KAM PHUNG

Social Scientist by Training, Activist at Heart.


ABOUT ME

In my professional life, I am mainly a social scientist and am currently an Assistant Professor of Business & Society at Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business where I study the organizational and entrepreneurial underpinnings of social innovation and change.

Beyond academia, I have contributed to building social, environmental, and financial technology startups in Canada, and worked in sustainability-focused consulting firms, social enterprises, and not-profit organizations around the world, and draw on these on ground experiences to inform my research in an effort to derive insights that drive meaningful action and social change. Today, I continue to actively contribute to various socially-driven organizations and projects. 

I grew up in a small countryside town as an uninvited guest on the unceded traditional territories of the Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan First Nations within the province that we know today as British Columbia, Canada, but I have also lived, studied, and worked in an array of places around the world.

Education

PhD in Business Administration, Schulich School of Business - York University

MSc in Economics and Business Administration, Norwegian School of Economics

MSc in Sustainable Development, HEC Paris

BCom in International Business, Gustavson School of Business - University of Victoria

Academic Positions

Assistant Professor, Beedie School of Business - Simon Fraser University (2022-Present)

SSHRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Judge Business School - University of Cambridge (2021-22)

Vanier Scholar and Sessional Instructor, Schulich School of Business - York University (2017-21)

Visiting Researcher, Sauder School of Business - University of British Columbia (2020)

Select Awards and Honours

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Academy of Management

Other Recognitions

Industry Experience

As an active member of the community, I currently support socially-driven entrepreneurs and leaders through my independent consultancy (Ponderation), drawing on my formal training and prior industry experiences.

Startups

Before starting my PhD, I spent several years in the depths of Vancouver’s startup scene with two close friends — Tom Kineshanko and Kevin Starke — actively contributing to a series of social, environmental, and financial startups at various stages of development centered around the deployment of digital technologies to create a better society and planet. The bulk of this time was spent within the confines of a holding company (Habitat Enterprises) that Tom and Kevin founded embracing a lean startup approach to build and contribute to a United Nations Clean Development Mechanism carbon credit development company (Habitat Carbon Assets), the world’s first “roof auction” for solar (Gridbid), and a suite of experimental financial technology solutions to societal problems (PowerLend), which spurred the initial development of a decentralized data and cryptocurrency platform (Walter.ai), amongst other ventures including a once "Amazon Best Seller" sustainably-sourced omega-3 fish oils company (Today).

Professional Service Firms

During my time in Paris, I also gained experience working in professional service firms that were in the early stages of developing and implementing new social and environmental initiatives, including an energy access program for social enterprises in development countries (ENEA Consulting) and an ISO 26000 social responsibility audit program (Label Lucie).

Not-profits

Some of my earliest work took place in not-for-profit organizations focused on community and socio-economic development. The scope of this work included the creation and maintenance of social enterprises in and around the rural village of Palapye, Botswana (Action for Economic Empowerment Trust), the development of access to energy solution in Bangladesh (Grameen Shakti), and the promotion of local businesses in and around Victoria, Canada (Tourism Victoria).

Learn about my PhD training and experience at the Schulich School of Business, York University

RESEARCH

My research centers around the interplay between organizational and entrepreneurial settings and large-scale change in the context of social and environmental issue. As a researcher, my goal is to advance our understanding of what perpetuates and disrupts pressing societal issues, so we can better design effective interventions to address them and realize positive social change.

I study a diverse range of organizations and forms of organizing such as startups, established organizations, collaborative efforts, social movements, and new forms of organizing from across sectors, but tend to focus on entrepreneurial settings centered around social change efforts and maintain a particular eye on how social and cultural institutions shape and are shape by such efforts. 

In my past and current projects, I study these dynamics in the context of the specific issues of modern slavery, stigma, and climate change as well as the broader contexts of technology, social innovation, and responsible business, including in my doctoral dissertation based on a multi-year ethnography at the intersection of blockchain and climate during the formative emergence of the non-fungible tokens ("NFTs") space entitled: Translating lightning in a bottle: Idealists, pragmatists, and the reorientation of translators at the intersection of blockchain and climate. 

I frequently work hand in hand and in close quarters with organizations and entrepreneurs on my projects and continue to maintain strong ties to industry, enthusiastically embracing an engaged approach to research. 

Scholarly Publications and Works

Refereed Journal Articles

Sadri, M., Piazza, A., Phung, K., & Helms, W. (2023). The disparate economic outcomes of stigma: Evidence from the arms industry. Strategic Management Journal, Forthcoming.

Crane, A., LeBaron, G., Phung, K., Behbahani, L. & Allain, J. (2022). Confronting the business models of modern slavery. Journal of Management Inquiry, 31(3): 264-285.

Phung, K., Buchanan, S., Toubiana, M., Ruebottom, T., & Turchick-Hakak, L. (2021). When stigma doesn't transfer: Stigma deflection and occupational stratification in the sharing economy. Journal of Management Studies, 58(4): 1107-1139. 

