Spotlight On: Private Sector Careers

July 3, 2020 by CIRHR Communications

Many of our PhD alumni have gone on to distinguished careers applying their expertise to the private sector. Here, we highlight Dr. Karen Bentham (CIRHR PhD 1999), Dr. Patricia Kay (CIRHR PhD 1999), Dr. James Goldenberg (CIRHR PhD 2006), Dr. Lydia Qian He (CIRHR PhD 2013), and Dr. Alana Steinhauer (Arshoff) (CIRHR PhD 2014). 

Karen Bentham 

Graduated: 1999 
ThesisThe determinants and impacts of employer resistance to union certification in Canada 
Research areas: negotiation, labour relations 

Dr. Karen Bentham was Managing Partner at Makos Health Associates. She has previously worked as Coordinator of Graduate Studies at the CIRHR, and taught at the Centre, at Rotman School of Management, at Queen's University, and at the University of Regina.  

Selected publications: 

  • Peirce, J., & Bentham, K. J. (2007). Canadian industrial relations. Toronto: Prentice Hall. 
  • Bentham, K. (2007). Labour’s Collective Bargaining Record on Women’s and Family Issues  in Equity, diversity, and Canadian labour. Rayside, D. M., & Hunt, G. (eds.).  University of Toronto Press. 
  • Bentham, K. (2001). Book review: Strategic negotiations: A theory of change in labor-management relations. Journal of Industrial Relations, 43(3), 352-354. doi:10.1111/0022185601043003009 

Patricia J. Kay 

Graduated: 1999 
ThesisThe non-economic impacts of pay equity adjustments: employee attitudes and behaviours 
Research areas: Compensation, pay equity 
Now: Practice Lead, Total Rewards Consulting, Compensation at BMO 

Dr. Patricia J. Kay has extensive work experience in strategic compensation in corporate sectors. She has worked as the Practice Lead, Total Rewards Consulting at Lough Barnes Consulting Group, as the Director of Compensation at TELUS, and as the Manager of Executive Compensation Policy / Senior Manager, Compensation Policy at TD Bank Group.  

James Goldenberg 

Graduated: 2006 
ThesisThree essays on occupational safety 

Dr. James Goldenberg obtained his PhD from the Centre in 2006. He has collaborated with Doug Hyatt (PhD 92) and Professor Mike Campolieti and published an article about labour relations and compensation. 

Lydia Qian He 

Graduated: 2013 
ThesisDisadvantaged Groups in the Labour Market: Older Workers, Younger Workers, and Nonstandard Workers 
NowVP, Head of Strategy & Analytics, HomeEquity Bank 

Dr. Lydia He is the VP, Head of Strategy & Analytics at HomeEquity Bank and has worked at the Boston Consulting Group as a Project Leader and at Monitor Deloitte (ex. Monitor Group) as a Manager in Strategy Consulting.  

Alana Steinhauer (Arshoff) 

Graduated: 2014 
ThesisThe Linear Relationship Between the Difficulty Level Connoted by a Primed Goal and Task Performance 
Research areas: Performance management, goal setting 
Now: Senior Consultant, People Advisory Services, Ernst & Young 

Dr. Alana Steinhauer is the Senior Consultant, People Advisory Services at Ernst & Young. Alana has worked at Rogers Communication in the Organizational Development unit for 4 years. Alana has become an Associate Certified Coach issued by International Coach Federation in 2016. She has obtained the Strength Deployment Inventory in 2015.   

Selected publications: 

Steinhauer collaborated with Amanda Shantz (PhD, 08) and other two scholars and published an article about leadership in the public sector.  

  • Ritz, A., Shantz, A., Alfes, K., & Arshoff, A. S. (2012). Who needs leaders the most? the interactive effect of leadership and core self-evaluations on commitment to change in the public sector. International Public Management Journal, 15(2), 160-185. doi:10.1080/10967494.2012.702588 

Before obtained both her PhD and master’s degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resources, Steinhauer went to the University of Western Ontario and earned the Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies.