GROWING AT THE HEART OF THE BUSINESS
Since 2021, Vincent Desaulniers has been leading Subaru Trois-Rivières with care and transparency. At the helm of this family business, firmly rooted in the region for over 30 years, the young entrepreneur makes it a point to place each client at the center of his priorities, aspiring to offer excellent service.
"I grew up in the business," says Vincent Desaulniers right from the start. He was indeed encouraged from a young age to get involved in the company founded by his father, Pierre Desaulniers, in 1993. "My father would take me to work, and from one task to another, I was led to take on more official roles," he recounts. Climbing the ranks, Vincent Desaulniers participated in a variety of tasks: from mowing the lawn in the summer during his teenage years to his current role as president, including washing cars and managing the parts department inventory.
Always interested in his father's field of work, Vincent Desaulniers went to Ontario to pursue a three-year college program in automotive dealership management at Georgian College. His internships led the young professional to become more actively involved at Subaru Trois-Rivières, particularly in accounting and then sales.
AT THE HEART OF THE ACTION
"Being a salesperson allowed me to see what was happening on the ground. I found solutions to better organize this department to offer a simplified experience to the client," mentions the businessman. Managing a car dealership is no small feat, and the success of such a business, according to him, relies on the synergy between the different departments that make up the organization.
With a clear talent for optimization, Vincent Desaulniers quickly put his skills to use by reviewing certain processes and methods, thus becoming, by necessity, the general manager of the family business, and then president. "What sets me apart is my sense of innovation. My team and I do everything we can to raise the standards of our industry," he specifies.
KINDNESS AS A GUIDE
Vincent Desaulniers admits that the car dealership field suffers from certain well-entrenched stereotypes. Buying or leasing a new or used vehicle can sometimes be an uncomfortable process for some clients. "At Subaru Trois-Rivières, we are always innovating in terms of sales advice and support. I want our clients to be well-informed and able to choose a vehicle that truly meets their needs.
We prioritize a transparent approach focused on our clients' needs. We prefer to advise our clients with the utmost transparency," the president asserts with conviction. To do this, Vincent Desaulniers relies on kindness. This value often guides the entrepreneur's decisions, both those concerning the company's relationships with its clients and those with its team members. "Running a business is above all a commitment to its sustainability and human impact. Every morning, I don't wake up thinking about profits, but rather about the essential resources to ensure the stability and growth of my 38 employees and their families, for whom I feel responsible."
SHARING THE EXPERIENCE
Aware of the great responsibilities that come with the presidency of a company like Subaru Trois-Rivières, Vincent Desaulniers embraces his role 100% with both the good and the less good sides. To better equip himself against the challenges of the business world, particularly those of entrepreneurial transition, he recently joined one of the cohorts at the École d'entrepreneurship de Beauce. "The École d'entrepreneurship de Beauce brings together seasoned entrepreneurs from all over Quebec. It's a true incubator of practical knowledge," he testifies. He is at a loss for words to express the richness of the learnings and encounters made throughout this journey, which has contributed to making him a better entrepreneur, but also a better man.
Citation: "I aspire to lead without controlling, to work with passion, and to be present for what truly matters."