Be a champion today
Advice from a Brand & Communications Director
Kamel is the Brand & Communications Director at Djezzy. To him, things like football are an important part of the company’s strategy. That’s because the sport is an important part of life in Algeria.
“We want to be with folks during those important moments, like the football match,” says Kamel. “It’s how we can truly connect with our customers.”
That’s some good advice for having success. Here, we’ll get more tips from Kamel on being a champion in all your endeavors.
1. Have a strong foundation like the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania
If you’re going to have sustainable success, you need the proper foundation. Built in 3 BC as a dynastic funerary monument, the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (Tombeau de la Chrétienne) is an amazing piece of history that still stands today (it’s between Cherchell and Algiers). That’s because it has powerful supports.
Now, we’re not telling you to actually build a man-made wonder (unless that’s your thing and you can do it). We’re telling you to give your career a great support structure.
As a Brand & Communications Director Kamel’s method for improving Djezzy is similar to building a physical structure. Here’s his strategy:
“Our brand is built on three major pillars: football, music and entertainment, and culinary arts. All of these things are a big component of life in Algeria. When we engage with customers during such experiences, we must make certain we’re doing it in ways that align with local culture.”
To succeed, you must have pillars, too. These pillars must be in tune with what your customers want, need, and value. Otherwise, you’re just wandering without a map. That means you’ll get lost!
“At Djezzy, our goal is to empower the customer. This means being customer-centric and knowing what people want,” notes Kamel. “We must add emotion to our offerings and connect those offers to Algerian life. We must also make everything simple and quick to use.”
This idea of making it simple is something that Kamel stresses. He’s also reminded of its importance at home by his four-year-old son.
“When my son wants something, he just requests it. It’s taught me the value of solving issues in a straightforward way,” exclaims Kamel. “I’ve also learned how to enjoy the beauty of the world and build strong relationships with people. Being a father has helped me at work!”
Now, that’s some cool stuff. So, to build a strong foundation in your career, focus on those things that are important to your customers. As you develop your brand and product, focus on simple solutions. That’s how you’ll create a beautiful structure, like the Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania (which you should go see by the way).
2. Hike like you’re in Ahaggar National Park
When you hike through Ahaggar National Park in Algeria, each step builds off the last. Great views will come into your vision. And, if you’re in the right place, you’ll catch a sunset behind Mount Tahat.
Your career should resemble such a wonderful hike. Or, perhaps your career is a wonderful hike if you’re lucky enough to be a pro hiker. Anyway, everything you’re doing should be working towards a beautiful peak or finish. If you ask Kamel about his career, you get this feeling.
Having started with Djezzy in 2006, Kamel first worked as a call center advisor, learning a lot from his direct communications with customers. Then, he took a position as a copywriter for the company before working in advertising management. This eventually led to his role as a Brand & Communications Director today.
“Each position has been a step to the next one,” notes Kamel. “I completely understand the vision Djezzy has and I’m getting better and better at fulfilling that vision for this awesome company.”
For Kamel, success hinges on continuous improvement and a willingness to learn and try new things. If you ask him what advice he would give his childhood self, he echoes similar sentiments.
“I would tell myself: Never give up. Learn from your mistakes. Always work on getting better. And be open and listen to others”
Read Kamel’s last tidbit of advice to his childhood self (about listening to others). It brings us to this point: If you are to be a champion, you can’t do it all alone (it’s best to hike through the Ahaggar Mountains with partners, too).
“Reaching your highest potential goes beyond just improving your skills and self-confidence,” asserts Kamel. “You must understand teamwork and know how to work with others to get to where you want to be. That’s why at Djezzy I’m constantly working on building team spirit.”
3. Airport signs say “welcome” in all sorts of languages
You’ve probably seen those signs in the international airport that say “welcome” in many of the world’s languages. Kudos to you if you can read all or most of them.
Anyway, the lesson here is that you have to speak to your customers in their language.
Kamel recognized the importance of this while managing copywriting campaigns for Djezzy. That’s because there is a unique mix of languages and dialects used in Algeria.
Throughout Algeria, Berber languages and dialects are spoken. In the north and northeast, you’ll commonly hear Kabyle; in the east, Chaoui is used; in the Algerian Sahara, it’s Tuareg. Arabic is a standard language in Algeria and is the mother tongue for many in the country, which means it’s heard everywhere. French is also used in commerce, government, and education, and is frequently encountered in major cities. In the west, there is even an influence from Spanish.
In many regions, Algerians blend words from other languages with their native tongue, creating their own dialect. This is part of what makes Algeria so magical. But it also makes work as a copywriter more complex.
“We had to use language people were using in their daily lives — because Djezzy is all about connecting to the person,” says Kamel. “We found ways to write customized copy for each region, while maintaining our unifying campaign theme.”
To make sure such copywriting campaigns work, Kamel believes in testing and looking at the data. Because you have to speak to the customer on their level.
“For instance, we found out from our Facebook interactions that many users wanted Arabic subtitles for our French press conferences,” describes Kamel. “So now we’re doing that for all our videos.”
So, if you want to succeed with your customers, find the right language and words to reach them. As you make your pitch to them, listen to your customer’s reactions — and adjust accordingly.
4. Cook something special for your customers (literally and figuratively)
“Djezzy wants to connect to Algerians’ lives,” exclaims Kamel. “We have a show called Djezzy CLYC on our YouTube channel. This is where we talk about new product launches, new offers, and more. We’ve also sponsored MasterChef Algeria — a show all about making great food!”
Like Kamel has stated, culinary art is one of the pillars of Djezzy’s brand development. Djezzy sponsors MasterChef so that the company can align its brand with Algerian culture. That means being there when it comes time to discover culinary arts (we want to be there for the delicious meal, too!).
Before you go check out the MasterChef show, which will make you super hungry by the way, understand the deeper meaning here. It’s that you must prepare something special for your customers.
To satisfy your customers, you must give them something they would like. After all, you wouldn’t cook a dish for guests if they hate that dish. This is why Kamel is always looking at the data: He wants to know what his customers like.
The idea here is simple: You cook the flavors your guests prefer (i.e. your customers). If you ignore their tastes, you risk a meal going to waste. Make a dish they like, and you’ll be a champion.
5. Some experts are saying even robots need sleep
Even if you’re actually a robot, you still need sleep. You can’t go at full blast all the time; you’ll burn out before becoming a champion. In fact, some experts are saying that robots do need sleep to function better. So don’t feel bad for taking a break.
“I love spending time with my family and having meals with them,” says Kamel. “I like to play video games, like FIFA. I like to play football with friends and also with my son!”
Again, we’re back at football. We wonder how good robots will be at football. Anyway, you get the point here. If you want to be a champion, take time for rest and fun along the journey. It’s the only way you can reach the pinnacle of excellence.
Keep on pushing towards the top
Kamel has given you his tips on how to be a champion. Now, your mission is to just do it. As you go on your journey, remember the value of persistence — a value Kamel’s team members say he’s instilled in them. Persistence is what will get you to that beautiful destination (well, that and culinary art and football).
