Tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Kayla Benoit. I am an auntie, a cousin, a partner, a daughter, an artist, a singer, a knowledge seeker, and a student. I'm in the Master of Science program at the Edwards School of Business here at the University of Saskatchewan. I'm from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, which is my reserve in Ontario. However, I was born and raised here right on the border of Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 in a small town called Guernsey.

What's your area of research at the Edward School of Business?

I was lucky enough to be involved in an allyship research project earlier in my program. From there, my research has merged into a marketing and human resource focus. What I'm focusing on is debiasing job descriptions and I'm working with the city of Saskatoon. I'm debiasing over 1,500 of their job descriptions and creating a framework that we can hopefully implement in other areas, like the university.

Tell us about why you chose to take the Master of Science in Management (Marketing) program and what you're hoping to get out of it.

I've always wanted to go into graduate studies. What drew me to this program was that my undergraduate is in Human Resources and this master's program aligned well with my previous studies. What really pushed me to come to Edwards was the funding that was available to me. I was able to take advantage of the Indigenous student stipend at Edwards and had that stipend not existed, I would not be here. Because of this funding, it allowed me to focus on my studies in a way that I wouldn't have to worry about my finances.

What obstacles have you had to overcome to attend post-secondary school?

In my undergraduate degree and now in my graduate degree, there were quite a few barriers for me that I had to overcome. Most of that was financial as I was not able to secure funding from my band in Ontario or secure student loans. So that meant for me I had to work full time to provide for myself and to put myself through school. By working so much, I had less time to dedicate to my studies and I wasn't eligible for a lot of the scholarships and grants and bursaries because my grades didn't meet the requirements. I always knew I was going to go to post graduate studies. Had the funding not been there for me, I would no way be here today. But that opportunity, that leap of faith, has paid off and I can confidently say the doors of opportunity have flung open, and it's all because of Edwards.

Can you talk about any of the relationships you've formed or the support you've received through professors and faculty in the program?

It was because of these women in leadership positions at Edwards that were talking to me, and they saw something in me that was not visible to me just yet. They looked at me as a holistic being, rather than just some numbers on a piece of paper. It's those women that are now leading me into completing my thesis and moving into a PhD program specifically my supervisor, Dionne Pohler, has been so influential for me. Her advice and her guidance and her wisdom, her experience, has been phenomenal. It's all from those very influential women that brought me into this program, allowing me to see the potential in myself and the leader in myself and potentially influence those like me, generations down the line.

For anybody who may not see themselves fitting into this Western ideology, what may be some pieces of advice or some thoughts you may want to share with them?

I think if you don't try, you will never know. If there are voices in your head that are telling you, you don't belong because of education, because of lack of education, lack of experience, lack of whatever it may be, that's all false. You deserve to be here. You deserve to be in these halls. You deserve to be in these spaces and feel safe in these spaces and it takes scholars like me and you to be in these spaces to make it safe for us, the future generations, and XYZ generations down the line.

What are some pieces of advice you'd give to a new student entering the Edwards Master of Science program?

Graduate studies really are what you make it. There are so many opportunities out there for you to join committees, join student associations, take part in research opportunities, take part in panels where you have your opportunity to voice your opinion and be heard by people in leadership positions that can influence change. It's all part of looking for those opportunities and seizing the moment when it comes and saying yes when it speaks to you.

Finish this sentence. The Edwards Master of Science program is about...

The Edwards Master of Science in Management (Marketing) program is about building community, fostering positive change, and looking at the human as a human first.

What's next for you?

After completing my Master of Science, I will hopefully be on my way into a PhD program. If that doesn't pan out, I'm dreaming big and if it does pan out, I'm dreaming even bigger. I see myself in positions of maybe not necessarily leadership, but in positions of influence.

One of Canada’s oldest business schools, the Edwards School of Business offers graduate programs to advance or change your careers, including the Master of Science in Management with specializations in Finance, Marketing, and Management (including Human Resources/Organizational Behaviour, Supply Chain/Information Systems, Operations Management, and Accounting & Taxation). Visit the Master of Science in Management program page to learn more or chat with a program advisor.

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