Tara Carere

Founder

I founded Victory Media with a vision: to build exceptional brands and deliver forward-thinking marketing for the most inspired minds in aesthetics and medicine. Over the past two decades, Victory’s led high-impact campaigns, built legacy brands from the ground up, and guided industry leaders through strategic growth with clear, elevated messaging, uncompromising creative and marketing that drives real results.

My career began in the aesthetic medical space, where I spent ten years growing from an entry-level role to Director of Communications at one of Canada’s most respected aesthetic clinics. That experience—deeply immersive and hands-on—gave me an intrinsic understanding of the industry, from patient experience to practice management and brand evolution. With Victory, I’ve built a company that blends sharp, informed strategy with exceptional creative, leading a team known for its intelligence, agility and ability to execute at the highest level.

As a leader, I practice listening and thrive on clarity, decisiveness and driving momentum. I believe in strong partnerships, healthy, clear communication and the power of a well-told story. Victory’s success has always been rooted in these values, and they remain at the core of how we operate today.

Beyond Victory

I’m an Island girl with a love for mountains, oceans and the resilient, creative pulse of nature. My early career took me into the fashion and media world, where I worked with globally recognized brands and directors before pivoting to a space where I could make a more lasting impact. I also spent a transformative time living in Switzerland—an experience that shaped my perspective on culture, design and the art of storytelling.

The greatest role I’ll ever hold, though, is being a wife and mother. Gigi and Henry keep life dynamic, inspiring and beautifully unscripted.

Alyssa Dubé

General Manager

WHY Victory Media?
I feel like I’m one of the lucky ones. I wake up every morning, pour myself a cup of coffee (coffee first, always), and walk into my office genuinely excited to get to work. I spend my days working with passionate clients and incredible partners, but most of all, with the talented people who make up the Victory Media team. This team continuously inspires, teaches, and motivates me, and—sometimes most importantly—keeps me laughing on a daily basis. I feel so fortunate to have the privilege of doing something that I love, with co-workers that I call friends (sometimes while wearing my pyjamas – am I allowed to say that?).

About me.
Originally a small town girl, I now live in Canada’s capital city with my dreamboat husband Sean, our son Dax, and our Goldendoodle Opie. I moved to Ottawa for University, but this small-town-disguised-as-a-big-city ultimately won my heart (despite all the snow). I’ve had a longstanding love affair with words since the day I could string a sentence together, and I knew that one day this relationship would serve me well. Lo and behold, I’ve been in the marketing field since graduation day, and my time is largely spent dreaming up creative strategies and fulfilling my duties as Victory’s resident quality assurance queen. I love good books and trashy TV (looking for a “Friends” quote? I’m your gal), and I refuse to go anywhere without a snack in hand – a rule that is enforced by both my husband and my mother.

Funny story…
I’ve always said that my life can be summed up in a series of contradictions. I’m an introvert with more than a few extroverted tendencies. I prefer to be outdoors, but hate the cold, and I love being active despite my complete lack of athletic ability (though I am the proud winner of several father-daughter bowling tournaments, thank you very much). I regularly chase chocolate chip cookies with kale smoothies, and pair vegetables with craft beer. And of course, I love to travel—a backpacking trip in Europe and my honeymoon in Thailand are chart-toppers—but I not-so-secretly dream of living in a cul-de-sac populated by all of my very best friends.

Kelcey Hamilton

Creative Director

WHY Victory Media?
Victory Media has been an incredible discovery for me. I love what I do and have found true fulfillment in the work itself. Through Victory, I’ve learned so much about the world of aesthetics, skincare, and have grown both professionally and personally. It’s been an enriching experience, and I’m truly grateful for that.

About me.
I’m a proud mom of three boys, living in the peaceful countryside where I enjoy staying active with workouts and hiking. Creativity fuels my work and personal life, and I love finding new ways to express it. While I have a passion for travel, these days it often feels like the only place I get to visit is the hockey rink.

