Enrolling in the Masters of Leadership program at Albertus Magnus College was one of the best decisions I made both in my career and in life. Before I entered the program, I was still in the “What do I want to do when I grow up” phase. I needed a spark, some direction, and better influences in my network. Having such a great experience at Albertus for my undergraduate studies, I decided I needed to return to my second home …
During my time in the program, I came in touch with so many amazing people, professionals, and professors. I firmly believe that what separates Albertus from every other institution is the people within the classrooms. There is a care that runs through the hallways that words can’t do justice. When I return to New Haven, I always make it a point to visit my Alma Mater because I miss those hallways and that intangible care that comes with the sound of so many familiar voices. I remember my first class in Aquinas Hall with Dr. Fero when he spoke about the underlying theme of the leadership program. He told us, “The best thing about this program is that everything you learn today can be applied tomorrow.” The program was exactly the spark and direction I needed. There is no doubt that the people of Albertus have shaped me into the professional, and the person, I am today. Dr. Fero taught me the art of servant leadership and how important it is to serve the needs of your people. Dr. Mike taught me the importance of research and how to take a step back from complex issues, breathe, and move forward with a well-thought-out resolution.
Upon graduating with my masters, my career was thriving, and I was moving up the metaphorical corporate ladder. The spark that was lit had turned into a fire that burned greater and larger. I fell in love with the philosophy of servant leadership and carried this leadership art to my organization immediately. I fell in love with the concept of servant leadership for two reasons. First, I have always led with a “people before everything and anything” mentality, and it felt great to finally match my leadership style with a proven leadership strategy. Second, working in one of, if not the most, competitive industries in the world (telecommunications/mobility), I discovered that this strategy was truly a missing art. One thing I am truly grateful to the Leadership program at Albertus for is changing my mindset on how to achieve goals that are measured by metrics. Dr. Mike looked right at me and said, “Berg, numbers are only behaviors on paper by people.” My personal motto was branded in that class experience as a graduate student.
Sounds like a great story, doesn’t it? New direction, new energy, new outlook on life. I was armed with a proven leadership strategy that I couldn’t wait to roll out and teach to my organization, fire burning in all! But then I was hit with an enormous bucket of water, a harsh reality that only the vast corporate world can bring … I found that I was simply a number that had a job to do within a system. My employee number was 101981, which meant I was employee 101981 of 254920 employees within my company. One day I decided that I was tired of being a number and realized I was working untiringly to bring the servant leadership style to an organization that simply was not ready to accept it. So I did what any typical Gen Y person would do … I became number 1 and started my own company “Go Berg or Go Home.”
The number one question I get asked when I do keynotes, consultations, and start-up mentoring is, “How did you build your business?” It’s simple; I followed the servant leadership motto that was taught to me: “Serve the Career Needs of Professionals.” Go Berg or Go Home was started at the Comfort Inn in Dallas, TX, in 2013. I was traveling on business for my then employer and found myself consistently helping friends and coworkers on resume writing and tips. True story: My flight was delayed until the following morning because of inclement weather, and I was sitting in my hotel room watching the “Dark Knight.” It was on the scene where the Joker comes in to introduce himself and antagonize the mob bosses, and he utters his famous line, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” The only thing missing in that moment was a clash of lighting in the background as everything just “clicked.”
In the next few months, Go Berg or Go Home continued to grow, and that flame was growing. However, I found myself again needing to throw another log on the fire, to go in another direction, and to find a new, greater purpose. I wanted to become an expert in my field and begin branding myself as the go-to expert in organizational leadership. I decided to call two trusted mentors and friends for advice, Dr. Fero and Dr Mike. I wanted to know if they thought pursing my doctorate degree would be a smart decision. Not only did they say do it, they wrote my letters of recommendation.
Flash forward to March 2016: Go Berg or Go Home has won 6 awards for excellence in career services throughout the Northeast. We have built a social media mini empire. (Find us on all your social media outlets – Go Berg or Go Home … nice plug, right!) We have built a team of 12 unbelievable people who run my company in ways I couldn’t even imagine. We have the BEST resume writing, career coaching, job placement, and consultation services in the market. If you call any of the Go Berg Warriors today and ask them what their employee number is, they will all laugh at you! Go Berg or Go Home is proud to have served almost 1,500 clients, conducted over 100 keynotes and workshops, placed over 600 people in new careers, and kicked a few clients in the you-know-what because sometimes, that is what you have to do. In May of 2016, I will graduate with a Doctorate in Educational/Organizational Leadership from the University of New England. I dedicated my doctoral studies to studying the strength of coaching through emotional intelligence. In the next coming months, Go Berg or Go Home will be expanding into the nonprofit sector as we begin our next two projects: Rescue Resumes, which will help support local pet adoption agencies by creating custom resumes for pets in order to find animals a good home and Go Lead or Go Home, which will teach aspiring middle, high school, and college students how to embrace leadership styles today in order to lead tomorrow.
With all the accomplishments, degrees, and certifications that I’ve been fortunate in achieving, the one I hold the closest to my heart is the Master of Arts in Leadership from Albertus. I am proud to have my name a part of the program, and I never will forget what that experience did for me to shape the man I am today. I am forever grateful to the people within the Albertus family for everything they have done.
If you are looking for a greater purpose in your career and in your life, then this program is absolutely for you! If you want an even greater perspective, I am always available to share my Albertus experiences. Feel free to reach out to me at ceberg@gobergorgohome.com, or head to www.gobergorgohome.com today and let us help you utilize that Albertus degree and get you set-up with your dream career!
Sincerely,
As a motivated leader and entrepreneur, I take great strides to use my passion for empowering professionals to develop their careers and leadership competences. My diverse experiences have provided me with the skills to mentor thousands of professionals, particularly in the areas of career coaching, professional résumé writing, leadership development, training and delivery, sales, management, and interviewing techniques. In August of 2013, I founded Go Berg or Go Home, LLC, to provide these services to professionals. For 2016, Go Berg or Go Home is expanding and growing! With my executive career flourishing, I have handed daily operations and execution over to my Go Berg executive team to continue the success and growth. Through my experience within three Fortune 100 companies, I have acquired a varied skill set including: sales, sales management, corporate training, classroom instruction, curriculum design, human resources, employee relations, change management, executive coaching, and recruitment. This has led to my holding multiple executive positions including Director of Training and Development, Director of Human Resources Operations, and my most recent promotion in March of 2016, National Director of Sales with American Telecommunications Inc. and in partnership with T-Mobile USA.
In addition to formal professional development, I have actively sought out personal growth through individual research and education. I highly value education and currently hold a B.A. in English and Psychology and a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Albertus Magnus College. Constantly seeking to grow, I am currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational and Organizational Leadership through the University of New England. Recently, I have earned the highest certifications in resume writing, executive and career coaching, employment interview prep, various leadership development programs, and emotional intelligence.
Website: www.gobergorgohome.com
Facebook: Go Berg or Go Home
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Contact: ceberg@gobergorgohome.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-berg-00727081