An empowering leader, passionate about driving breakthrough transformations in global industry-leading organizations. Broad expertise in Corporate Strategy, Business Transformation, Management Consulting, Integrated Business Planning, E2E supply chain value creation, and Senior Stakeholders Engagement.

Seasoned in both operational roles and corporate roles brings strategic clarity to cross-functional and group-wide complex business challenges by translating the vision into executable plans with tangible outcomes. Recognized to deliver sustainable growth opportunities, improve organizational responsiveness and agility, and quickly identify and develop opportunities in ambiguous contexts.

Leading with Global Perspectives in Supply Chain Management

Our alumni Juliana Tarasa’s professional journey demonstrates the power of an international outlook. Joining the UCLA-NUS EMBA program in 2016, Juliana was then a specialist in studies for BHP, seeking broader career opportunities and enhanced leadership skills.

Reflecting on her motivations, Juliana shares, “I was looking to make a move in my career and needed the right scope of breadth of information to engage better with the people I was working with.” The EMBA program provided her with diverse insights and a platform to explore various career paths beyond her current industry.

For Juliana, the program had a profound impact. It increased her exposure, and she could take on various positions, enhancing her career experience. “Since joining the program, I have switched different roles and different companies, which has given me broader experience across the supply chain,” she notes. This versatility has been key to her professional growth.

A significant part of Juliana’s development was the focus on leadership and soft skills. “The NUS-EMBA program taught me how to tailor my leadership skills and approach to different kinds of people, enabling me to work in more cross-functional and cross-cultural environments,” she explains. This adaptability has been crucial in her mining and metal industry roles. Another key area is the global perspectives offered by the UCLA-NUS EMBA program, which were invaluable for Juliana. Understanding different cultural nuances was essential as a South American working in Asia and serving markets in Europe and Australia. “Having different perspectives from different continents and the diversity in my cohort helped me navigate these differences and be mindful when working with people from various backgrounds,” she shares.

Most importantly, the relationships she built during the program have become lifelong friendships. “It’s always nice to have someone to reach out to for experience, perspective, and a soundboard for big decisions,” she states. This network continues to support her both professionally and personally.

For prospective students feeling stuck in their careers, Juliana advises proactive effort. “Sometimes we expect others to lay the path for us, but it’s also on yourself to build those steps to broaden your options and pursue the things you want,” she encourages. For her, that balance in life comes with time and effort, and each phase requires different focuses. While this balancing act was also challenging for Juliana, she found it worthwhile. “You can have everything you want, just not at the same time. There are moments to focus on your career, personal development, and family. As long as things are balanced in the big scheme of things, it works,” she advises.

Like all our alumni, Juliana continues to make efforts to stay in touch with the UCLA-NUS community. For her, it’s through a WhatsApp group where her cohort shares news and supports each other. Professionally, she continues to leverage the network for career opportunities and advice. “The network and access to different people with various experiences help me see options that were not obvious before,” she notes.

As the UCLA-NUS EMBA program marks its 20th anniversary, Juliana acknowledges its ability to stay relevant by keeping up with trends and providing a global perspective. “The program is always trying to keep track of trends and equip leaders with the knowledge to make the future happen,” she observes.

With the program celebrating its 20th anniversary, we aim to continue fostering the development of future leaders like Juliana.