Before beginning her academic career, Okanagan School of Business chair Laura Thurnheer spent 20 years in the corporate world, applying her MBA and business skills in a variety of business settings on multiple continents. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until she taught at the Okanagan College Penticton campus in 2000 that Thurnheer uncovered her passion for education.
香蕉视频直播淚 taught one course in tourism while working full-time at Community Futures,香蕉视频直播� Thurnheer said.
香蕉视频直播淚t was crazy because I had small children and a full-time job while also teaching. After a year, I realized I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 do it all. So when UBC Okanagan opened in 2005, I moved there from Community Futures.香蕉视频直播�
Thurnheer worked at the university as an organizational development consultant for two years while pursuing her MBA. After finishing her degree, though, Thurnheer would find that the challenges were just beginning.
香蕉视频直播淚 was offered a permanent full-time position at Okanagan College. Moving from business into education was one of the most difficult decisions I香蕉视频直播檝e ever made. And now I香蕉视频直播檓 going on my 10th year (with Okanagan College).香蕉视频直播�
Thurnheer now works as the chair of the Business Administration Department 香蕉视频直播� she香蕉视频直播檚 an elected official who represents 55 faculty members. As chair, Thurnheer acts as a liaison between faculty and administration, and also mentors new hires. The Okanagan College business program is quite large, Thurnheer says, and for that reason, she香蕉视频直播檚 been released from her teaching obligations so she can focus her full attention on her responsibilities as chair.
香蕉视频直播淚 do a lot of work around curriculum development 香蕉视频直播� new courses, new programs. If a faculty member has an idea for a course, it takes a full year to get it through the system before they can teach it. I help to steward new courses through that process.香蕉视频直播�
Beyond her work at Okanagan College, Thurnheer is an executive on four non-profit boards, including the B.C. Wine Authority and the HRMA board. She recently stepped away from her position on the United Way CSO board of directors in order to prevent a conflict with the other non-profits she directs.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 a certified HR professional. The Wine Authority is interesting because it香蕉视频直播檚 a small board 香蕉视频直播� there香蕉视频直播檚 only three of us 香蕉视频直播� and the other two members don香蕉视频直播檛 have much HR experience. But I香蕉视频直播檓 learning a lot from them about governance.香蕉视频直播�
Thurnheer serves as the elected faculty representative on the Okanagan College Board of Governors, where she chairs the governance committee. And as a former president of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, she works hard to keep up with Chamber news and maintain close ties with the business community.
香蕉视频直播淜elowna香蕉视频直播檚 business community is in a good spot right now, but we need the infrastructure to support growth. I香蕉视频直播檓 very concerned about the next labour shortage. We had one in 2007, and I think we香蕉视频直播檙e headed for another. We have a lot of baby boomers in leadership positions, but there香蕉视频直播檚 no succession planning.香蕉视频直播�
That香蕉视频直播檚 why Thurnheer works to ensure that Okanagan College is equipping students with the business skills they香蕉视频直播檒l need for a post-Information Age economy.
Thurnheer coaches five Enactus business teams, which allows her to see firsthand how her students are applying their course curriculum.
Managing a business school isn香蕉视频直播檛 easy, and Thurnheer says the experience has taught her a variety of skills and lessons that are helping in her role.
香蕉视频直播淵ou need patience,香蕉视频直播� she says. 香蕉视频直播淣ot everyone works at the same speed as you, and not everyone shares your goals. Over the years I香蕉视频直播檝e had to learn patience 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檝e had to learn to understand people香蕉视频直播檚 perspectives. To motivate people. When I got out of university I worked very hard and did very well, but I didn香蕉视频直播檛 have the patience that I needed. I had to be humbled a few times.香蕉视频直播�
Patience is a skill that became increasingly valuable when Thurnheer moved from the business world to the postsecondary world, as business and education move at very different speeds.
香蕉视频直播淧ost-secondary moves in the right direction, but it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 move quickly. That香蕉视频直播檚 something I had to come to grips with, and it took a while.香蕉视频直播�
At Okanagan College, though, savvy business practices are proving valuable in light of recent legislative changes. Since 2013, the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education has cut funding to postsecondary institutions by $50 million while also expecting colleges and universities to produce income. But earlier this year, Okanagan College announced that it had passed its first $100 million budget without cuts to student services.
For Thurnheer, that香蕉视频直播檚 good news. She says that Kelowna is seeing a widespread culture shift that is bringing industry 香蕉视频直播� and young professionals 香蕉视频直播� back to the valley, and fueling the coming demand for talent is a fulfilling job.
香蕉视频直播淚 have the opportunity, on a daily basis, to work with some of the Valley香蕉视频直播檚 brightest young people. I have an opportunity to help them become good business owners and good corporate citizens.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 what I love about my work.香蕉视频直播�
