Balancing It All: Elizabeth Varga's Journey Through the Executive MBA
Elizabeth Varga is no stranger to balancing a demanding career, personal life, and academic pursuits. As the Director of Clinical Genomics Research and Development at Nationwide Children's Hospital and a busy mom, she embarked on the Executive MBA journey to further expand her leadership skills and career impact. Through her insightful LinkedIn posts, Elizabeth shares her authentic experience of navigating the challenges and triumphs of managing it all—bringing an inspiring perspective to anyone considering the Executive MBA.
Elizabeth Varga Blog Posts during the Executive MBA Program
Last week, I had the opportunity to observe 2 classes at The Ohio State University’s Executive MBA program.
They were just as informative and inspirational as I had hoped.
The quality and engagement of the students was awe inspiring.
I am convinced that this challenge would provide me with novel insights and skills that will take me to the next level as an executive leader.
I have some exciting news! I will be heading back to school next month to get my Executive MBA at the Ohio State University!
I will continue working full time during the program, so have no fear NCH colleagues 🤗
I cannot wait to further my leadership development and hone my skills, surrounded by an amazing cohort of professionals who are also lifelong learners.
O-H-I-O!
Swag has arrived! 
Although classes do not begin until January, we already have reading assignments to get us started.
I am already excited about the case studies. Presenting information only, requiring the reader to construct meaning, allowing the reader to recognize the main issue that needs solving, and employing active engagement to analyze it and arrive at evidence-based conclusions.
Active learning at its best!
What a week! The orientation for the The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business was nothing short of amazing. Our cohort of 25 EMBA students, the professors and staff exceeded expectations. This team of 5 will be my second family over the next 17 months. Let the journey begin! 🎉
It is all fun and games until the tuition comes due…
There is no doubt that completion of an #EMBA is a significant financial, emotional and time investment.
Yet, I can honestly say I am already reaping the rewards. Here are a few ways it has been worth it in my first week as a student.
💬 the connections run deep. I text with my team daily.
🌠 inspiration: I am in awe of my classmates, how accomplished they are, their perspectives and all that they can teach me
📚I am reading content that is already making me a better leader. I am thinking about lost productivity and waste in meetings, using accounting terms as I plan clinical research projects. Knowledge gain is already measurable
👩⚖️ I am role modeling for my kids. I am showing them hard work, sacrifice, determination and a will to continually learn. I am showing them that women and men can do amazing things when they apply themselves.
That said, I am using some funds that were intended for my sons’ education. That is a hard pill to swallow. I hope that I can recoup the investment through future career growth. Until then, I will be accepting donations to my sons’ college fund 😆
I just finished reading an insightful piece on "The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy" (HBR, 2008). This got me contemplating the genetic testing industry's trajectory. 
The past year was turbulent for labs in this field, with several facing significant challenges.
Reflecting on the industry's current state and future, I've noted a few key observations. I'm also eager to hear your perspectives.
Why is profitability in the genetic testing industry constrained? Payors, such as governments, insurers, and price-conscious consumers, are currently limiting profitability.
The perceived value of genetic testing is often underestimated, seen as non-essential, or compared to alternative diagnostic methods. Reproductive freedom limitations in some regions also restrict its utility.
Suppliers' bargaining power has weakened due to the continual promise of reduced testing costs.
Certain labs' competitive strategies, possibly offering tests below cost, might have disrupted the industry's stability in the long run.
The genetic testing landscape has matured significantly over the last two decades, resulting in slowing growth. Technology adoption, standardization, and conventions have led to product convergence, making differentiation among testing labs more challenging.
We're witnessing weaker competitors exiting, leading to fewer new entries into the industry.
Substitution: I foresee low-pass genome substituting microarray and exome/genome adoption limiting the market for gene panels.
Looking ahead to 2024, I anticipate continued laboratory consolidation or acquisitions. While this forecast might seem daunting, I remain optimistic.
Perhaps there’s potential for more holistic uses of genomics, like lifetime application of genomic information to provide healthcare insights, data reinterpretation over time, novel adoption and integration methods, and expanded collaborative partnerships across various sectors.
Reading my last (journal) entry, I hardly recognize that person or those fears.
