Faculty Profile: Professor Amanjot Singh
Faculty Profile: Professor Amanjot Singh
“Test Your Limits.”
By: Stephanie Figueiredo, student
Amanjot Singh joined King’s School of MEM quietly during the Summer of 2021, but he soon made waves across campus with his interactive teaching methods and enthusiasm for corporate finance.
At King’s, Professor Singh enjoys the academic freedom that comes with teaching in a community where one-on-one interactions with students from all walks of life are encouraged and easy. He welcomes learning opportunities with his students, and hearing about their different experiences revitalizes him. The current affairs topics his students bring to class open new conversations.
Like many of us, Professor Singh started his academic career pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce, although he walked the campus of Panjab University in Chandigarh, India. In 2011, he graduated with an Honours Specialization in Business Finance and Accounting and a gold medal. He continued studying at Panjab University, pursuing a master’s degree and preparing for the Certified Financial Planning Certificate. Then, thinking he would continue his path in asset pricing, he enjoyed four years as a senior researcher at Punjabi University in Patiala, India. During this time, he took on challenging concepts of the volatile financial markets across the globe.
Professor Singh believes that if you have the chance to explore an out-of-the-ordinary opportunity, you should take it and test your limits. One day, while attending a corporate finance conference, opportunity came knocking, and he did not shy away. He met his lifelong mentor who shaped his perspective and expanded his interests. This influential encounter led him to pursue a PhD in Shareholder Activism at Deakin University in Australia.
When questioned about his choice of Shareholder Activism, Professor Singh’s eyes widen as he speaks about the importance of this topic and the copious opportunities it offers. He hopes to see more sustainability initiatives in financial markets where shareholders’ voices are heard within corporate finance. He explained, “It is about gaining momentum, and many countries are open to this idea.” Exploring the conditions of shareholders in North America has led him to his next mission in Canada and to King’s.
Professor Singh presented his thesis paper at the prestigious American Finance Association Conference in January 2020, representing Australia. As of June 2022, he has over 30 publications; he is also an Associate Editor for Vision - The Journal of Business Perspective. Soon, Singh plans to visit European countries to study family business ecosystems and the European Union’s centralized bank structure. But, among all his responsibilities, he cherishes highly the one that comes with teaching young, malleable minds.
You may be asking, “Who is Amanjot Singh outside of academia?” Well, he enjoys a good round of badminton, if you are up for a challenge. And he has a couple of Netflix recommendations: the docuseries Dirty Money and the classic movie The Big Short. His book recommendation for all students, regardless of their financial backgrounds, is Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Hinder the World Economy by Raghuram Rajan.
Professor Singh admits that balancing research, leisure, and teaching is the most challenging aspect of being a professor. “When you are aware of the pressure,” he reflects, “you can attain balance. Fridays are research days, Saturday is a day off, and Sundays are for my students.” Throughout his first year at King’s, the lasting, positive impacts he has made upon his students attest to his deep commitment to them.
This article was originally published in the 2022 edition of the MEM Insider. Read the full magazine at www.kings.uwo.ca/academics/school-of-management-economics-and-mathematics/mem-insider/