Christine Bergeron, President of C3B Groupe Conseil, brings over two decades of diverse experience to the table, with a particular focus on organizational performance, change management, and business process optimization. With more than ten years of managerial expertise in both unionized and non-unionized environments, Christine has developed a keen understanding of the complexities involved in driving growth and efficiency within organizations. 

Her career is marked by a deep specialization in optimizing business processes and managing department mergers, all with the goal of fostering sustainable growth. As a member of the Ordre des administrateurs agréés and the American Society for Quality, where she holds the title of Certified Quality Process Analyst, Christine is recognized for her commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. She also serves as a member and trainer for the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA), bringing her insights and expertise to a broader audience. Additionally, Christine lectures at the Business School of the University of Quebec in Montreal (ESG UQAM), teaching Change Management and Consultative Practices to both undergraduate and graduate students.  

Christine’s dedication to advancing the field is further exemplified by her MBA in management consulting and her ongoing research into the influence and impact of behaviors and changes on both operational and overall company performance. Through C3B Groupe Conseil, she now shares her extensive experience and knowledge with others, offering consultations, conducting conferences, and providing training that equips organizations with the tools they need to excel in an ever-changing business landscape. Under Christine’s leadership, C3B Groupe Conseil is not only enhancing organizational performance but also setting new standards for excellence in change management and business process optimization. 

Crafting Success 

Christine shares that the inception of C3B Groupe Conseil began when a colleague from her MBA class expressed frustration over a stalled business partnership. After discussing the project, Christine and her colleague discovered that they shared the same values and vision for what a consulting firm could be. This alignment of ideas led to their decision to partner up and launch their firm. 

Christine’s extensive experience across various industries, both as a leader and a consultant, combined with her partner’s expertise, allowed them to clearly define their mission and how they could best contribute to their company and clients. One of their initial focuses was crafting a strong value proposition, not only for their clients but also for their collaborators. 

Evolving Leadership 

Christine’s journey with C3B Groupe Conseil has seen significant evolution over the past seven years, leading to her current role as the sole owner and president of the company. While she wears many hats, her approach to leadership mirrors how she works with clients: by sharing best practices and tools she has acquired over the years, setting guidelines, and co-developing objectives, but ultimately trusting her team to execute the work within those guidelines. 

Christine emphasizes the importance of trust in her team’s capabilities, knowledge, and experience. By trusting them, she fosters an environment where team members feel empowered, which in turn boosts motivation, creativity, and productivity. This trust also allows Christine to focus on her own responsibilities, ensuring that she can manage her workload effectively. She has also learned to structure her day around her natural strengths and abilities, recognizing the importance of taking breaks and allowing herself time off. This was a struggle in the beginning, but she now understands that working smarter, rather than harder or longer, is key to maintaining productivity and balance. 

Leveraging Professional Affiliations for Excellence in Consulting 

Christine’s involvement as a Certified Management Consultant and a member of the Chartered Administrators Order of Quebec provides her with valuable access to leadership, management, and consulting best practices. Through the extensive network she has built and the training, webinars, and documentation available to her, Christine can pass on these insights to her collaborators, ensuring that her team stays informed and equipped with the latest knowledge. Additionally, her affiliation with these organizations ensures that her work adheres to high standards and a code of ethics, which benefits her clients by maintaining trust and professionalism. 

Christine believes that she is also privileged to serve on the leadership team of the Montreal Chapter of the American Society for Quality (ASQ) as the Student Outreach Chair. This role allows her to connect with a diverse network of ASQ members, sharing and gaining knowledge that enriches her professional practice. Moreover, it offers her the unique opportunity to engage with student members, understanding their concerns and visions for quality in various fields, and staying attuned to the future of the industry. 

The Foundation of Effective Problem Solving 

Christine emphasizes the importance of a robust methodology for identifying the root causes of issues experienced by both her team and her clients. This approach is not only essential for resolving current challenges but also for uncovering opportunities for growth and improvement. Through her experience and affiliations, Christine has developed and adapted tools specifically tailored to the needs and services of her company. 

Given their mission to support organizations and individuals in achieving their full potential through consulting services, personalized sessions, and training, Christine ensures that they employ and share the best tools and practices. This commitment to continuous improvement and excellence is critical to delivering high-quality support to their clients, enabling them to overcome obstacles and reach their goals effectively. 

Integrating Communication and Negotiation 

As a member and trainer for the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA), Christine has gained valuable insights into the critical role that sales processes play in driving organizational change. She emphasizes that, whether consciously or not, everyone is involved in selling at some point—whether it’s selling ideas, capabilities, or products and services. This understanding has significantly influenced how she approaches consulting and training programs. 

Christine highlights that change management isn’t just about planning and adapting; it’s also about effectively communicating and convincing people that change is not only necessary but also beneficial for both the organization and the individuals involved. This often requires negotiating and handling objections, much like in a sales process. 

