, you’ll see what I mean.
• There’s also a sense of honesty and sincerity that I’ve rarely seen elsewhere, in all my years as a digital strategist.
• The colleagues I work alongside every day are experts in their respective fields. It can be a little intimidating for those with less experience, but our friendly and approachable team quickly puts them at ease.

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

I would say that my greatest professional accomplishment at Tink was successfully integrating into the team and becoming a valued employee. It’s a point of pride because I’d never worked at an agency before. I’d always worked directly with clients. So, I was a little apprehensive at first.

Even with years of experience and successes, you can’t be sure that you’ll adapt well to a new work environment. At Tink, I felt at home right away: my work is valued and my clients seem to appreciate the work I do. And that’s my greatest reward!

How would you describe the work atmosphere at Tink?

I would describe the atmosphere in two words: friendly and dynamic! Even when working remotely, we still find the opportunity to build relationships with our colleagues and clients. And whenever we get together at the office, it’s not uncommon to see 20 of us gathered around a table that was meant for 10 people, chatting and swapping stories over lunch. In short, we’re still able to laugh and have fun together while being productive when we need to be.

For you, working at Tink means having the opportunity to . . . ?

It means having the chance to grow my career at a local company that puts people first and works with many of the biggest companies in Quebec!

What advice would you give to future employees in your field?

Don’t limit yourself to what you’ve learned from books. Keep diving deep into the topics that interest you. Even though we work in the digital sphere, we deal with companies from all sorts of industries. That’s why its important to take a multi-disciplinary approach and learn about the tech and business sides of the job.