In the second installment of the Bad Academy series, Amanda Kao pulls back the curtain on what it means to run a business that defies traditional expectations and embraces the idea of being unapologetically “bad.” 

From navigating the challenges of establishing a venture that prioritizes community over conformity to celebrating the small, hard-won victories along the way, Amanda shares a candid and empowering look at her entrepreneurial journey. She also offers thoughtful, practical advice for women and gender-expansive individuals who are eager to launch their own businesses, reminding them that embracing what makes them different is a powerful act.

The real-world struggles of running a women-owned business.

Colleen: Can we talk a bit about the personal sacrifices you’ve made?
Amanda: You need an inhuman amount of self-discipline to run a business — there’s no one who does it perfectly. The whole working at 2 A.M. thing is ill-advised; don’t do that. Go to sleep! But sometimes, it doesn’t even feel like work, and before you know it, it’s creeping into every aspect of your life, and you’re always checking your phone. It’s been awful in certain ways, but it’s inspired personal growth and boundary-setting that I wouldn’t have figured out otherwise.

“You need an inhuman amount of self-discipline to run a business — there’s no one who does it perfectly.”

I wish I could be off social media more, but I have to be on it for my business. I hate exposing myself to TikTok — it makes my brain hurt. I don’t get it. I love that kids love it, but it hurts my brain.

It’s scary to be fully wrapped up in that noise, like, “If you’re not doing this, the algorithm will punish you.” For my mental health, it hasn’t been stable. If I don’t sell a ticket for a day, I feel like a failure, like no one likes me. It’s crazy how much of our identity gets wrapped up in the success of our business.

Colleen: Yes, the lows are low.

Amanda: They are! I’ve had to check in with myself a lot about my pride and the need for external validation. I’ve sacrificed my comfort — the comfort of knowing I’ll be okay and doing the right thing. 

Work comes first for me, but I’m okay with it because it’s my baby. I don’t mind putting it first before anything else. You also have to be budget-conscious. You get a paycheck differently than everyone else. You tell clients they need to pay in 30 days, but then… 

Amanda Kao’s achievements and her vision of Bad Academy.

Colleen: Speaking of highs and lows, do you have a proudest moment within your business?

Amanda: I have to say, the feeling of standing back and watching a workshop happen, seeing people having a good time, meeting new people, and being free — women specifically — it’s addictive for me. I can’t stop feeling this way because it is the most wonderful feeling I’ve ever felt in the entire world. It feels like magic. And you’re like, I made this, I did this. I made people happy today.

Colleen: That’s a beautiful thing.

Amanda: A specific example is the Skateboarding 101 workshop. We had 60-plus women in Strathcona Park, falling off skateboards, laughing their heads off, trying to skateboard. I couldn’t believe it — it was amazing. Rarely are women given the opportunity to be little girls again, to not care what we look like. 

We’re all sweaty, kind of wild, our hair’s everywhere. And you’re just focused on fun, being free and wild. I want that feeling for more women because we’re so buttoned-up all the time; we have to be because people might kill us, you know, there’s a real risk. Everything we do is risky, and it’s exhausting. So having a place to go where we can just be ourselves and not have to worry about our safety, to just learn, feels like the biggest self-care. My proudest moment is whatever workshop just passed.

Colleen: I was just about to ask what you want people to get out of Bad Academy, but I feel like you answered it. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Amanda: The ultimate feminist agenda for Bad Academy is to make women more self-sufficient and self-confident so we can take over the world. That’s the bottom line. 

“The ultimate feminist agenda for Bad Academy is to make women [and gender-expansive people] more self-sufficient and self-confident so we can take over the world.”

There are so many systemic barriers, especially post-COVID. It’s rocked the progression of feminism in a way I don’t think a lot of people can comprehend, and we have a lot of work to do. We can’t stop fighting because Roe versus Wade just got overturned — they’re never going to stop trying to take advantage of us. 

I need women to understand they can believe in themselves and do anything they want. Not feeling good enough and fearing vulnerability is what holds back the feminist movement. I need more people to believe in themselves. Seeing a woman use a mitre saw for the first time is wild; it’s loud, it’s aggressive, and she wonders if she can really do it. But then the lightbulb goes off, and she thinks, “Maybe I’ll try to change my tire tomorrow or fix my toilet.” That behaviour will carry us further as a feminist movement if people have that attitude.

Colleen: We’ve circled around this, but let’s talk about the importance of representation in entrepreneurship. The standard we so often see is, unfortunately, not a women-owned business. Do you have hopes for inspiring other women of colour in business? 

Amanda: I mean, I hope I do. Julia Louis-Dreyfus was once asked if she thought she’d see the first female president of the United States, and she said, “I better.” That’s how I feel — I better be inspiring some people to take action. 

Gatekeeping entrepreneurship, business, and money knowledge is an outdated patriarchal tool, and I’m done with that. Anyone who asks me how I did this will get a detailed answer. I need more people doing stuff like this. I’m drowning in people who want to attend workshops, and I don’t have the capacity. I hope it inspires people to take action in their communities to start book clubs or money clubs with friends. Giving people belonging, a place to be themselves and be inspired — that’s no small feat.

