Education

About

Dr. Sophia Kusyk is the Dean of the Business School and Associate Professor at Redeemer University. Prior to this appointment she served as the Van Norman Chair of Business and Chair of the Business Department at Tyndale University and Course Director at York University. She is passionate about inspiring organizational excellence through redemptive leadership. Her research is situated at the intersection of ethical decision-making and Corporate Social Responsibility. She holds a PhD from ESADE Business School and an HBA (with honors) from the Richard Ivey School of Business. Her co-authored book Business Ethics in Canada: Responsibility, Equity and Sustainability (2024) is part of curriculum across Canadian universities and she has published in numerous academic journals including the Journal of Business Ethics. She has two decades of teaching experience which includes IESE Business School where she acquired a global mindset as the institutional liaison and audit report manager of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and the Beyond Gray Pinstripes report. She is also on the advisory board of the Innovation Center at Redeemer University and an active member of the CBFA, BSAC, AOM and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies she worked as a medic in the 1st Hussars Canadian Reserves, as a USA Market Manager for Ivey Publishing, and in California as Assistant Executive Director of Brother Benno’s non-profit organization. She resides in Oakville with her loving husband, four children and labrador retriever. 

Research Interests

• Redemptive Business Practice/ Business as Mission
• Ethical Decision-Making
• Organizational Behavior

Research Funding 

• 2021 – 2022 Academic Innovation Fund Category III. Project Lead. Improving student engagement in on-line learning: A comparison between traditional and gamification participation assessments. Grant CDN $5000.00
• 2011 – 2012 Social Trends Institute, IESE. Purpose: Symposium on Governance as Stewardship, 2012. GRANT E10000.00.
• 2009 – 2010 IESE Internal Research Scholarship. Barcelona, Spain. Grant EURO E8,000.00
• 2007 – 2008 Institute for Social Innovation Thesis Grant. Universidad Ramon Llull, ESADE, Barcelona, Spain. Grant EURO E6000.00
• 2005 – 2006 Internal Competitive Grant for Research – Merit Renewal. Incorporating Ethics into the Corporate Social Performance Model. Universidad Ramon Llull, ESADE, Barcelona, Spain. Grant EURO E6,000.00
• 2004 – 2005 Competitive Industry Grant for Research. Creating a Tool for Improving Health and Safety in the Spanish construction sector. MAPFRE, Madrid, Spain. E 9000.00
• 2004 – 2005 Internal Competitive Grant for Research. Incorporating Ethics into the Corporate Social Performance Model . Universidad Ramon Llull, ESADE, Barcelona, Spain. Grant EURO E6000.00

Teaching Materials

Books

Sexty, R, Kusyk, S. & Price, S. (2024) Business Ethics in Canada: Responsibility, Equity and Sustainability. 6th Eds. McGraw Hill.

Refereed Journal Articles

Kusyk, S. and M. Schwartz. (2025) Moral Intensity: It is what it is, but what is it? Journal of Business Ethics. Forthcoming.

Kusyk, S. and J.M. Lozano. (2022) Approaching Vagueness: Teaching critical thinking with sustainability as metaphor. Journal of Leadership, Accountability, and Ethics. 19(2):11-41. EISSN: 1913-8059

Kusyk, S. (2021) Carroll’s CSR pyramid: An empirical investigation of SME CSR orientation. Journal of Leadership, Accountability, and Ethics. 18(4):100-115. 

Peters, S., Miller, M., and Kusyk, S. (2011).  How relevant is corporate governance and corporate social responsibility in emerging markets? Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 11(4), 429-445. 

Kusyk, S. and Lozano, J. M. (2007).  SME social performance: a four-cell typology of key drivers and barriers on social issues and their implications for stakeholder theory. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 7(4): 502-515. 

Zhang, Y., Straub, C., & Kusyk, S. (2007).  Making a Life or Making a Living: Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Business Students Work and Life Values in Canada and France. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 14(3): 174-195. 

Book Chapters

Kusyk, S. (2007).  Corporate Social Responsibility: A Stakeholder Approach to Innovation. In: Conceptual Evolution and Practice in Responsible Management. Bajo Sanjuan, A. & Villagra Garcia, N. ICAI-ICADE Press. ISBN: 978-84-8468-224-0: 45-55.

Kusyk, S. & Espanyó, J. (2006). An SME-HRM Best Practice Case: Jordá. In: CSR and SMEs: Betting on Company Excellence.  Murillo, D. & Lozano, J. M. Madrid: IPES-ESADE. ISBN: 84-88971-08-7: 47-58.

Case Studies and Classroom Learning Materials

Kusyk, S. (2010). The Dilemma: Introduction to Ethics Exercise. BEE-1-E (part 1) & BEE-2-E (part 2). IESE Publishing.

Kusyk, S. (2002). Hose Gonzales: First Board Meeting.  Ivey Publishing, Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. Case Writing Workshop.

Technical Notes

Vaccaro, A. & Kusyk, S. (2011). Trail of Ethics. IESE Publishing.

Kusyk, S. (2009). Corporate Social Responsibility Non-Financial Reporting Standards: Measurement, Metrics, Labels and Awards at a Quick Glance. IESE Publishing: BEN-127-E 2-308-072.

Referred Published Proceedings Conference

Kusyk, S., Schwartz, M. (2024, August). Excavating the CSR Pyramid: A Review, Assessment, and Normative Treasure. Academy of Management, SIM division, Chicago, U.S.A. 