Funny story…
I’m someone who loses everything. Sometimes I find it two seconds later, sometimes I don’t. When I first interviewed with Victory, I shared a story of being pick-pocketed in Europe. I made a strong case: it was certainly not me who left my passport, Visa and debit card behind. Nope, I was robbed! Leaving the interview, Tara comes running out behind me carrying the purse I had left behind. Yup.

Natalie Neerhof

Senior Graphic & Web Designer

WHY Victory Media?
From the minute I interviewed with Victory, I knew I wanted to be part of this team of strong, creative, and talented women who not only provide caring support for their clients, but also for each other. Their positive vibes drew me in from the start, and their daily kindness and humour make me so happy to wake up and contribute to this work every day.

About me.
I grew up in Brighton, Ontario, and am proud to still call this quaint little town my true homebase – it’s where my parents and family still reside, and where I go to reset, recharge, and refuel on my Mom’s homemade macaroni.

That being said, the place where I’ve hung my hat (or more accurately, charged my computer) in the past several years has spanned from bustling Toronto, to lakeside in Calabogie, and most recently, all the way to sunny Melbourne. I appreciate how these different settings and lifestyles all stoke my creativity in different ways. The flexibility of working remotely with Victory has afforded me the opportunity of drawing influence from a range of environments and experiences – summer concerts at Budweiser Stage, morning swims in Centennial Lake, and exploring coastal Aussie towns have all been good for my designer soul.

Another key piece of who I am is the fact that I’m the youngest of five daughters. This means that I essentially grew up with four extra mothers, the scolding and bossing included. Growing up, it was a house filled with missing hair elastics, “borrowed” clothes, and the most creative, fun-filled play you can imagine. Having four sisters becomes pretty ingrained in your identity – it’s a big part of how I see myself – and they have grown into the tightest support network a gal could ask for.

Funny story…
Coming from a small town has its perks. There’s not much traffic, you know everyone, and you happen to hear a lot of news through the ol’ grapevine. In this particular case, it really worked in my favour! I’m not sure if it was through my older sister’s high school friend, or if my aunt told my Mom, but I somehow heard that Kelcey (Victory’s Creative Director) was working in my hometown of Brighton as a designer and her team was looking to expand. A couple of messages and meetups for Earl Grey teas later, here I am!

Mariah Burchell

Marketing Coordinator

WHY Victory Media?
When I consider my ideal career, a few things come to mind. A healthy work life balance, a supportive, positive team environment with room to learn and grow, a space to express my creativity and help others and an industry I am genuinely interested in. Victory checks all those boxes.

I feel lucky to have been so warmly welcomed onto a team of such strong and knowledgeable individuals, all willing to share their experiences and eager to help. I am thankful everyday to be able to learn from them, incorporate my own creativity into my work and dive into this industry. I had been searching for something like this and it feels as though all the pieces have come together so perfectly.

About me.
2023 marks a decade on Vancouver Island for me, after moving from the lower mainland to attend university, time is truly flying by. I am grateful to live so close to the ocean and in a city I feel truly connected to. With a bachelors degree in Sociology and Professional Writing (Journalism and Publishing) I have worked as a branded content and lifestyle writer, connecting with business owners and individuals within Victoria to share their story. I am a creative at heart through writing, photography and content creation. In my free time, you can find me coordinating photoshoots, spending time with friends sipping matcha lattes in local coffee shops, thrifting or at home organizing my overflowing bookshelves (and adding to my never ending to be read pile).

Funny story…
I’m a photographer but I have no idea what I’m doing when I am in front of the camera. Behind the camera, I’ve got it all under control. I can guide, pose and make it an easy, comfortable experience. Put me in front of the camera, however, and I freeze up and forget everything I know. What do I do with my hands? How do I pose? Am I creating enough ‘triangles’? I’m working on it though, understanding how important it is to put yourself out there, feel how it feels to be on that side of the lens and also to document your own life. You can’t always be the one taking the pictures, you have to have memories too!

