Benjamin, Amanda

College Professor, School of Business, Okanagan College (OC). I teach in the management areas (social entrepreneurship, leadership, organizational behaviour). I am also a Faculty Advisor for the EnactusOC team; a student led leadership group that runs community based projects to address social, environmental, and economic needs in our region. I conduct applied research, mainly in the social enterprise area, and focus mainly on writing, teaching and publishing case studies of social entrepreneurs using their organizations to address important social issues in our community. I am also involved in service roles in the community, most recently addressing homelessness in my city.

I teach a class and perhaps have office hours or meetings with students. I meet with our Enactus students to discuss a project they are working on. I may have a community meeting or an internal committee meeting. I could also be working on a case study (interviewing the organization, writing or reviewing cases, preparing for a conference).

The growth and development of our students. Helping to guide and coach students to contribute in meaningful ways to our community. Hearing stories of organizations making a difference in their community. Using my research work in my classroom to inspire students.

Managing a healthy balance of work, personal recreation and important family time. Finding enough research support and time to do research. Adapting classes to an online environment in a short amount of time (covid-related)

Developing a social entrepreneurship course that has helped hundreds of non profits in the community Starting an EnactusOC chapter that has won numerous awards and supported the growth of engaged, and socially responsible students. Written, published, and incorporated case studies into my teaching practice, exposing students and faculty to organizations making a difference in our communities (Canadian case studies) featuring female protagonists (who are highly under-represented)

I was feeling ‘stuck’ in my job and it was not the right fit. I wanted to get back into the educational arena. I had some interesting questions I wanted to explore further and I also wanted to learn from a cohort.

It got me think more deeply about certain areas, and to critically evaluate my assumptions. I learned about to manage work, studies and a family by working on my EdD in combination with other parts of my life. I learned a lot from my professors and my cohort members about how they were trying to use their educational goals in their line of work, and what was possible in mine. It also made me realize I needed to be in education for my full-time career.

My dissertation transformed my teaching. It taught me to consider a more expansive view of entrepreneurship and shaped my future teaching, research and volunteer work. I developed courses, supported nonprofit organizations, and developed a case research practice all centered around social entrepreneurship. It lead to the development of a volunteer student group at the College (EnactusOC) which has gone on to do really important work in our communities and grow and support socially responsible leaders. I also have continued to run a training and coaching practice where I use the skills and knowledge I have learned to support organizations in reaching their own goals in leadership development, and social enterprise.

I was at a EdD retreat. I was pretty close to finishing my dissertation and was also pregnant with my 2nd child. I really believed if I did not finish before this child was born, I would not finish. I was in a new job as a professor of business at Okanagan University College and was already struggling to learn a new role, manage a young child and finish my doctoral studies. One of my cohort members told me I needed to get rid of things that did not lead to finishing this goal, and in my case, this was all my volunteer work (because it would always be there when I had more time) so I could be laser focused on the end goal. I took her advice which had a significant impact on my ability to find time to finish my dissertation, which I did on a Wed evening and had my son 2 days later on a Friday morning. It is also worth mentioning that I am not sure I would have survived the defense or the additional changes I needed to make without the support and direction of Dr. Butterwick who was pivotal in me completing these final requirements while having a new baby. I am incredibly grateful for how my dissertation work has led to an incredibly fulfilling and engaging career in an area I believe has important value, and the ability to share these learnings with others. And for all those who helped me along this journey.

I continually need to learn how to say no. There are so many rich opportunities in teaching, research, mentoring, community volunteerism, but also only so many hours in a day. I need to be present and energetic for my personal and family life as well as my career and community work. This requires a commitment to constantly evaluate what I take on and how it impacts the responsibilities and outcomes I create.