Today’s Notable Young Professional is Outdoor Gear Canada and Opus Bikes Marketing Director Sylvain Bossé, whose passion for working with bikes since the age of 15 has led him on a career path that allows him to get up in the morning with a good feeling about the day ahead from both a professional and personal viewpoint. Work-life balance achieved…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
As marketing director for Outdoor Gear Canada and Opus Bikes I am responsible for the planning and implementation of marketing strategies throughout the breadth of the brands represented. On a yearly timetable my team will manage over 100 athletes, dozens of sports marketing events and tradeshows, multiple advertising campaigns, product launches, product placements, public relations, and many other types of activations.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
I‘ve been involved in cycling since I was 15. It was a natural progression when I was younger to work in bike shops simply because I was interested in learning as much as I could about bikes. That quickly evolved into learning how the industry functions. I was lucky in the sense that I was working for some of the best bike shop managers in Canada and I feel they gave me a very solid understanding. The next step in my mind was to get a job with Opus Bikes, one of the manufacturers/distributors, and learn that side of the business as well.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
I really enjoy project management. Seeing the culmination of a well thought-out and well executed project is what makes it all worthwhile – from a sponsored team achieving amazing results, to a website launch going smoothly, to running a top booth at a trade show.
The most challenging part of my job is keeping an eye on all the balls in the air, and at the same time looking at where you’re going. In other words, balancing individual projects with long-term direction.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Marketing director of a much larger Outdoor Gear Canada and Opus Bikes. We are always working to grow and expand.
What does success look like to you?
Getting up in the morning with a good feeling about the day ahead, from both a professional and personal viewpoint. If most of your days start that way, you’re golden.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
There aren’t hundreds of marketing positions in the cycling industry in Canada. I was determined to work in cycling and gambled post-university for getting experience in the industry that would eventually open doors, even if not in the marketing industry. This decision meant a few years spent working as a technician, inside sales, shop staff training consultant, etc… within the industry. The milestone was when I was hired as a sports marketing coordinator, and my original gamble was vindicated (albeit with the help of some luck).
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Determine a career path for yourself with a timeline. Chances are your actual path will be considerably different, but working towards a goal helps breed results and keeps you moving forward.
Also, be flexible. Good planning and foresight are crucial in growing a business but some of the best opportunities will inevitably come out of left field. Not seizing an opportunity simply because it isn’t “part of the plan” is a crutch you are imposing on yourself. That being said, budgets and timelines are a reality that cannot be ignored. If you don’t have the resources to pull off an activation right, it’s your responsibility to pull the plug or find a solution (ex: cancel another project to free up resources).
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
My girlfriend is a teacher specialized in helping students with learning disabilities. I try to help out where I can. For example, we organized a skate park competition for the kids.
What to you is notable?
Technology. Think of doing your job without emails or cell phones. Now try to imagine what your job will look like in 25 years.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
Android.
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
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