Julie Maranda

Dr. Julie Maranda was extremely busy. It was the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and Julie was running a hospital while simultaneously completing DeGroote’s EMBA. She credits the program’s flexibility with allowing her to balance both commitments.  

“Everyone says, ‘I’m too busy’ when it comes to advancing their education,” she says. “When you’re busy, it’s the best time to do it. You’re not just reading something in theory, you’re reading it and doing it. That’s the beauty of the EMBA, you’re in the workforce and applying the knowledge the next morning.” 

Three years since completing her degree, Julie is still busy. This time, the bustle involves job opportunities she says she wouldn’t have considered prior to the EMBA. In addition to her roles as Chief Medical Officer at consulting firm Accenture and interim Chief Medical Information Officer for Nova Scotia Health, Julie contributes to several side projects such as working with Accreditation Canada and sitting on various committees.  

“My career has bloomed,” says Julie. “Prior to the program, I didn’t feel like I had the knowledge base to bring value to C-Suite roles, now I have a broad enough foundation to bring value without needing to know it all. The program gave me the confidence to get out of the ‘easy’ lane I was in and branch out.”  

By incorporating teachings in leadership, finance, and business management with technology, Julie says one of the most beneficial aspects of the EMBA is its well-rounded curriculum. The balanced approach, she says, makes the program applicable to leaders across all sectors.  

“Whether you’re a physician or an accountant, the teachings will be relevant to you and to today’s world,” Julie says. “There are even skills I gained that I apply to my personal life, so the program has enriched me both as a professional and as a person.”