BAM Strategy is all about care and curiosity

At BAM Strategy, a digital-first marketing agency in Montréal, with top clients such as Pepsico, Reckitt Benckiser and 3M, their trademark approach is a clever mantra they like to call 'Careiosity'.

According to Vivian Aranda, vice-president of human resources and operations, it permeates everything they do.

“This is what we really are,” says Aranda. “A diverse mix of people who deeply care about who they work with and the brands they work on, while being ever curious at the same time. For our clients, we’re curious about what we can do for them and how we can go above and beyond. And we apply that to our team, too. We’re very people-oriented and people-driven. Company benefits are just the beginning!”

BAM also offers some thoughtful perks. Friday afternoons are off in the dog days of summer (the office itself is dog-friendly, too), there are unlimited sick and personal days, and the company is committed to recognizing milestone anniversaries, birthdays and accomplishments with gifts and events.

The corporate culture is driven by company founder, Chris Emergui and president Lonn Shulkin. “It’s a culture of positivity and is very entrepreneurial, all the while being very human,” says Aranda. “It’s a very dynamic and creative culture. You feel it. Our positive vibe is what attracts people.”

As for most companies, COVID-19 has presented challenges in maintaining a tight-knit environment when people are working from home. “Ironically,” says Aranda, “the BAM team is probably closer now than ever.” Every week kicks off with a company-wide video call, aptly named BAM JAM, where the momentum is set with employee-led games and trivia. There are also regular check-ins, along with lunch and learn sessions.

At Christmas, BAM took it one step further – and six feet apart – where senior management personally delivered gift bags to each employee’s door.

Having worked from home for the past year, Bernande Duré, an account supervisor on the Client Services team, knows first-hand how much the company has prioritized a feeling of togetherness. She says BAM has been very successful in maintaining team spirit, communication, fun and learning.

This spirit extends to ways of working too, says Duré, who joined the company in 2018. “Even though I have a specific role, that doesn’t mean that I’m only doing what I need to be doing for my role,” she says. “I’m always here to support my teammates, in every department, and they’re always there for me too. So, the fact that we’ve all been able to support each other is what makes the environment so good.”

Duré appreciates the cross-company collaboration and inclusion that is so vital to a successful project. “We all feel that we’re part of the overall project from A to Z,” she says. “We let the experts be the experts, while being fiercely collaborative at the same time.”

And Careiosity? Duré feels it.“The culture is really about learning and making sure that people care about what they're doing, and that they know they’re able to grow. That’s what sets the tone for who BAM is as a company. BAM really tries to push people forward in their career, making sure that they have all the tools and all the opportunities. And they make sure that overall, people feel like they’re an integral part of the agency.”