The Chinese Lunar New Year is upon us, bringing with it a sense of anticipation for what 2022 has in store.

According to Feng shui, this year is the Year of the Water Tiger-- a year for bold action. If 2021’s Year of the Metal Ox was all about buckling down and trudging through last year’s challenges, the Tiger is all about wildness, pouncing on opportunity, and being ready for change.

At Vitalstrats Creative Solutions’ first team huddle of the year, Chief Creative Officer Amrei Dizon laid out the advertising agency’s T.I.G.E.R. strategy.

“Last year, we had the highest growth in the last five years. Exceeding even our pre-pandemic performance,” Dizon said during the huddle. “We realized that we can maximize our results by just optimizing our systems and streamlining our efforts to focus on tasks that yield the most impact. Right now, we are stronger than ever.”

”T stands for Thought Leadership,” say Dizon.

“Each of us has our own expertise, and we all have something of value that we can share with others.” Similarly, VCS is a thought leader. The creative agency has flourished from scratch in the marketing industry for 17 years and counting. This year, VCS will embrace its position as an authority and share its knowledge and experience with clients, partners, and potential collaborators.

“I is for Impact. This means focusing on the most important thing, on what will have the biggest effect.” For the marketing agency, this means paying attention to the 80-20 rule, or the Pareto Principle. This states that 20% of the most important activities will account for 80% of the results. “In order to create impact, VCS always needs to review its goals and be able to shift from macro lens to wide-angle, so we never lose sight of the big picture.

“G is for Growth Continuum,” says Dizon. “VCS’ tagline has always been Growth through Strategic Creativity. But for this year, we will redefine what growth means to us.” In 2022, VCS intends to explore the different areas of growth-- from team members’ skills, in equity and how VCS is perceived as a company, in profits that can help the digital content production and design agency grow further, and in its commitment and action in various advocacies.

“E is for energy. This is what fuels us to keep going.” Dizon explains how energy management is important, especially throughout the pandemic, in avoiding burnout. This year, VCS looks forward to renewing the team’s sense of energy and mission, and in making sure that the creative agency’s purpose is aligned with team members’ passions to keep everyone inspired to do great work.

“R is Recalibration,” Dizon says. “VCS is now a work from home creative agency. We will review and evaluate our remote systems, and create road maps that will help us achieve our Key Performance Indicators.” As VCS slowly moves closer to its 20 th year, it is high time to revisit the goals and vision of what the marketing agency can be.

With the CCO setting the tone for VCS for the rest of the year, check out how other TeamVCS members plan to unleash the TIGER this 2022!

FELYNE SIAO
Social Media Manager, Social Media Department

What does THOUGHT LEADERSHIP mean to you?
A thought leader to me is someone who comes up with the best answers to the big questions. They have groundbreaking new ideas in their field, and are seen as an authority in what they do. It means being able to move or influence people with their ideas.

How can the Social Media Department unleash the tiger this year?
We’re going to be a TikTok Tiger this year! We’re going to try to put out more show-stopping content that would make VCS Social Media accounts stand out on each platform.

Who or what is your favorite tiger?
RICHARD PARKERRRR (the tiger from The Life of Pi)

NICO NUNAG
Multimedia Specialist, Production Department

What does IMPACT mean to you?
Impact results in Impression. The harder the impact of one’s actions, the larger and longer the Impression on others. Because of this, we all have a responsibility to monitor our impact and the impressions they leave.

How can the Production Department unleash the tiger this year?
The Production Department plans to ride the VCS wave of refocus and recalibration. Adapting to our remote first setup has its challenges, but it is not without its benefits. The opportunity for more talent to join the creative agency also opens us to new perspectives and approaches, while still maintaining the advertising agency’s core initiatives.

Who or what is your favorite tiger?
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor will always have a special place in my heart. It has gotten me through a lot of late nights and low-energy days, workout sessions, and the occasional bouts of random dancing.

CAREN ESPINOSA
Business Development Executive,
Business Development Department, but also speaking for the Accounts Department

What does GROWTH CONTINUUM mean to you?
For me, it is the ability to acknowledge that no matter how excellent you already are, there’s always room to further improve. It’s the readiness to welcome new challenges, and to set higher goals that will take us from good to great.

How can the Accounts Department and the Business Development Department unleash the tiger this year?
This year, we’ll be focusing on providing our clients with the best service and experience. We’ll look at the process improvements and system optimization that we can explore that can help grow our pool of clients, all while taking great care of the clients we already have.

Who or what is your favorite tiger?
On behalf of the WHOLE Accounts team, si Ms. Teejai (Finance and HR Director).❤️

RICA MANUEL
Costing and Accounts Specialist,
Finance and Human Resources Department

What does ENERGY mean to you?
Energy is the fuel that drives me to effectively perform and achieve my purpose as an individual.

How can the Finance and HR Department unleash the tiger this year?
We can unleash the tiger by making sure that VCS will continue to be operationally and financially capable of standing out, despite the major challenges we might face in the future, like this pandemic. We have to prioritize the welfare of the team by through programs that promote their health and happiness. This way, the team can perform at their best and deliver the quality output and services that our clients deserve. This, in turn, would result to business growth.

Who or what is your favorite tiger?
Literal na tiger, wala. Pero tiger-like, my Mama. She has a very strong personality. She’s a brave and fiercely protective momma to us. I admire her and I’m so proud of her! ❤️

JAY QUILANITA
Senior Graphic Designer, Creatives Department

What does RECALIBRATION mean to you?
For me, recalibration means redirection. When I say I’m recalibrating, that means I’m setting myself up for a direction that’s much better than what I previously took. Recalibration is a positive thing. It shows that you know more about yourself and can take the risk of choosing a bolder and different path.

How can the Creatives Department unleash the tiger this year?
The Creatives team started the year fresh. We have new faces and better goals. Unleashing the tiger this year means we have to make sure we work together as one-- one mind, one objective. This will help the team move forward with more confidence in every decision we take, more agility in our every action, and more passion in the things we do.

Who or what is your favorite tiger?
Tiger Crackers actually hahaha! Masarap siya and afford. I remember college days ko, kinakain ko ito sa bus to boost my energy before class. Good old Tiger Crackers days.

As a digital content production and design agency, the team is claiming this Year of the Tiger as VCS’ year. By embracing its blueprint of strategic creativity, this Manila-based marketing agency is opening itself to new opportunities for growth, throwing its doors open to new collaborators and partnerships.

Think you have something to contribute to the team? Check out these open team positions.

Want to collaborate and work with VCS? Send us an email at jobs@vitalstrats.net

VCS ON THE PROWL: CREATIVE AGENCY UNLEASHES THE TIGER THIS 2022