BEE BRAVE
A Journey from Advertising to Apiculture
I began my career in marketing and advertising with The Vancouver Sun and Province in Vancouver and instantly fell in love with my job. Each day brought new challenges, working on daily deadlines, and collaborating with clients and small businesses. I thrived on helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses through strategic advertising.
One memorable client was Science World, which was featuring an exhibit called the Science of Fear. The exhibit challenged visitors to confront their phobias. The first task involved a timer to see how many hissing cockroaches—one of the largest species, measuring 2 to 4 inches—could be placed in a jar. With no fear, I filled the jar with ease.
Next, I faced the challenge of wearing a beard of bees. In an observation booth with no protective gear, I held a board as thousands of bees were poured onto it. The queen bee, placed in a tiny cage around my neck, attracted the bees to form a beard. My calm demeanor impressed the beekeeper, sparking my unexpected passion for bees
After discovering my passion for bees, I started beekeeping and found it was an escape from my stressful job. When I was working with the bees, there was nothing else that occupied my mind. I was one with the bees, and if I lost focus, one of them usually would let me know with a sting. During this time my role at the newspaper evolved into management. My days became filled with meetings, spreadsheets, and strategic planning. I led a team of 12 and quickly missed the direct connection with clients. On Monday morning management meetings, I would often gaze out from the ninth floor at the beehives atop the Trade and Convention Centre, longing to be with my bees.
The newspaper industry was changing, and stress levels were high as revenues decreased. I was enrolled in a leadership course called Women Leading the Way with the Minerva Foundation. On one particularly stressful day, after a rough management meeting, I broke down in my boss’s office. Feeling sandwiched between upper and lower management pressures, I couldn't hold back the tears. Seeking solace, I left the office, escaping into the drizzly, gray streets that mirrored my emotions.
As I walked, I saw my reflection in a window, revealing a tear-streaked face, a far cry from a graceful movie cry. In need of comfort, I visited a cosmetic counter at a large department store. The staff greeted me warmly, offering advice and a makeover that lifted my spirits. I bought an expensive deep red lipstick that became my talisman for strength, a reminder to be brave and courageous.
Sharing my story and the significance of my new lipstick with the Women Leading The Way course, I found solace in my bee colonies. The hives offered a place of balance and a deeper connection to nature, grounding me with appreciation for simplicity.
Inspired by the organization and collaboration of honeybee colonies, I envisioned a line of lip balms that embody leadership qualities:
Bee Brave: Encourages standing up for oneself, taking calculated risks, and exploring new territories.
Bee Original: Embraces unique talents and perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity.
Bee Cool: Reminds us to stay calm under pressure.
Bee Witty: Celebrates effective communication, sometimes using humor to lighten situations.
Bee Merry: Highlights kindness and positivity, akin to bees' vital role in pollination.
The social nature of bees emphasized for me the importance of collaborative leadership and one’s own strength and I wanted that reflected in the names of my lip balms. If I couldn't be there to cheer someone on in person, my lip balms would convey the message.
Eventually, my career at the newspaper concluded. With intention and dreams of working with bees, I moved forward. In 2017, a call from the Kootenay Bee Inspector revealed that Swan Valley Honey was for sale in Creston. Two days later, after dropping our colonies for blueberry pollination in the Fraser Valley, we drove east. We made an offer and, three months later called Creston home, with Bee Brave in my pocket guiding the new chapter of my life and never looking back.
About the Author
Amanda Goodman Lee is the co-owner of Honey Bee Zen Apiaries and Swan Valley Honey in Creston Valley with husband Jeff Lee. Master Beekeeper, former UBC tech, club president. Visit honeybeezen.com.
