Tom is Operations Director at UNEXPECTED. Succeeding in getting an interview with him is not easy: Tom runs around, thinks of a thousand and one things at the same time, multiplies the number of interlocutors.

But it was worth the effort, since, once the contact was established, Tom knew how to transmit the passion for his job from the very first minute. Thanks to him, we offer you a detailed and honest portrait of this position with high responsibilities whose daily life is exciting.

How do you become Operations Director?

What is the link between the job of sales person in tax refund, that of truck driver, medical secretary, manager of a bar at a beach restaurant or even the owner of a motorcycle garage? “None,” you might think, and you'll be more or less right. These disparate professions, however, are some of those worked by Tom before he became the Director of Operations at our agency.

His journey is actually even more complex than that, punctuated by surprising twists and stories. It's much more like a maze than a health walk. However, in this maze, Tom has often held the Ariadne's thread in his hands, thanks to which he arrived at his destination today. This breadcrumb trail is about events! Tom has also, in fact, established and reconnected with events at various times in his life. For example, he set up a company that organized cultural festive events - in other words, museum parties - and years later, he joined the ranks of a major event agency in Dubai.

Regarding studies, Tom turned to EBS, a Business school in five years. This is one of the possible paths for those who are considering a future in events. Other options are:

• one Bachelor's degree in communication professions: events
• one Master's degree in organizational communication
• one Bachelor event project manager
• a specialized school diploma (Efap, Iscom, ECS, IICP, Paris School of Tourism & Communication, Supdecom, Supdepub...)

It should be noted that, in theory, you do not become an event director without going through the previous logical steps, like those ofassistant event project manager then event project manager.

So, whether through your studies or on your own, try to increase the number of internships/professional experiences. Because, as Tom recalls, “life is made up of encounters, desires, opportunities.”

Concretely, what does the job of Operations Director consist of?

Summarized in a short and simple sentence, the job of Operations Director can be explained this way: it is about ensure that the project, creation and production teams work together as best as possible in order to organize events on behalf of customers. In the case of UNEXPECTED, these customers are companies and brands that aim, through their events, to transmit a message internally and/or externally.

Tom oversees the entire operational aspect of the agency. There he is In support Teams upon the entry of a lead, that is to say a prospect, then at each stage of an event project : briefing, conceptualization, recommendation writing, budgets, customer presentation, project management, on-site production and debriefing. At UNEXPECTED, project managers and their assistants work relatively independently. However, they can count on Tom's help and valuable advice to validate a budget, to ensure that a concept idea is in line with the identity of the agency, to manage a complicated or unexpected client, etc.

THEoptimization of service provider relationships and customer relationship management are also part of the missions of the Operations Director, a job for which you must therefore have a multi-cap profile. That's just one of the many things Tom loves about his work!

The reality of the job of Operations Director

A pace that is both stimulating and tiring

Events are for you if, like Tom, you avoid routine and prefer to take refuge in a daily life where neither days nor nights are the same.

“In general, in events, we touch on something that has to do with the celebratory. Even a simple conference is not an everyday occurrence. We manage exceptional things in the true sense of the word, and that's exciting.”

Tom

He recognizes that the production, the fact of being on site, is the most trying part because it is physical. But he specifies that it is the one that the teams prefer! Fatigue, long days/evenings, trips and staggered schedules are constraints that it is best to be aware of from the start. They are not the traditional ideal of work/life balance.

“If you want to do this job thoroughly, you can't expect to go home every day at 5.30 p.m., it doesn't work.”

Tom

Continued gymnastics of the mind

Customer management can also be a difficult point, hence the need toEnjoying human contact. Some customers are demanding. Others give little importance to the fact that an agency carries out a large number of projects at the same time... Tom knows that it is easy to combine from one client to another, from one project to another, while admitting that this is not easy for everyone. One sense of organization Outstanding is therefore necessary, but you already knew that! Add to that the idea that in events, things rarely go as planned, and you'll know why the responsiveness And the resourcefulness are essential qualities in this environment.

“My support is optimal when it comes to finding solutions in an emergency (...) When I worked in Dubai I was nicknamed The Event Knight - the knight of events - I was the one who was called when there was a problem.”

Tom

An exciting job... for enthusiasts!

Despite the restrictive aspects of what we have just mentioned, Tom wanted to specify:

“It's a bit of a lie, but I want to say that there is not much that I find difficult to do in my job. I am so passionate about what I do that, even when I encounter difficulties, I see them more as a challenge. I will give everything I can to best support the teams in order to succeed.”

Tom

We were then not surprised to learn that the future of UNEXPECTED and his will remain linked for a short time:

“As a partner and COO, my future at UNEXPECTED is secure for now. I think we're on a pretty impressive upward path. We are experiencing incredible growth (...) It is rewarding to see the evolution of the company and mine. That makes you super proud. We started with Loïc in pairs with an intern. Today we have more than twenty employees and our turnover has increased by around 70% in 1 year. It makes you want to go even further! ”

Tom

Part of the UNEXPECTED team

Bonus: our COO's favorites!

To end this interview, we asked Tom to name one or more events that he is particularly proud of, representing the DNA and the successes of the agency.

Proof of Talk at the Museum of Decorative Arts
“Proof of Talk is one of those events that symbolize the quality and exclusivity that we love to offer. Organized in a prestigious setting such as the Museum of Decorative Arts, it is the ideal place to bring together the world leaders in Web3. With more than 2,500 participants, 150 speakers and international journalists, the event was a real showcase for shaping the future of Web3. It is always a great pleasure to work on events of this magnitude.”

Open House Mercedes
“For me, working with a car brand has always been a dream, and the Mercedes Open House in a villa in Yvelines was really a production that I loved. With an elegant scenography, car models on display and exclusive shows, it was an exceptional event. The combination of high-end and creativity is what we like to do at UNEXPECTED.”

NFT Paris at the Grand Palais Éphémère
“NFT Paris is another event that makes me extremely proud. Imagine organizing an event of this magnitude in just three weeks: 15,000 participants, 95 speakers, 60 stands and 2 VIP after-parties, all at the Grand Palais Éphémère. This colossal challenge was met thanks to an exceptional team, who knew how to manage each stage, from assembly to after-party. It is a real logistical and creative feat that will remain etched in the memories of the agency for a long time.”

Does the insight into this profession inspire you? Do you have more questions? We will answer it in comments!