In a conversation with MediaVillage, Berg discusses his personal and professional relationship with Be The Match, a nonprofit dedicated to matching cancer patients with potential life-saving donors. He shares incredibly poignant insights regarding why the Publicis Media culture makes this partnership such a rewarding match.
Philip McKenzie: What was your motivation for getting personally involved with Be The Match?
Brian Berg: My involvement with Be The Match began because my son Colin was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2015. My family and I were going through a very challenging time. It was incredibly grueling and during this experience, Publicis Media showed me love and support on both a personal and professional level.
In early 2017, Adrian Sayliss, [global CFO of Publicis Media and CFO of Publicis Groupe North America], introduced me to Be The Match, as he also had a family member who was battling cancer. Fortunately, they went through a successful transplant through a Be The Match donor. So, my education began at that moment. I attended the organization's annual gala when Publicis Media was a sponsor for the first time. Over the last three years, the relationship has solidified to the point where it is now.