Colleen: We can’t go far alone, right?

Amanda: Yes. There’s a quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I hope this inspires people. Some women have changed careers based on a Bad Academy workshop they attended, and I feel like I could just pack up now — mission accomplished.

Advice from Amanda for women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs of colour, especially women and gender-expansive folks.

Amanda: My general advice to women of colour is that whatever you’ve been told is your perceived weakness, whether it’s that you’re different, that’s actually what makes you the best. The confidence to say, “This is who I am, this is what makes me special, and that’s why you should pay attention to me” is something I need more women of colour to understand. Use it to your advantage.

“My general advice to women of colour is that whatever you’ve been told is your perceived weakness, whether it’s that you’re different, that’s actually what makes you the best.”

Colleen: There’s confidence in trusting yourself, too, right? Not waiting until things are perfect — that mindset really shapes a business. The more women and gender-expansive folks can have confidence in their imperfections, the more motivated they’ll be to take action instead of waiting for the “right moment.” 

Amanda: Bad Academy is built on that. I’ve never promised I’m good at this. I’m one of those people who asks for forgiveness rather than permission, and I’ve always been that way. When I launched Bad Academy, I had the website ready for months but didn’t hit publish because I was scared. 

I didn’t have my own photography. I didn’t have many workshops lined up, so I used publicly available photos and edited them in black and white to fit my brand.

Producing workshops is the same — I ask, “How many people are interested in non-monogamy? In experimental cinema?” Sometimes, it fails, and I have to cancel workshops due to a lack of interest. But failing fast is the only way to move forward. We can’t learn unless we’re bad at something. My worst days are the cancellations, but those failures have taught me the biggest lessons I need to move forward.

Colleen: You don’t learn from successes.

Amanda: Exactly. The failures of Bad Academy over the years have taught me the biggest lessons. It’s uncomfortable, but you get familiar with that feeling, which is the ethos of Bad Academy. Making more mistakes helps me learn faster — it’s scary, but it’s necessary.

What the future holds for Bad Academy beyond the incredible workshops for women and gender-expansive folks.

Colleen: What’s next for you?

Amanda: Going somewhere fast — don’t know where, but we’re going. The attitude of Bad Academy has evolved. When we started, it was during the #MeToo movement, so there was a lot of anger. The conversation around feminism has shifted to “How do we get to work?” Now, I’m focused on giving women options so they don’t feel trapped. 

Community has also been a huge focus post-COVID. Everyone I meet is socially awkward and doesn’t know how to reconnect. We weren’t given a waiting period; it was just, “Back to the office!” It’s crazy, especially after all we witnessed during COVID. 

Everyone’s burnt out, and women have a unique kind of burnout. There’s a book called Burnout that explains why it’s worse for women. I want people to feel they belong. At workshops, I’m focused on engaging people with each other so they make connections. We did a summer camp this year, and people made friendships. That’s beautiful.

Colleen: It’s wonderful.

Amanda: Yes. I’m trying to figure out how to make a bigger impact without burning out myself. Maybe incorporating young girls as “Little Bad Academy” or bringing masculine people in with “Dad Academy.”

Colleen: I love the Dad Academy!

Amanda: I stress-tested the summer camp, and people got so much value from being with the same people for days. Also, marketers don’t know what to do with me because we teach 20 different subjects. But the challenge is keeping in touch with people. I’m brainstorming ways for people to interact more, maybe through online communities. It’s huge for me because, from an impact standpoint, it amplifies the message.

Colleen: Especially because there’s a lot of “garbage” content out there that isn’t directed towards women. Women experience burnout uniquely — most resources are geared toward masculine perspectives.

Amanda: Right. Even the basic tools we’re given, like the tiny breaker bar in a car for changing a tire, aren’t designed for us. Having the right tool changes everything. We teach that in our workshops — perspective is necessary.

Colleen: Exactly. If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice before starting Bad Academy, what would it be?

Amanda: Everything you’ve been told about what you can’t do is a lie. We’re told we aren’t good at business, math, finance — it’s a lie. 

 “Everything you’ve been told about what you can’t do is a lie.”

Just because you don’t do things the way others do doesn’t mean it’s wrong. For a long time, I wouldn’t even call Bad Academy a business. But I’ve managed not to be in debt for five years because I haven’t made decisions based on what I should be doing. 

Women are resourceful, and we consult our people. We’re good at managing relationships, and community sharing is the cornerstone of business. Just because I didn’t see someone like me doing this doesn’t mean I couldn’t do it.

Colleen: Thank you so much, Amanda. 

If you liked hearing Amanda’s story of becoming an entrepreneur and the topic of successful women-owned businesses, then you’ll love seeing how one Vancouver business owner made her vegan yogurt dreams a reality. 

To all small business owners, women-owned businesses, and women or gender-expansive entrepreneurs, Vancity has your back every step of the way. We can help you with: 

• Opening a business bank account 
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• Opening an Independent Business account with a low monthly fee 
• Managing your business’ cash flow and 
• Other resources for small businesses 

Contact one of our business account managers today to get personalized advice and support tailored to your unique business needs. Whether you’re just starting or looking to grow, Vancity is here to help your business thrive.