Kusyk, S., Schwartz, M. (2023, November). Excavating the CSR Pyramid: A Review, Assessment, and Normative Treasure. Christian Business Faculty Association, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S., Schwartz, M. (2023, November). A Neurocognitive Model of Moral Intensity. Christian Business Faculty Association, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A

Kusyk, S., Schwartz, M. (2023, November). Excavating the CSR Pyramid: A Review, Assessment, and Normative Treasure. Christian Business Faculty Association, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S., Schwartz, M. (2023, November). A Neurocognitive Model of Moral Intensity. Christian Business Faculty Association, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S., Schwartz, M. & J.M. Lozano. (2022, June). A critical discussion of the moral intensity construct: Evidence from a comprehensive literature review. International Academy for Business and Society (IABS), San Francisco, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S., & S. Gennaro (2022, June). Improving student engagement in on-line business ethics course learning: A comparison between traditional and gamification participation assessments. International Academy for Business and Society (IABS), San Francisco, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S., Schwartz, M. and J. Weber. (2021, July). A critical discussion of the current state of the moral intensity instrument. International Academy for Business and Society (IABS), Brussels, online.

Schwartz, M. and Kusyk, S. (2017, August). Ethical Decision-Making Theory: Revisiting the Moral Intensity Construct. Academy of Management, SIM Division. Atlanta, U.S.A. – Best ethics paper award finalist.

Kusyk, S. & Roche, D. (2011, August). Changes in the Intellectual Structure of Business and Society Research: A Bibliometric Study of Business & Society, Business Ethics Quarterly and the Journal of Business Ethics, 1988-2008. Paper presented at the meeting of the Academy of Management, Austin, U.S.A. 

Burton, J. & Kusyk, S. (2011, June). Reconceptualizing Ownership as Stewardship: What Benefit Corporations are Telling Us. Paper presented at the meeting of the International Academy of Business and Society, Bath, U.K.

Wickert, C., Kusyk, S., & Vaccaro, A. (2011, April). Social Innovation as Institutional Entrepreneurship: Explaining Organizational Change by a Struggle over Identities. Paper presented at the meeting of the Transatlantic Doctoral Academy on Corporate Responsibility, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Kusyk, S. (2010, March). The Intellectual Structure of the Business and Society Academic Discipline: A Bibliometric Study of BS, BEQ, JBE, AMJ Scientific Research, 1958-2008. Paper presented at International Academy for Business in Society, Banff, Canada.

Kusyk, S. (2009, August). A CSP best practice case safari: Using CSO Binoculars to Identify CSR. Paper presented at the meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S. & Lozano, J. M. (2007, August).  Metaphors with Fuzzy Definitions in the Business and Society Field. Paper presented at the meeting of the Academy of Management, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S. (2007, August). SIM Division Doctoral Consortium. Academy of Management, Philadelphia, U.S.A.

Kusyk, S. & Lozano, J. M. (2007, June). SMEs and CSR. Paper presented at the International Academy for Business in Society, Florence, Italy.

Kusyk, S. & Lozano, J. M. (2006, September). A Four-Cell Typology of Key Social Issue Drivers and Barriers of SME Social Performance. Paper presented at the European Academy of Business in Society, Milan, Italy.

Kusyk, S. (2006, August). Stakeholder Theory Applied in the Context of SMEs and Human Rights. Paper presented at Social Issues in Management Doctoral Consortium at the Academy of Management, Atlanta, U.S.A.

Zhang, Y., Dolan, S., Straub, C., & Kusyk, S. (2006, May). Making a Life or Making a Living: Cross-Cultural Comparisons of Business Students Work and Life Values in Canada and France. Paper presented at the European Academy of Management: Oslo, Norway.

Kusyk, S., Lozano, J. M., & Bonet, E. (2005, May). Hermeneutics in the Business and Society Field. Paper presented at the European Academy of Management: Munich, Germany.

Kusyk, S. & Lozano, J. M. (2005, May). The Corporate Social Responsibility Dilemma: Conflicting Industry and Society Norms. Paper presented at the doctoral consortium of the European Academy of Management: Munich, Germany.  

Practitioner Publication

Kusyk, S. (2023, December) Redemptive Entrepreneurship:Transforming Culture. Wealth Management Journal. Pangea.

Kusyk, S., Habinski, M., & Bayona Fetecua, C. (2023). Environmental Stewards Inc. Redemptive Best Practice Case Study Series. Centre for Redemptive Entrepreneurship. Tyndale University.

Kusyk, S. Habinski, M., & Bayona Fetecua, C. (2023). Bruce Taylor & Environmental Stewards Inc.  Podcast, Redemptive Best Practice Case Study Series. Centre for Redemptive Entrepreneurship. Tyndale University.

Kusyk, S., Park N., & Kirk, J. (2023). Rise Above Finance. Podcast, Redemptive Best Practice Case Study Series. Centre for Redemptive Entrepreneurship. Tyndale University.

Kusyk, S., Park N., & Kirk, J. (2023). Enoch Weng & Rise Above Finance. Podcast, Redemptive Best Practice Case Study Series. Centre for Redemptive Entrepreneurship. Tyndale University.

Awards and Certifications 

2024 (April). Redemptive Business Coach. Centre for Redemptive Entrepreneurship. Tyndale University

2024 (January). 10 Basic Responsibilities For Charity Board Members. Canadian Center for Christian Charities.

2023 (December). Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans TCPS 2: CORE 2022. Tri-Council Canada. Certificate #:0000987725

2023 (October). Worker Health and Safety Awareness in 4 Steps. Ontario Ministry of Labor.

2019 (March). E-Learning@York Course Design: Designing fully online and blended course.E-learning Faculty Development Certificate.  York University.

2000 (August). Case Writing Workshop. Richard Ivey School of Business.