Ben's first experience with international volunteering was a construction project in Vanuatu, 1993. After leading a team and managing a project in Israel in 1995, Ben enrolled in International Development Studies at The University of Toronto.

Producing and managing luxury incentive and reward travel programs for the IT sector provided the incubator for the original vision of Exit West; "Corporations should be going on missions trips!".

Managing another project in Fiji and working for World Vision Canada affirmed Ben's conviction that the vision is possible and the timing is now.