Their Advice for Success in the Future: Alumni Share the Keys to Employability in 2026
On June 9, the Arche campus hosted a masterclass focused on employability in the fields of data, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence. Organized for the 140 fifth-year work-study students in the Digital Marketing & Data Analytics (DMDA) program, this event gave students the opportunity to hear practical insights from industry professionals and to reconnect with those who once walked in their shoes: the program’s alumni.
Three Alumni, Three Inspiring Journeys
Three graduates of the DMDA program who came to share their professional experiences:
A 2021 DMDA graduate, Tamara built her expertise at Groupama and Labelium, where she led media strategies for international brands. She then joined American Express as a Paid Media & SEA Performance Expert, where she designs and optimizes multichannel acquisition strategies, supports the launch of new offerings, analyzes customer journeys, and transforms data into growth drivers for the company.
A 2018 graduate, Barbara has gradually built expertise in data, compliance, and digital transformation at organizations such as FDJ, Wavestone, and AXA. Now a Senior Data & AI Consultant at mc2i, she supports major corporations in their transformation projects, from managing strategic programs to leading change initiatives, as well as deploying data solutions and providing user support.
A 2022 graduate, Alice turned her end-of-studies internship at Artefact into a rapid rise within the agency. Moving from Junior Consultant to Paid Social Manager in less than four years, she now leads acquisition strategies for major brands.
Moderated by Médina Koné, a program speaker and herself an alumna of the Pôle Léonard de Vinci, this session sparked rich and authentic discussions with the students.
Through their personal stories, they candidly addressed the questions on every recent graduate’s mind: How do you negotiate your first salary? How do you stand out during the hiring process? How much weight should you give to job titles, responsibilities, or company culture?
Knowing How to Showcase Your Career Path and Seize Opportunities
Among the topics that sparked the most discussion, the question of career development particularly caught the students’ attention. How long should you stay in an entry-level role? When should you ask for more responsibilities? How can you get your experience recognized?
Drawing on their own experiences, the alumni emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all rule. Barbara, in particular, explained how her two years at AXA enabled her to join mc2i at a higher seniority level, highlighting the importance of knowing how to showcase the skills you’ve acquired—even when they were developed in a different industry or role.
They also emphasized the need to look beyond job titles. For Tamara, what matters most is the variety of assignments and opportunities for growth. Alice shared this view, explaining that she was able to seize the opportunities that came her way—such as taking on more responsibilities when a colleague left or participating in strategic discussions that went beyond her initial scope of work.
During the early years of one’s career, the main focus is on proving oneself, gradually expanding one’s scope of work, and demonstrating the ability to create value. The importance of personal branding was emphasized: knowing how to highlight one’s accomplishments, communicate one’s successes, and make one’s work visible to colleagues and managers.
Networking: An Essential Career Tool
One message came up repeatedly throughout the event: the importance of networking.
“Find mentors,” advises Média. Devinci Alumni facilitates connections through its mentoring program that brings together students and alumni. Whether you choose to mentor or be mentored, the choice is yours!
For Barbara, recommendations play a major role in hiring: “You don’t realize it, but recommendations are simple—yet essential.”
Tamara echoes this sentiment, noting that networking isn’t limited to sending messages on LinkedIn: above all, it’s about fostering lasting relationships with classmates, former colleagues, or alumni you’ve met along the way.
This solidarity among graduates is, in fact, one of the DMDA community’s greatest strengths. As Barbara pointed out, alumni stay in touch and are always willing to help one another, share opportunities, or offer their perspective on career development.
Who knows—in a few years, the students sitting in the lecture hall today might be the ones answering questions for the next class. The network’s story continues to unfold!
© Photo credits: Bertrand Jonquois, podcaster, expert in digital careers, author of “Je Trouve un Job dans le digital,” and head of the DMDA at EMLV
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