Julia Pitino

Emory University, Goizueta Business School

“Neuroscience and health nerd, (mostly) realistic optimist, data scientist, aspiring yogi, dog petting enthusiast.”

Hometown: Littleton, Massachusetts

Fun Fact About Yourself: I worked as a veterinary technician straight out of undergrad – ask me about x-raying a Pomeranian or giving vaccines to angry cats.

Undergraduate School and Major: Trinity College – Biology and Neuroscience Double Major

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Aetion, Inc. Scientist

What makes Atlanta such a great place to earn an MBA? The answer is Atlanta itself! It’s a lively, diverse city with something for everyone.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Emory Goizueta’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I chose Emory, among other reasons, for the community. From the admissions office to alums at my employer with who sang Emory’s graces to current students, everyone was exceptionally kind and community oriented. I also love the small student body size that will allow me to form relationships and really get to know my classmates and professors.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Emory Goizueta? It’s a tie between the GWIB (Graduate Women in Business) and the GHA (Goizueta Healthcare Association)! I’m incredibly excited to join like-minded classmates and faculty who are as passionate as I am about building up women in the workforce and improving our healthcare system.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Leading an 8-person team to complete a COVID-19 booster vaccine study with over 40,000 data points in 3 months. I was honored but terrified by the level the trust that the directors had placed in me and was fighting severe imposter syndrome. But during our first few meetings, I could tell the team genuinely trusted me to lead them. This is what finally got me “out of my head” so to speak. From there, I executed my plan and delegated with confidence. The biggest takeaway was that your attitude towards a leader can affect their confidence in themselves, not just vice versa.

Looking ahead two years, what would make your MBA experience successful? In a word, relationships. Networking aside, I aim to leave the program with friendships that will last well beyond my two and a half years at Emory.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Emory Goizueta’s MBA program? Be yourself and own your background. Don’t stress if it’s non-business. In fact, focus on those non-business-related strengths that you possess when you’re writing your essays! I was surprised by how many others in the program have no business background, but have led impressive careers in other industries. Business programs, especially Emory’s, are designed to teach concepts from the ground up and meet the student where they’re at. So be proud of your accomplishments to date and current skillset, and lean on those once you start the program!