THOMAS BERBER
Versailles, France | thomberber@gmail.com
Doctoral Doctoral Candidate (DBA), emlyon business school (France) & Durham University (UK) – Expected July 2026
PROFILE
Lecturer and DBA candidate specializing in digital marketing and strategic transformation, with 20+ years of executive and academic experience across Europe and North America. Combines industry expertise with research on CSR communication in business education. Seeking to contribute to a leading business school through impactful teaching, applied research, and international collaboration.
EDUCATION
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), emlyon business school (France) & Durham University (UK), Expected 2026
- Research Focus: Marketing CSR in Business Schools: A Strategic Communication Perspective
- MBA, HEC Montréal, Canada, 2012
- Master’s Degree in Modern Literature, Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis, France, 1997
ACADEMIC & TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2015 – Present | Lecturer in Marketing and Corporate Strategy | ESSEC, emlyon, EMNormandie, Neoma, Skema, Kedge, Audencia, ICN, IÉSEG, Centrale Lille, ESSCA (France)
- Design and deliver courses in Marketing, Digital Marketing, and Corporate Strategy (in English and French) to undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Apply experiential learning pedagogy using real-life cases, simulations, and industry projects
- Supervise student projects and participate in curriculum design
- Course Leader at ICN Business School for postgraduate modules in Digital Marketing, covering E-commerce & Digital Sales (FR/EN), Digital Innovation in the Age of AI, and AI-driven Customer Relationship Management 1994 – 1998 | French Teacher | French Ministry of National Education
- Taught literature and communication courses to secondary-level students
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2015 – Present | President | ReflexProd (Versailles, France)
- Lead executive education programs and develop academic partnerships with business schools and corporate clients, delivering 20+ executive education programs annually for business schools and corporate clients
2011 – 2015 | General Manager | AMBAQ (Quebec MBA Association, Canada)
- Oversaw strategic planning and managed an annual budget of $1.2M
- Managed a team of 20
- Represented the association across academic and business networks in Canada
- Increased membership by 20% year-over-year, driving sustained organizational growth
2006 – 2010 | Marketing Manager | ENZYME Agency (Canada)
- Developed strategic marketing and communication plans for multinational clients
- Supervised brand positioning, digital strategy, and campaign performance with a team of 10
- Increased client satisfaction from 50% to 90% through data-driven campaign optimization
2000 – 2005 | Account Director | SI DIÈSE (Paris, France)
- Directed digital strategy and lead generation for a portfolio of 30+ clients, delivering over 50 marketing projects and contributing to a 25% increase in client acquisition. Managed a team of 5 and oversaw a budget exceeding $500K
- Oversaw campaign planning, execution, and post-campaign analysis
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- CSR communication and institutional branding in business schools
- Digital transformation in higher education
- Stakeholder engagement and value co-creation in academic ecosystems
WORKING PAPERS
(in progress with submission planned to leading journals in marketing and CSR)
- CSR as Institutional Branding in Business Schools
- Faculty and Student Perceptions of CSR Initiatives
- Co-Constructing CSR Strategy: A Marketing Framework for HEIs
- A Decision-Analytic Model of Internal CSR Practices in Higher Education
TEACHING INTERESTS
- Marketing Management
- Market Research
- Digital Marketing and Communication
- Brand Strategy and Consumer Behavior
- Strategic Management
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
LANGUAGES
- English (Full professional proficiency)
- French (Native)
PERSONAL INTERESTS
- Running
- Skydiving
CERTIFICATION
ESCP Business School | AI for Business