Brigitte Donaghy

Social Media Strategist

WHY Victory Media?
A favourite mantra of mine is ‘I don’t chase, I attract – what is mine will find me’ … however, when I came across Victory Media I CHASED hard. I knew from the moment I stumbled across Victory’s job listing (they were recruiting a unicorn, by the way) that these were my people. For 3 years, I *healthily* stalked their job listings and followed up again and again until they had a spot for this unicorn. I couldn’t be more grateful to finally work with this team every day – they’re overwhelmingly supportive, unbelievably flexible and scarily good at what they do. Victory is a hub for success and growth of all kinds – I can’t wait to see where our clients and this beautiful team go from here!

About me.
Oh boy … how much time do you have? Kidding! I grew up in Toronto (pronounced Tor-on-o 😉 ) and went to university in Rhode Island where I studied marketing and played D1 soccer. When I came back home, my parents had moved all the way out to Port Hope which probably would’ve been more of a culture shock had I not just spent 4 years in America’s smallest state! I quickly landed a sales job and just as quickly realized it was NOT for me and my heart truly belonged to the wide world of marketing. Here I am now! Oh, also, I love traveling…don’t love planes. Love exercising…don’t love running. Love chatting…don’t love chatting about myself!

Funny story…
Okay, so let’s travel back to senior year of college. My best friend just came back to the soccer team after some time off due to a family emergency. We were celebrating at a restaurant that also had a pool and she goes, ‘I’d love for all of us to jump into the pool together, it would be such a fun video!’ Of course, we were all ready to do whatever would lift her spirits. After jumping in, I ran back over to the table to grab my purse and phone and as soon as my feet hit the patio stone, I slipped and broke my fall with my eyelid 🙂 Not only did I have to wear a plastic face mask for the remainder of my senior soccer season, I had to explain to my coaches why I was showing up to practice with fresh stitches. Needless to say, no running by the pool kids!

Danielle Evans

Marketing Coordinator

WHY Victory Media?
After graduating college in the middle of a global pandemic, finding a job was not the easiest task. Lucky for me, I came across Victory Media whom I instantly felt so connected to. Every day I wake up excited to go to work and connect with these ladies (even if it’s only through a computer screen) to produce such expert and creative content for our clients. Victory is a team of empowering, supportive and positive women who push me to grow and be my best self every day and I am so glad I get to call this my job.

About me.
I am a Vancouver Island gal, born and raised, so naturally I love all things West Coast. Hiking, camping, fishing, beaches… the list goes on. My lust for adventure drives me every day to try new things. One of my biggest adventures was moving to Switzerland to continue my studies at the University of Bern. I caught a bad case of travel bug and roamed throughout Europe falling in love with culture, food and new friends. Don’t be surprised if one day I pack up my laptop and start working online from a small villa in Tuscany, Italy. When I’m not dreaming about jetting off to foreign countries (hardly ever), I enjoy cooking, crafts, and gardening. The key to my heart is ice cream and The Office… or maybe even a craft beer!

Funny story…
My dad has been a commercial fisherman his entire life, the trade passed down for generations. When I was born, they asked my dad if he was upset that he didn’t have a boy to help out on the fishboat. My dad’s response? “Girls make good deckhands too!” Sure enough, my interest in fishing surpassed my brothers’ and I have gone on to deckhand for my dad up the West Coast of British Columbia since I was 8 years old.

Natalia Menin

Video Designer

WHY Victory Media?

What stands out to me the most is the team; everyone is incredibly talented, kind, and supportive. The positive atmosphere and workplace culture are amazing. Plus, I get to challenge myself with exciting projects and learn so much along the way.

About me.

I am Brazilian and have a special connection to Canada, where I lived for a while. Travelling and discovering new places are things I love, especially immersing myself in different cultures and, of course, trying amazing food from around the world. At heart, though, I’m a homebody—hosting friends, cooking great meals, sharing a bottle of good wine, and sticking to my routine of walks and cuddles with my dog, Nala, bring me the most joy.

Funny story…

Ever returned to your own country as an international traveller? I have 😅 I hold both Brazilian and Italian passports but usually travel with my Italian one. After studying in Australia for a year, I returned to Brazil and completely forgot to take my Brazilian passport out of my checked luggage. The result? A two-hour wait in line at customs! At least I got a Brazilian stamp for my collection!