Today we’re launching “The women who rule”, a new Victory Blog series that gives you, our loyal readers, the chance to get to know the women that make up the Victory Media team. From their day-to-day, to their hopes, dreams, and skincare routines.
It wouldn’t make sense to start with anyone other than our fearless leader, Tara Carere. Our favourite boss babe and momma to Georgia (“Gigi”) and Henry is the heart and soul behind Victory Media, the creative brains behind countless marketing strategies and campaigns, and the advice-spouting self-care guru you never knew you needed.
Fast Facts
Name: Tara Carere
Job Title: Founder, Creative Director
City: Currently, Ottawa, ON – soon, Victoria, BC
Astrological Sign: Aquarius
Years at Victory: 5 wonderful ones
1. How would you describe your role at VICTORY?
I’d say most aspects of my role involve solving problems and creating value. I built Victory to be a safe house: innovative and dependable for our clients, supportive and inspiring for our team. I’m a firm believer in happy business – that you should find contentment, satisfaction and peace from your career and the service you offer the world. We’ve built a powerful team of women at Victory, and I am proud of what we’re doing to nurture professional growth in balance with real life. I want our team to feel like they really can achieve healthy work-life balance and be all the more creative and effective for it. I want our clients to feel like they’re working with inspired, talented, happy people. A lot of what I do is to protect all this in our ever evolving day-to-day.
2. Walk us through a day in the life of Tara.
Well, this part may not sound as smooth as I wish it did. I had our (my hubby and my) second baby in April and scaled back to 2-3 days per week to be a more available mama. All working moms can relate to the morning scenes: getting everyone up, fed and to wherever they’re expected to be. I am also very passionate about self-care; to have the energy and mental strength to take care of my family at home and at work, I need to make sure I sleep well (pipe dream with young kids sometimes), eat well, get a little fresh air and exercise. I hunker into deeply productive, scheduled work times – normally two big chunks per day. And I just blast through. I am a big advocate for scheduling and keeping automated lists (in one spot) – our team uses Basecamp 3. I work by dividing my tasks for the day and then conquering – high needs items first, then fun/creative projects, then follow-ups, strategy + planning … and I always carve out a little time for relationships. A phone call is an important thing to have in a remote business. By the end of the day, the hours have flown by faster than I could ever anticipate.
Family photos by Boyo Photography.
3. Tell us your favourite, and least favourite, thing about working from home.
Remote work is not for everyone, although I think many people would think it is. It requires a lot of discipline, that’s obvious. But it also takes a lot of effort: a creative firm like ours involves constant collaboration – it’s an aspect of my work that I am always trying to increase, as our team grows and as our working relationships with clients deepen over time.
I’ve struggled the most with carving out the time and space for total focus. I’m a 30-something mom of two who works from home. Toddlers aren’t reasonable about personal space.
The best part about working from home is twofold for me: the flexibility is amazing for both the life I lead and for the fact we work with clients in a number of timezones. I can adapt as needed. But I also love looking up at the end of the day and being right where I’m supposed to be. No commute!
4. How would you describe the aesthetic marketing industry to someone who’s new to this world?
The field in question lives square between two industries: medicine and beauty, each popular in its own right. The middle ground though, is really the quest to live happily and vigourously. We are constantly talking to those people looking to feel like the best, most vibrant versions of themselves… whatever that means to them. As marketers, one of our biggest challenges is to educate the masses. Some products, treatments and services are quite well-known, others are not. People care most about benefits and safety. We need to speak in a way that catches and holds attention and helps consumers make good, informed choices for themselves. Especially in the case of Victory clients, who are all MD-based clinics.
5. Favourite social media network?
Oh, it’s gotta be Instagram – I love beautiful things to look at!
6. What’s your best advice for aspiring #bossbabes?
The biggest lessons I’ve learned came from observing some very brilliant, pioneering #bossbabes (and they know who they are): 1) love and protect your tribe and 2) don’t be afraid of the challenges or lessons … and there will be plenty of both. Break things down. Keep focussed and working towards what you ultimately want to see. Be selective: when adding to your team, when considering contracts. Be thoughtful: when laying plans, when responding to emails.
7. What’s on your bucket list?
Personally, my husband and I are itching for adventures with our kids. We can’t wait to show them the world. I also plan to learn to play guitar – I have one… it’s more of an accessory at the moment.
Professionally, we have some exciting ideas and aspirations for making Victory even more elite and we’d love to open offices – who doesn’t love to host their own beautiful meetings, right!?
8. Share some of your favourite local hot spots.
I visit Art Is In Bakery about 1-5 times per week. Mostly for their avocado toast and take-home sourdough loaves. They also make Ottawa’s best pain au chocolat. It’s not even worth arguing with me on that point, I’m right. This is a difficult, star-crossed love for me since I’ve cleaned up my eating the past year or two… but I still make time – this love is real.
My hubby and I love great food. A few faves include Beckta‘s restaurants for finer dining and great wines. Pure Kitchen could be a daily indulgence for me – it’s vegetarian so I feel like that’s ok!? The dirty secret – for that perfect, pro-gluten treat: Suzy Q. Gigi and I share their dirty chocolate when she/me needs a real pick-me-up!
9. Current Netflix addiction?
The truth? Nashville. Up next: This Is Us.
10. What’s your skincare routine?
I’ve worked in this industry for a million years so I consider myself skincare savvy. At least, I did until I had children. Everything my skin loved pre-babies became nearly intolerable after G came along. So, I’ve been on a quest to perfect my new post-baby routine for a while. There are three lines I adore: Tata Harper for it’s purity and commitment to natural skin science, Kiehl’s for it’s gentle cleansing, moisturizers and clay mask, and SkinCeuticals for it’s superior sun protection and corrective products. I also use a Clarisonic daily. The end result: could use a little wrinkle injection but this skin is looking calm and clear!
