Amanda Austin

Amanda Austin has developed leadership programs in corporate, academic and entrepreneurial settings and serves as adjunct faculty at the SMU Cox School of Business. Her work focuses on organizational development, employee engagement and human-centered innovation.

As director of people experience and human resources at Dialexa, an IBM company, Austin has developed learning programs and worked with leaders on performance management and employee engagement. She previously founded Dallas Comedy House, where she designed professional development workshops that used improvisation to teach active listening, empathy and collaboration. As a consultant to the Dallas Regional Chamber, she developed and facilitated leadership training for the Leadership Dallas program. She has also served as a designer in residence and adjunct instructor at SMU, advising students on design thinking and client projects.

Austin earned a Master of Liberal Arts in extension studies, with a field of study in industrial-organizational psychology, from Harvard University. She holds a graduate certificate in organizational behavior from Harvard Extension School and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M University.

Academic & Industry Highlights:

• Director of people experience and human resources, Dialexa
• Founder and former CEO, Dallas Comedy House
• Former leadership consultant, Dallas Regional Chamber
• Former designer in residence and adjunct instructor, SMU
• Master of Liberal Arts in extension studies, Harvard University
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Texas A&M University