Young Pro Corner: Thomas Berger, Manager, Client Solutions, GSTV
Thomas Berger, Manager, Client Solutions, GSTV 
I’m a Marketing Manager at GSTV, primarily responsible for client RFPs and developing B2B marketing materials to help businesses drive revenue and sell the GSTV platform.
What first drew you to the advertising/marketing industry?
I was led to advertising and marketing because it’s all about creative problem solving for businesses. At the end of the day, all businesses are trying to drive revenue. What’s interesting is all the dynamic ways in which advertising can help companies grow. Campaigns can drive granular and specific KPIs like brand awareness and brand preference. I enjoy that kind of nitty gritty problem solving and being able to solve different problems for different businesses every day—it keeps things exciting and keeps me inspired.
Plus, this industry has a great atmosphere and hosts incredible events!
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned that’s helped you in your career?
Two lessons come to mind.
The first is being genuine about helping people outside of your day-to-day responsibilities. Being well-liked is important in your professional career, but being reliable is just as important. You can achieve both by having this mentality: if people around you succeed, you succeed too. It’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others and having a competitive edge in your work ethic, but being a reliable teammate makes you an integral part of the team and brings joy to the company’s culture.
Second: closed mouths don’t get fed. Don’t expect hand outs because you’re working hard and doing great work. It’s really important to be self-aware and know when you’ve done something that is legitimately successful and deserves recognition. Don’t be afraid to ask for that recognition. The worst that can happen is hearing ‘no’, but with that, you may also learn what you need to do to get a ‘yes’ next time.
How has community-building and networking helped you in your career?
For starters, it’s how I got this job! For many, your first job out of college is all about getting your foot in the door and understanding the professional environment. Then your second job is often one that is more aligned with your interests and you really need to meet people who have already been in that field. When you’re networking, ask people why they do the work they’re doing and how they got there. You’ll learn whether you connect personally with that industry or company, which are important considerations when you’re looking for a new opportunity. Plus, people love talking about themselves and showing genuine curiosity about their journey can make you memorable.
Any tips for new grads?
Always remember to keep your LinkedIn profile updated. Before you attend industry events, do your homework. Keep informed about industry movers & shakers and industry news. This helps you recognize who to seek out at events. Sometimes networking can feel intimidating, but showing up with knowledge about the industry can help you create meaningful conversations and build solid connections. Always follow up after meeting people in person with a thoughtful note and a thought provoking question to keep the conversation going. All of this can help you get noticed, something that’s very important in today’s job market.
What’s the best industry resource you live by (besides the Ad Club)?
Always stay up to date in the industry you’re working in, read the trade publications and books about your field. Take the time to read articles, not only headlines and topline recaps. I’m always reading trades like Adweek and Marketing Brew to better understand my clients’ needs and challenges and perspectives from industry leaders.