For Nida Dhanani, EMBA '24, one of the biggest takeaways from her Ivey journey was understanding and embracing the type of leader she wanted to be and confidently owning what she brought to the table.

“The Executive MBA has given me the confidence to fully embrace my own leadership style and how I show up authentically as a leader. The EMBA program has allowed me to unleash my potential” says Dhanani, Director, Value Stream Management at Collins Aerospace.

“If I was showing up in this way before my MBA, I was doing so perhaps a bit hesitantly, often doubting whether I was an effective leader and if I had what it took to accelerate in the career and industry of my choosing. Today I feel extremely comfortable in my skin as a leader and have confidence that my empathy and problem-solving mindset will take me to the next level.”

Leading with empathy can be particularly challenging in a field like aerospace, which is still largely a “boys club.” But for Dhanani, the EMBA program gave her the tools and confidence to know her approach to leadership was different, not wrong.

“Through the program, I discovered that leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. You can be just as effective – if not more so – when you lead in a way that aligns with who you are. It showed me that you can still be an effective leader if the carrot (not the stick) is what comes naturally to you,” she says.

Dhanani initially embarked on the Ivey EMBA journey to move up the leadership ranks, broaden her network, and gain a broader view of the business world after more than a decade in the aerospace industry.

Ivey appealed to her because of its stellar reputation, the Case Method of learning, and the breadth and quality of the Ivey network.

She also liked the idea of going through the program with one cohort – classmates she could really get to know.

“I went into the program with self-doubt, as I felt the world around me was so self-assured, but I struggled to see it for myself. The program showed me that I was not alone, and that one must lean in on things one knows and embrace being vulnerable” she says.

“A big transformation for me has been to embrace that what I bring to the table is differentiated and to lead as my authentic self. I've come out way more confident, comfortable, and well-rounded in all aspects of business - not just the shop floor.”

For anyone considering an Ivey EMBA, Dhanani recommends thinking beyond the skills you’re hoping to acquire or the people you may meet and focus on how you want to change what you want to see in yourself.

“You don't realize it, but something happens. It’s that transformational piece they talk about – in your style, your confidence, your authenticity,” she says.

“It comes at a different time and a different pace for everyone, but something gets unlocked.”