Digital Strategy Consultant
As a digital strategy consultant, you’re a problem-solver and trusted advisor, helping companies deliver tailored solutions, optimize customer journeys, and unlock new opportunities through data, platforms, and cutting-edge technologies.
Your role? To partner with clients, orchestrate digital integration, and lead with insight—whether at a global agency, a high-growth start-up, or a legacy brand in urgent need of reinvention. With a strategic approach and a deep understanding of both business and technology, you bring the power to transform ambition into actionable outcomes.
As digital environments continue to evolve, your consulting capabilities will be crucial to helping organizations navigate risk, adapt processes, and enhance performance at scale.
What is a digital strategy consultant?
A digital strategy consultant plays a key role in guiding companies and their clients through digital transformation, developing digital strategies, and optimizing their online presence. Offering the right digital service has become essential for all companies, regardless of industry or size.
Large companies, SMEs, specialized consulting firms, public administrations, associations, start-ups, and digital agencies all hire digital transformation consultants. The industries most actively seeking these digital experts include e-commerce and retail, finance, insurance, healthcare, and manufacturing. However, this role can be practiced in virtually any sector, as the demand for these services is universal.
With an ever-expanding array of tools, techniques, and innovations, digital transformation professionals offer real technical expertise to organizations.
Technological advancements are accelerating and are leveraged by digital strategy consultants to enhance digital marketing efforts. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning, and digital strategy software help organizations grow their visibility, generate traffic and sales, build customer loyalty, improve brand awareness, and optimize performance.
Responsibilities of a digital strategy consultant
The digital strategy consultant helps companies improve their digital performance and optimize their campaigns. Their responsibilities include:
- Assessing the company’s current situation and analyzing its needs
- Developing comprehensive digital marketing strategies
- Overseeing the operational implementation of digital communication strategies, once approved by management
- Improving the company’s website
- Identifying opportunities to enhance ROI
- Managing digital projects
- Training and supporting internal teams
- Monitoring performance indicators and adjusting strategies accordingly
- Conducting competitive analysis
- Tracking market trends
Required skills and qualities for becoming a digital strategy consultant
This profession requires a blend of technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
Technical skills
Your education will equip you with the following technical skills:
- Comprehensive understanding of the digital landscape
- Proficiency in web marketing tools such as email campaigns, SEO, and SEA
- Strong foundation in HTML and CSS
- Knowledge of advertising platforms such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads
- Familiarity with marketing automation tools
- Proficiency in Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Community management and social media expertise
- Data analysis skills using tools like Google Analytics
- Expertise in digital project management
Personal qualities
You may be well-suited to this career if you possess the following personal traits:
- Analytical and strategic thinking
- Creativity
- Organizational skills
- Sensitivity to user experience (UX)
- Adaptability and curiosity about new technologies
- Strong communication and teaching skills
- Fluency in English and possibly another foreign language
Education and training to become a digital strategy consultant
There are various academic paths to becoming a digital strategy consultant, but the most sought-after profiles typically hold a Master’s degree such as a Advanced Master’s, Master’s, or MBA with a focus on marketing or digital strategy consulting.
The work-study Advanced Master’s in Digital Transformation, Marketing & Strategy offered by emlyon business school is a prestigious path for those aiming to become key players in digital transformation.
Accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles and certified at level 7 by the RNCP, this program is ranked third in the 2024 Eduniversal ranking of the best Marketing Master’s, Advanced Master’s, and MBA programs.
Taught mainly in French on the Lyon or Paris campuses with one international seminar week, this 12-month program will expose you to the major transformations reshaping the digital strategy sector.
You’ll acquire advanced skills in strategy, marketing, and new technologies to help you realize your ambitions. The work-study format allows you to apply academic knowledge directly in the workplace, facilitating a smoother transition into the job market.
The program boasts a remarkable 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation. Many students even secure employment contracts during their work-study period, before completing the program.
Throughout your career, you’ll benefit from emlyon’s exceptional network of over 45,000 alumni and more than 2,000 corporate partners worldwide. You can also attend the school’s international events to keep your skills current and connect with top business professionals.
Salary and career progression of a digital strategy consultant
The average salary for a junior digital strategy consultant ranges from €35,000 to €40,000 gross per year (fixed component). Graduates from prestigious business schools may command higher starting salaries, especially if they seize international opportunities.
With several years of experience, a digital strategy consultant can earn up to €80,000 gross per year.
This salary is often supplemented with performance-based bonuses and incentives, which depend on the individual’s results and the company’s overall performance.
Some industries are more lucrative than others. Consulting roles in luxury fashion, watchmaking, and high-end hospitality tend to offer more competitive salaries.
Career advancement opportunities for digital strategy consultants include:
- Senior Digital Strategy Consultant, for those seeking greater responsibility within a consultancy
- Digital Strategy Director, for those who want to move in-house at a company
- Entrepreneur in Digital Strategy, for those with aspirations of self-employment
- Digital Product Manager, for those who prefer managing the marketing lifecycle of products or services
- Community Manager, for those who specialize in managing social media and online communities
Conclusion
If your ambition is to guide companies through their digital transformation and help them build a robust and future-ready digital business, it’s essential to train at a leading institution that combines academic excellence with real-world relevance. At the forefront of digital technologies, business strategy, and management consulting, emlyon business school offers the ideal environment to develop your expertise, leverage emerging tools, and design effective solutions for today’s most pressing business challenges.
Whether you're aiming to join a company or create your own consulting services, emlyon's programs will equip you with the strategic alignment, operating model know-how, and a client- and account-focused mindset needed to thrive.
The school’s dedicated faculty and administrative teams will guide you through the application process, ensuring you gain access to the right opportunities at the right time. From data analytics to change management, from hybrid leadership to digital marketing strategy, emlyon will help you drive real impact, achieve your career goals, and evolve into a senior associate or head of digital role in today’s top management consultancies.