Vicky Boudreau: Empowering the Creator Economy with Heylist’s
tl;dr
Vicky Boudreau, CEO of Heylist, empowers creators to monetize content through a streamlined influencer marketing platform.
Heylist focuses on nano-influencers, enhancing collaboration with brands using AI-driven tools and community-building.
Vicky aims to scale Heylist internationally while fostering authentic brand-creator partnerships in the evolving influencer landscape.
Vicky Boudreau, the dynamic CEO and Co-Founder of Heylist, is on a mission to revolutionize influencer marketing by empowering creators to monetize their content. With a career deeply rooted in public relations and marketing, Vicky’s entrepreneurial spirit has led her to establish two successful ventures, bicom and now Heylist, a platform that bridges the gap between brands and small creators.
A Career in Innovation and Leadership
Vicky’s journey into entrepreneurship began after an internship that led her to co-found bicom, a Montreal-based communications and marketing firm. At bicom, she built a reputation for industry innovation, leading a team of over 40 professionals and helping brands navigate the evolving media landscape. Under her leadership, bicom flourished, with Vicky earning recognition as Arista’s Entrepreneur of the Year and being named among Canada’s Top 40 under 40 PR professionals.
As influencer marketing gained momentum, Vicky identified a growing opportunity for smaller creators. Realizing that the marketing industry was shifting towards more authentic, relatable content, she launched an internal initiative at bicom to explore influencer marketing. However, as campaigns grew in complexity, she saw the limitations of traditional tools like spreadsheets in managing these collaborations. This challenge inspired her next venture: Heylist.
The Birth of Heylist
Heylist was born out of Vicky’s vision to simplify influencer marketing for both creators and brands. She partnered with software engineer Alex Borgia and creative strategist Nico LeBlanc to develop a custom platform that automates influencer campaign management while fostering a vibrant community of creators. The platform empowers nano-influencers—those with fewer than 10,000 followers but high engagement rates—giving them tools to connect with brands and monetize their content in meaningful ways.
Scaling Heylist required more than just refining the platform. Vicky and her team focused on onboarding a diverse group of creators, offering them education, support, and insights to help them maximize their potential. By nurturing the creator community, Heylist aims to democratize influencer marketing, expanding access to opportunities that were once reserved for larger influencers.
Overcoming Industry Challenges
As a founder in the fast-evolving influencer marketing industry, Vicky faces a unique set of challenges. New social media platforms, shifting algorithms, and tightening regulations around sponsored content require constant adaptation. To keep Heylist at the forefront, Vicky and her team continuously refine their technology, using data-driven insights to stay ahead of trends and ensure the platform remains relevant to both creators and brands.
One of Vicky’s key strategies has been building strong relationships with influencers and brands through consistent communication and community-building efforts. As the influencer landscape grows more competitive, Heylist is positioned as a trusted partner for both sides, thanks to its seamless user experience and commitment to fostering authentic brand-creator collaborations.
Future Growth and Expansion
Looking ahead, Vicky has ambitious plans for Heylist. The platform is gearing up for international expansion, particularly in the U.S., where influencer marketing is rapidly growing. The team is also focusing on enhancing the platform’s features with AI-driven insights and automation to make influencer campaigns even more efficient and effective.
To support this growth, Vicky is leveraging strategic partnerships and increasing Heylist’s visibility through PR and marketing efforts. By tracking key growth metrics and preparing for future funding rounds, Heylist is well-positioned for continued success.
Lessons Learned as a Serial Entrepreneur
As a second-time founder, Vicky has learned that scaling a startup is a fast-paced, high-pressure endeavor compared to the more organic growth she experienced with bicom. The need to make quick decisions, manage a smaller team, and adapt to the startup environment has been a valuable learning curve. However, her optimism, focus, and dedication to maintaining her well-being—both mentally and physically—have kept her at the top of her game.
Vicky also emphasizes the importance of a strong network in entrepreneurship. Through her participation in the Canadian Women’s Network’s Pathways to Silicon Valley program, she gained invaluable insights into the U.S. market and built relationships with investors, positioning Heylist for future growth.
A Vision for the Future
Vicky Boudreau’s vision for Heylist is clear: to democratize influencer marketing and empower creators to thrive in the rapidly expanding creator economy. As the sector is expected to grow to $24 billion by the end of 2024, Heylist’s SaaS platform is already playing a pivotal role in connecting brands with nano-influencers, making it easier than ever for creators to monetize their content.
With Vicky’s leadership, Heylist is not only changing how brands and creators collaborate but also shaping the future of influencer marketing—one campaign at a time.
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