A key aspect of both sales and change management, according to Christine, is understanding the needs and values of those you are trying to influence. By doing so, you can create win-win situations, where all parties feel that they are benefiting from the change. This approach ensures that the change is more likely to be accepted and successful, as it aligns with the interests of the people involved. Christine integrates these insights into her consulting and training programs, equipping her clients with the skills needed to manage change effectively and achieve their organizational goals. 

The Hidden Drivers in Decision-Making 

Christine enjoys presenting on a variety of topics at conferences and training sessions, but two stand out in her mind:  

• The Real Decision-Making Process: Christine emphasizes that the decision-making process is not just the theoretical model we’re often taught to follow, but a complex interplay of biases, past experiences, and personality traits that can often have more influence than facts. She points out that this reality affects organizations of all sizes and levels of management because it is part of the human condition. No one is immune to these influences. Christine enjoys discussing how to leverage these behaviors, combined with the power of influence, to achieve better organizational and individual performance. 
• Incorporating Change Management into Everyday Leadership: Christine argues that change management shouldn’t be reserved for big projects; it should be a part of everyday leadership. She believes that there is no such thing as a small change. What might seem like a minor adjustment to a manager could represent a significant portion of an employee’s day. Christine highlights that many “brilliant” ideas are often introduced without proper communication or evaluation, leading to negative impacts on motivation, engagement, and overall performance. She underscores that even the smallest change requires effort, which needs to be justified. To illustrate this point, she humorously suggests trying to brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand. The mere thought of this small change requires consideration, and actually doing it would involve even more effort, demonstrating how seemingly insignificant changes can have a substantial impact. 

Stakeholder-Centric Strategies for Effective Change Management 

Christine believes in empowering her team members to perform their work to the best of their abilities and to reach their full potential. Her role, as she sees it, is to provide them with a supportive environment—a “sandbox”—and equip them with the necessary tools. These tools include not just analytical tools but also soft skills, emotional awareness resources, training, coaching, and clear guidelines and objectives. Christine firmly trusts in the capabilities, expertise, and experience of the people she collaborates with. She carefully selected them for the team, which is why she trusts that they share the same goals for their clients. Essentially, she sees herself as both a coach and a cheerleader for her team. 

In unionized environments, Christine notes that there are additional parameters to consider, but the core process should remain the same. The key concern in change management is to consider the stakeholders—those who will be impacted by the change, whether directly or indirectly, and those who can influence the process or outcome. Christine emphasizes the importance of ensuring that stakeholders understand the objective and believe in the benefits of the change. Success in implementing change hinges on making sure that the benefits for the stakeholders outweigh the efforts they need to put in—what she refers to as their “ROI.” 

To achieve this, Christine advocates involving stakeholders in the process from the beginning. By doing so, you ensure that their perspectives are considered and that they are more likely to support the change. She also advises being mindful of the domino effect that implementing a change can have, ensuring that all potential impacts are considered. 

Commitment to Continuous Learning 

Christine approaches trends and “universal” techniques with caution. She has observed that many companies become overly focused on the technique itself, sometimes to the point of losing sight of its original purpose. While she remains wary of this pitfall, Christine recognizes the importance of staying informed about best practices and industry trends. Her goal is to identify elements within these trends that could genuinely assist her clients in their processes. 

To maintain a well-rounded understanding, Christine engages in continuous learning. She reads extensively and participates in webinars, workshops, and classes on a wide range of topics. This commitment to learning allows her to maintain a 360-degree view of the various factors—especially human needs and behaviors—that influence performance, decision-making, and overall outcomes in organizations. By doing so, Christine ensures that she is equipped to provide relevant, effective guidance to her clients while staying true to the core objectives of her work. 

Vision for the Future 

Christine underlines that C3B Groupe Conseil’s primary focus for the upcoming year is their strategic partnership with Afrikomkom. This collaboration aims to leverage their combined expertise to support a broader range of entrepreneurs and companies, both locally and in Africa, in achieving their full potential. 

Looking ahead, Christine hopes for a future where change management becomes fully integrated into standard management and leadership practices. She envisions it being a routine aspect of organizational operations, rather than being reserved for specialized teams handling large or special projects. By normalizing change management, she believes it will lead to smarter, more thoroughly analyzed decision-making, fostering a more engaged and empowered workforce. Ultimately, this integration would enhance overall performance and results, benefiting both organizations and their people. 

Sharing the Value of Becoming a Certified Management Consultant 

Christine advises aspiring professionals in change management and organizational consulting to cultivate a passion for learning. Continuous education is vital for staying current and effective in the field. Gaining diverse experiences will also broaden one’s perspective and skill set. She recommends finding a mentor to provide valuable guidance and support throughout one’s career. Additionally, becoming a Certified Management Consultant can distinguish individuals by providing essential tools, a strong professional network, and a commitment to ethical standards. 

To know more, please visit: https://c3bgroupeconseil.com