Crane, A., LeBaron, G., Phung, K., Behbahani, L. & Allain, J. (2018). Innovations in the business models of modern slavery: The dark side of business model innovation. Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings (1): 13381.

Book chapters

Phung, K. & Crane, A. (2019). The business of modern slavery: Management and organizational perspectives. In J. B. Clark, & S. Poucki (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of human trafficking and modern day slavery: 177-197. London, UK: SAGE. 

Phung, K. Slavery and its links to organizations. (2018). In R. Burke, & C. Cooper (Eds.), Violence and abuse in and around organisations: 273-291. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

Monographs / Dissertations

Phung, K. (2021). Translating lightning in a bottle: Idealists, pragmatists, and the reorientation of translators at the intersection of blockchain and climate. York University: Toronto, Canada.

Conference Proceedings

Paper Presentations

Choi, J. & Phung, K. (2022). Accountability journalism and organizational wrongdoing: An application of institutional anomie theory. 38th European Group for Organizational Studies Colloquium. Jul 7-9: Vienna, Austria.

Sadri, M., Helms, W. Phung, K., & Piazza, A. (2020). Unpacking stigmatization: Labeling, audience heterogeneity, and market-based sanctioning. 80th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 7-11: Virtual.

Helms, W., Patterson, K., & Phung, K. (2019). Ideological passion and the empowering sanctioning work of stigmatized actors. 35th European Group for Organizational Studies Colloquium. Jul 4-6: Edinburgh, UK.

Phung, K., Toubiana, M., Buchanan, S., Ruebottom, T., & Turchick Hakak, L. (2019). When stigma doesn’t stick: Occupational stratification in the sharing economy. 10th Oxford Reputation Symposium. Aug 28-30: Oxford, UK.

Crane, A., LeBaron, G., Phung, K., Behbahani, L. & Allain, J. (2018). Innovations in the business models of modern slavery: The dark side of business model innovation. 78th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 10-14: Chicago, USA.

Helms, W., Patterson, K., & Phung, K. (2018). This isn’t for everyone: The origins of defiance and the preservation of stigmatized practices. 34th European Group for Organizational Studies Colloquium. Jul 5-7: Tallinn, Estonia.

Phung, K., Toubiana, M., Buchanan, S., Ruebottom, T., & Turchick Hakak, L. (2018). Uber’ing away stigma: The impact of technology of stigmatized occupations. 34th European Group for Organizational Studies Colloquium. Jul 5-7, 2018: Tallinn, Estonia.

Crane, A., Phung, K., LeBaron, G., Allain, J., & Behbahani, L. (2017). The dark side of creativity: Innovation in the business models of modern slavery. 28th International Association for Business and Society Meeting. Jun 29-Jul 2: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Organized Symposia

Lodge, J. & Phung, K. (2021). The climate emergency and social evaluations: Constructing a new research agenda. 81st Academy of Management Meeting. Jul 30-Aug 3: Virtual. 

Phung, K. (2020). Organizing for the climate emergency: Organizational underpinnings of climate action. 80th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 7-11: Virtual. 

Phung, K. & Lu, C. (2020). Decentralized organization theory: Distributed trust and blockchain. 80th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 7-11: Virtual. 

Caruana, R., Crane, A., & Phung, K. (2019). Advancing research on modern slavery and business: New theoretical and empirical directions. 79th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 9-13: Boston, USA.

Phung, K. & Lyons, B. (2019). You cite Goffman (1963) too? Exploring avenues for cross-level dialogue and research on stigma. 79th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 9-13: Boston, USA.

Organized Consortia and Workshops

Phung, K., Zhang, R., Aranda, A., Helms, W., & Patterson, K. (2022). Stigma vs. stigmatization: Differentiating stigma from its processes. 82nd Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 4-10: Seattle, USA. 

Phung, K., Zhang, R., & Patterson, K. (2021). Demonstrating stigma in research: Practical and theoretical considerations. 81st Academy of Management Meeting. Jul 30-Aug 3: Virtual. 

Aranda, A., Helms, W., & Phung, K. (2020). Expanding stigma research: Exploring stigmatized actors and stigmatizing audiences. 80th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 7-11: Virtual.

Micelotta, E., Hampel, C., Phung, K., & Patterson, K. (2019). Developing stigma research: Exploring how our lenses affect our research. 79th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 9-13: Boston, USA.

Phung, K. & Helms, W. (2019). OMT stigma café and chat. Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 9-13: Boston, USA. 

Phung, K., Landay, K., Tribble, L., & Lee, S. (2017). New doctoral students’ consortium. 78th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 4-8: Atlanta, USA.

Participation in Panels

Panelist. (2022). A junior scholar’s guide to navigating the trials & triumphs of qualitative research. 82nd Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 4-10: Seattle, USA. 

Panelist. (2022). Social issues in management division: Doctoral student consortium. 82nd Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 4-10: Seattle, USA. 

