From Talent Acquisition to Digital Operations: Growing Through Trust and Change

Written by Julia Zabala Roldan

If someone had told me two years ago that I’d be writing about digital operations, marketing strategies, and internal processes instead of sourcing and recruiting talent, I probably would’ve laughed. My career began in Talent Acquisition six years ago — connecting people with opportunities, building relationships, and shaping teams. It was familiar, fast-paced, and deeply rewarding. But change has a funny way of finding you when you least expect it — especially in a place that believes in your potential before you even see it yourself.

That’s exactly what happened when TAM’s CEO, Ayla MacEachern, and CSO, Federico Calvino, trusted me to step into a brand-new role: Digital Operations Analyst.

It wasn’t a small shift. It was a leap that challenged everything I thought I knew about my comfort zone.

Stepping Into the Unknown

When I first joined TAM Solutions, I focused on what I knew best: people. Talent Acquisition came naturally to me — understanding candidates, reading between the lines, and connecting them with companies that aligned with their purpose. I lived between candidate calls, sourcing strategies, client meetings, and the fast pace of helping build teams across industries and continents.

Then TAM began evolving — fast, and so did the scope of what we needed as a team. We grew in services, expanded clients, took on new levels of complexity, and the question became: Who is going to help the company scale from the inside? New challenges required structure, automation and strategy behind the scenes. 

Ayla and Fede saw something I didn’t fully see in myself yet — the ability to bring that same strategic mindset I used in recruiting into operations and digital growth. When they invited me to take on this new challenge, I said yes — partly out of excitement, partly out of fear.

Because here’s the truth: I didn’t have a background in marketing or digital operations. I knew people, not pixels. Campaigns? CRMs? Analytics dashboards? Those were foreign concepts. But TAM has never been about perfection — it’s about curiosity, ownership, and growth.

Learning by Doing (and Asking a Lot of Questions)

The first few months were a whirlwind of learning. I dived into tools I’d never used, from social media scheduling platforms to content tracking sheets, and learned how the smallest tweaks could make a big impact.

One day I was drafting a copy for a LinkedIn post; the next, I was helping coordinate internal processes to make sure our marketing, operations, and recruiting teams stayed in sync. It was trial by fire — but also one of the most empowering experiences I’ve ever had.

What made the difference was trust. Ayla and Fede gave me the space to explore, experiment, and fail safely. And in that process, I discovered something new about myself — that I could thrive not just in building relationships with people, but in building systems that connect those people, their work, and our shared mission.

Stepping into a role you’ve never done before is humbling. There were days when imposter syndrome knocked loudly, making me wonder if someone else would be “more qualified.”

But every time doubt showed up, Ayla and Fede were there with encouragement and trust. The kind of trust that says “You’ve got this — and we’re right here while you figure it out.”

That trust gave me the courage to keep going, keep learning, and keep growing into the person they already believed I could be.

The Bigger Picture: Growth in Every Direction

TAM Solutions has always been about growth — not just for our clients, but for the people behind the brand. My transition represents what makes TAM special: we don’t just fill roles; we create them.

I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always mean moving upward. Sometimes, it means moving sideways — into the unknown, into spaces that challenge how you think, work, and show up. It’s in those moments that you redefine what you’re capable of.

Today, as a Digital Operations Analyst, I get to blend strategy with creativity — streamlining our internal systems, supporting content initiatives, and ensuring every process reflects who we are: a people-first company that runs on trust, empathy, and collaboration.

A Final Thought

This transition has been more than a role change — it’s been a reminder that growth is a team sport. When leaders believe in you, when your environment gives you room to stretch, and when curiosity replaces fear, transformation happens naturally.

At TAM Solutions, I found not just a career path, but a culture that grows with you — one opportunity, one challenge, and one leap of faith at a time. So here’s to new beginnings, unexpected turns, and the people who see your potential before you do.