Dr. Victoria Berg

Academic career

Victoria successfully completed her PhD at Heinrich Heine University. She is a qualified industrial engineer (M.Sc.) and completed both her Bachelor's (B.Sc.) and Master's (M.Sc.) degrees at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). At the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) in Santiago de Chile, Victoria studied and researched start-up systems and fast-growing companies. 

Professional stages

Victoria builds the bridge between research and practice through her work as an executive consultant and lecturer: based on the latest scientific findings, she accompanies executives and companies in their transformation and personal (leadership) development. As a post-doctoral researcher, she teaches practical courses on international management, innovation and personal development at HHU Düsseldorf and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to her PhD, Victoria worked in a boutique consultancy where she advised companies in their cultural transformation. During her studies, Victoria completed various internships in international corporations around the world and drove a large-scale research project on fast-growing start-ups in Chile. 

Research focus

In her research, Victoria investigates the role of narcissism in founders and leaders, helping to better understand the complex personality trait and make its impact more tangible for leaders, founders, VCs and employees. She is also passionate about research topics related to innovation, leadership and personal development. 

Publications

• Engelen, A./Huesker, C./Rieger, V./Berg, V. (2024): Building a resilient organization through a pre-shock strategic emphasis on innovation, in: Journal of Product Innovation Management, 41 (4), 36-61.
• Lang, U./Berg, V./von Nitzsch, J./Engelen, A. (2026): The dynamics of narcissism in founding teams: Implications for co-founder turnover and venture growth, in: Journal of Business Venturing, 41 (2).
• Brandenburg, A. N./von Nitzsch, J./Willcke-Berg, V./Engelen, A. (2026). Founding experience and tech-based ventures' innovation: The mediating role of absorptive capacity. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, forthcoming.