Panelist. (2021). The platform economy: Racialized and gendered. Association of Canadian Studies Metropolis Conference. Mar 22-26: Virtual.

Panelist. (2019). Social media for responsible business scholars. 79th Academy of Management Meeting. Aug 9-13: Boston, USA.

Practical Translations and Op-eds

Phung, K. & LeBaron, G. (2023). Canada’s Modern Slavery Act is the start — not the end — of efforts to address the issue in supply chains. The Conversation. 

Phung, K., Turchick-Hakak, L., Toubiana, M., Buchanan, S., & Ruebottom, T. (2022). The manipulation of Uber’s public image profoundly impacted the lives of taxi drivers. The Conversation.

LeBaron, G., Phung, K., Behbahani, L., Crane, A., & Allain, J. (2021). Business models have evolved to keep profiting from slave labour. Thomson Reuters Foundation News.

Lam, L. & Phung, K. (2021). How should Canada design policies to protect gig workers? Policy Options.

Phung, K., Turchick-Hakak, L., Toubiana, M., Buchanan, S., & Ruebottom, T. (2021). How Uber drivers avoided – and contributed to – the fate of taxi drivers. The Conversation.

Industry, Policy, and Public Engagements

Industry Reports

Phung, K., Greig, D., & Lewchuk, S. (2019). The straight goods: Canadian business insights on modern slavery in supply chains. Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business, SHARE, and World Vision Canada.

Key Engagements

Accredited Observer Delegate. (2021). United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP26 - Glasgow). York University Delegation.

Speaker. (2021). The cost of child labour: Ending child labour through supply chain transparency legislation. World Vision Ottawa Youth Council. Mar 28: Virtual. 

Speaker. (2021). Modern slavery in supply chains: The case for corporate social responsibility considerations. Canadian Association of University Business Officers. Jun 15-17: Virtual.

Accredited Observer Delegate. (2019). United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP25 - Madrid). York University Delegation.

Speaker. (2019). The straight goods: Canadian business insights on modern slavery in supply chains. Supply Chain Management Association of Canada. Jul 25: Virtual.

Speaker and participant. (2019). Roundtables on supply chain legislation. Employment and Social Development Canada – Policy Consultation. Jun 11: Vancouver, Canada. 

Speaker and participant. (2019). Roundtables on supply chain legislation. Employment and Social Development Canada – Policy Consultation. May 23: Toronto, Canada.

Public Panels

Moderator. (2021). A conversation on social media for doctoral researchers. Universit of Bath. Apr 29: Virtual.

Panelist. (2021). Blockchain and sustainability. American University. Mar 24: Virtual.

Panelist. (2020). COP25 delegation reports back. York University. Jan 14: Toronto, Canada.

Moderator. (2019). Beyond pure profit maximization: Navigating the human side of business. Schulich Research Day. Mar 28: Toronto, Canada.

Other Contributions

Blog. (2019). Having an impact within and beyond the ivory towers. University of Bath.

Podcast interview. (2019). Modern slavery. York U Grad Life.

Watch my video recognized as one of the Top 25 Finalists in the SSHRC Storytellers National Research Communications Challenge

TEACHING

I am passionate about preparing my students for a changing society and do so by incorporating timely real world examples that are relevant to and resonate with my students.

Recognizing that how I teach is equally if not more important than what I teach in the classroom, and that how ideas are delivered and engaged affects our ability to understand and appreciate them, I am constantly exploring and updating how I can best deliver my courses to create effective and safe learning environments that enable my students to thrive in both in-person and virtual settings.

I invest in making the most of the time that I spend with my students and ensure that my teaching gives them the tools and knowledge that they need to continue to explore ideas beyond the classroom and develop as members of society. 

Current Courses

Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University

Select Evaluations

“Kam was the best professor I had this semester or even in all my years at university. He made this course very interesting by bringing in real case scenarios of organizations and current news events. The way he brought in real case scenarios made me think further and I started noticing companies I wouldn't have otherwise. He not only helped me with the course but also my overall career growth.”

“I loved his energy, enthusiasm for the subject, and the fact that he would bring up examples within class that we were able to relate to but also related back to the course content. Definitely one of my favourite professors I have had thus far.”

“Kam was very passionate about the course and I loved that he was able to address us all by name. He gave time for everyone to speak and was very encouraging and respective of everyone's responses. He is very knowledgeable about the course content and provided insightful real life experiences. Really enjoyed having him as a professor, his 8:30am classes were always full as we all benefited greatly from his lectures.”

“Took time to make sure concepts were explained clearly and addressed all questions and concerns. Overall, one of the best instructors I've had at Schulich thus far. He made a 3-hour long, 8:30 am lecture not only more bearable, but one that was definitely inclusive and enjoyable to all.

“I liked the enthusiasm he showed for the subject and how clearly he was able to explain course material. Furthermore, he was very strong at inducing class discussion and easy to speak with in class.”

“Kam was amazing, very insightful, helpful, kind, and prepared. He wanted us to succeed, and showed true enthusiasm for the course.”

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