Athabasca University Convocation | #AthaU21
Convocation Countdown: Day 14—Lina Bil
To celebrate the #AthaU21 Convocation, we are profiling some of our amazing graduates. Athabasca University (AU) is so proud of everything they have accomplished and we are excited to celebrate each and every one of them at this year’s virtual convocation!
We caught up with one of our Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduates, Lina Bil, to find out more about her story and AU journey.
Reflecting back on her time with AU, Bil attributes the MBA program with helping her acquire the skills and confidence needed to become a successful entrepreneur, as well as developing her ability to better understand her clients’ needs.
She selected AU after hearing about the positive experiences many of her friends and mentors had, including those who had completed the MBA program themselves. With a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in psychology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), and a Human Resources (HR) Management Diploma from Vancouver Community College (VCC), she was compelled to continue her education with a highly reputable online university.
Mindfulness meditation
Once in the program, Bil chose a thesis topic she had become very familiar with, mindfulness meditation.
With over 20 years of experience in the field, her interest started in positive psychology and leadership development during her undergrad and slowly evolved from there.
As an HR Partner for Elevate Potential, an HR consultancy, and the Founder of Snow Lotus—Institute for Mindfulness and Meditation, Bil knew first hand about the benefits of mindfulness and how it was an effective tool for stress reduction.
With her busy schedule she really appreciated the flexibility AU offered her, particularly when it came to the MBA Applied Project where she focused on mindful leadership and examined the benefits mindfulness training had on work performance.
Using her thesis as an opportunity to further her knowledge, she dug into the positive effects that mindfulness had on individuals, leaders, and organizations as a whole.
“Successful mindfulness programs for organizations have three important components: mindfulness, compassion, and selflessness,” she said.
Gratitude and support
Bil is grateful for the freedom and flexibility AU provided with managing her schedule and the help along her journey of owning a business.
“AU has really helped me grow as an entrepreneur and build my own HR consulting practice to a level where I can positively impact the field of human resources,” she said.
She credits AU for her growth in critical thinking skills in the areas of: psychology, neurology, business, and human resources which all contribute to her field of work. Bil extends a special thanks to her professors and colleagues: Dr. Lee Ann Keple, Dr. Angela Workman-Stark, Dr. Mark Julien, and Dr. Stephen Murgatroyd—as well as a group of supportive friends and family who understood the long hours the program demanded.
