Celebrating Risk: The Penguin Award

Embracing the Spirit of Adventure: The Bennett Design Penguin Award

At Bennett Design, we believe in celebrating not just the end result, but the journey taken to achieve it. In the spirit of acknowledging those who choose the do the right thing and dare to take risks in the face of uncertainty, we are proud to share a longstanding initiative that we have celebrated called  the Bennett Design Penguin Award.

But why a penguin, you may wonder? Penguins, those resilient creatures of the icy Antarctic, embody the essence of teamwork, bravery, and adaptability. In the wild, penguins lead a life filled with challenge.  After up to 65 days of sitting on an egg through blizzards, frigid temperatures and cutting winds waiting for it to hatch, the male penguin is relieved of duty by the female and then heads on his journey back to the sea to finally feed. Despite going months without food, the male penguins all line up on the edge of the ice and wait for the first brave penguin to risk all and dive into the freezing waters, where lurking predators are also waiting for a meal.  If that first penguin is successful and returns to the surface, the remainder of the penguins waiting on shore will all dive in knowing that the water is free of danger.

Similarly, the Bennett Design Penguin Award is bestowed upon individuals who exhibit the same courage and determination in the professional realm. It’s not about playing it safe; it’s about doing the right thing for the client, or taking bold steps to propel the project, the team or the company forward even if that decision could involve personal risk or cost to the firm.

This year, we’re thrilled to recognize Andrea Doak as the recipient of this year’s Penguin award.

With over 10 years of service, Andrea consistently challenges herself and her development by expanding her capability in her project  roles and always looks for opportunities to provide additional value to our clients and share that knowledge internally with our team. As our on-site Project Designer assigned to our valued Toyota Canada Account, Andrea selflessly committed to voluntarily stay in that on-site role in order to best serve our client and their facilities.  Andrea is humble and always acts , with integrity, and we are proud that she represents Bennett Design. Congratulations A.doak@bennettdesign.ca.

Background of the Award:

The inception of the Bennett Design Penguin Award stems from our recognition of the importance of embracing calculated risks in the pursuit of innovation. Inspired by the resilience of penguins in the wild, this award was established to honor those who go above and beyond, stepping out of their comfort zones to explore uncharted territories for the betterment of the client, the project or the Bennett Team.

Celebrating Courage in the Face of Uncertainty:

The Bennett Design Penguin Award isn’t about rewarding blind recklessness; it’s about celebrating calculated bravery. It’s for the team member who proposed a daring new approach when conventional methods seemed inadequate. It’s for the project manager who made a tough call, knowing that failure was a possibility but believing in the potential for success. It’s for the employee who committed to making something better or pushed the boundaries of creativity, despite the risk of rejection.

Relating Back to Penguins in the Wild:

Just like their counterparts in the Antarctic, recipients of the Bennett Design Penguin Award are the ones who fearlessly dive into the cold waters of uncertainty, driven by a sense of purpose and a commitment to the greater good. They understand that true progress often requires venturing into the unknown, and they do so with unwavering determination and resolve.

In a world where innovation is fueled by the courage to take risks, the Bennett Design Penguin Award stands as a testament to our commitment to fostering a culture of autonomy, creativity, resilience, and teamwork. By honoring those who dare to embrace uncertainty, we not only celebrate individual achievements but also inspire others to follow in their footsteps, forging new paths and reaching greater heights together.

After all, like the penguins of the Antarctic, we are stronger when we dive into the challenges and strive to make things the best they can be.