Hi! I’m Mélanie Leclaire, Senior Director of Client Strategy at KPI Digital. I started my career in computer engineering, specializing in software, telecommunications, and AI. I spent several years at Ubisoft Montréal working on games like Splinter Cell and Rayman, then moved to Ericsson Canada, where I focused on software, algorithms, and quality assurance.
Over time, I discovered my passion for business development and client relationships while working at Fusepoint and Renaps Technologies. I joined KPI Digital in 2020 after being approached for my ability to build networks, generate leads, and foster strong partnerships. Today, I focus on growing the Quebec market by helping companies in manufacturing, industrial, transportation, and supply chain sectors advance their data and AI strategies.
Fun fact: I have an identical twin sister who studied the same program as me, and I once spent 63 days in Quebec’s first reality TV show, Loft Story 2003. Outside of work, I love sewing, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the outdoors with my golden retriever, Gaspard.
What’s a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of, and why?
Without a doubt: developing new markets in Quebec for KPI Digital.
When I joined in 2020, it was to expand our market presence in Quebec, so I built my entire client network from scratch, right at the start and through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through prospecting, countless cold calls, and persistence, I managed to meet with over 300 executives and build a strong network of clients, including ArcelorMittal, Pharmacience, Fondaction, BRP, Garda World, Groupe Bellemare, BMR, Richelieu, Pomerleau, Metaltech, and more.
My greatest achievement has been helping establish KPI Digital as a leading name in data and AI in Quebec, one client at a time.
What do you enjoy most about working in data, AI, or digital transformation?
I love seeing how data and AI can truly transform organizations, giving them more visibility, efficiency, and impact.
But what I love most are the people: the conversations, the workshops, and those moments when everything “clicks” and an idea turns into a real project.
It’s a world where technology and people come together to create meaning, and that’s what I find truly inspiring.
Share the aspects of your job or the industry that keep you passionate.
The novelty! Every client, every industry, every project is different. I love learning, adapting, understanding their challenges, and finding how KPI can truly make a difference. And above all, working with a team as passionate and supportive as ours keeps the spark alive every day.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation in the next few years?
I believe the greatest innovations will come from AI serving humans, not the other way around. Models capable of detecting and helping vulnerable people — seniors, those who are isolated, or anyone who needs support before they even ask for it. AI should become an empathetic and inclusive ally.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the world of AI or data consulting?
Stay curious, humble, and always open to listening. Technology keeps evolving, but people remain at the center of it all. So keep learning, experimenting, asking questions, and most importantly, have fun while doing it!
If you could swap roles with anyone at KPI Digital for a day, who would it be and why?
I’d take over the Marketing & Culture team, just to launch a big “Work with KPI” campaign with Gaspard as the official mascot 🐶! No one could resist those sweet eyes, he’d win over every candidate.
On a more serious note, I’d also love to spend a day in the shoes of a Data Scientist and create a compassionate AI model that helps people who need it most.
If you weren’t working in this field, what career path do you think you’d have followed instead?
Probably a fashion designer — I’m truly passionate about sewing! But I also would have loved to be a robotics or data engineer, or even a science show host, to make technology accessible with both humor and humanity.
What’s one tool, platform, or app you couldn’t get through the day without?
The office’s salted nut machine 😉🥜 (my secret fuel! Haha!)
And on the tech side: LinkedIn, Outlook, Teams, and Google Lens. They’re my daily allies for staying connected, organized, and curious.
Connect with Veronique on LinkedIn.
