Author Archives: Cynthia Rayner, BA, PBDM, MBA, PhD Business Candidate

About Cynthia Rayner, BA, PBDM, MBA, PhD Business Candidate

Cynthia Rayner, BA, PBDM, MBA, PhD Business Candidate at Athabasca University and currently in her 6th year of a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) with a focus on key factors for economic development success on First Nations lands. This research investigates the critical alignment of sovereignty, governance, leadership, management, and culture to achieve generational self-sufficiency in First Nations economies. Her extensive academic background includes a completed Diploma in Business, a Degree in Business majoring in marketing, an MBA, and a Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Management at a Master’s level. She has worked for BC First Nations for 28 years, with 22 years in senior management positions. Cynthia is the Principal Consultant and Owner of First Nations Management Consulting (FNMC), where she actively applies her expertise to business development and strategic planning across British Columbia. FNMC specializes in producing comprehensive business, marketing, labour market, and tourism plans, actively fostering business development tailored to unique cultural and social factors. A key aspect of her knowledge mobilization is the course she developed on Indigenous Business for Athabasca University, and she developed and taught a course on Understanding Reconciliation for Pacific Coast University. She is dedicated to fostering economic self-determination, drawing on a blend of academic rigor and practical experience.