I absolutely loved orientation and now that 1 month of class is complete, I am even happier. 
Countless changes have already occurred in my knowledge base, perspective, network and level of joy.
I am incredibly thankful for the journey at the OSU Fisher College of Business Executive Education. A few reflections from the first 3 classes (strategy, org behavior and accounting):
- Accounting is intimidating if it is unfamiliar, but taking the time to learn the basics through resources like this (https://lnkd.in/g8NmEvAU) will provide a whole new level of confidence for understanding your industry. Within 1 month, I am able to review financial statements from across industries, assess what they mean in terms of business performance and strategy and apply that to my own investment decisions or evaluation.
-Networks are valuable. It is essential to consistently reflect on your own network, within your organization and outside. Development of relationships is crucial to success. Thinking about your network strategically is also critical and can allow you leverage in times of uncertainty.
-Each industry has unique characteristics that influence strategy. It is important to have a deep understanding of your own industry and how decisions are made within that business. Review of quarterly reports and financials can provide deep insight into underlying industry and business characteristics.
-Leaders have a tough job. They are managing many forces at once- some apparent and many beneath the surface.
What are your Sunday thoughts? Do you routinely think about financials, strategy and organizational interactions important to success? I admit as a scientist, none of the above factored much into my thinking, at least beyond a superficial level, before now.
(Photo credit: Anna Morris, Team 3 of James Fox, Garrett Knappe and Subbaiah Annamalai and I) working in our first simulation exercise during orientation. How far we have come from that beginning stage).
From flights to Korea, Aussie backyards, and Ohio kitchen tables – a shared thread emerges: accounting textbook.
Kudos to those seamlessly juggling work, school, and family commitments. You're making it work, and that deserves a salute. #BackToSchool 📚🌐
I love having the opportunity to learn from professors like Tanya Menon. Her TedTalk inspires us to move beyond our comfort zones and interact with people who are outside our familiar networks. Talk with those whom are different from us. These very individuals may lead us to new insights and new paths.
A few weeks ago, our team did an exercise where we shared observations of our teammates. This picture illustrates the words my team used to describe me.
Being an AI enthusiast, this week I asked ChatGPT:
“My employees describe me as inspirational, fearless, authentic, compassionate, experienced, leader, energetic, caring, empowering, creative and fun. Are there certain job descriptions or careers that fit well with these terms?”
Answer: Based on those descriptors, you might excel in leadership roles such as a motivational speaker, life coach, mentor, or executive coach. Additionally, careers in fields like entrepreneurship, management consulting, or organizational development could also be a good fit, where you can leverage your qualities to inspire and empower others.
I love that this is exactly the path that I see for myself and have been nurturing this in recent years. Have you ever considered using AI to provide career perspective? #ai #careerdevelopment #knowthyself
What an incredible game 🏀 and upset. It was also a great opportunity to network with current students, alumni and their families.
Shared post from Executive Education:
This afternoon we had an incredible time at The Ohio State University men's basketball game, connecting with our outstanding Executive MBA alumni and current students. The energy was palpable as we witnessed an unforgettable upset against Purdue. Networking and celebrating success—this is what our community is all about! 🏀
Completing the first quarter of our #EMBA journey feels surreal.
While it is impossible to articulate the depth of learning and personal growth experienced since our first session, if I were to distill it down to just one skill acquired that will have enduring impact, I would say:
- Accounting: how to read and analyze a financial statement. There are so many applications of this skill, from understanding an industry or company, to making investment decisions, to anticipating future events.
- Strategy: how to evaluate Porter’s 5 forces to understand an industry or a business and apply the results to decision-making.
- Organizational Behavior: how to build relationships and tap into a network at different time points.
A standout moment for me was the ‘reflected best self’ exercise, where we celebrated each other’s strengths and contributions. It was moving to witness the collective sincerity and brilliance within our cohort. This will stay with me as a lasting memory.
On a lighter note, I appreciated my classmates’ embrace of my 👍👎 signs. Even the professors got in on the action. It added vibrancy to our discussions, fostered engagement and laughs.
I can’t wait to begin the next quarter, but for now I want to fully synthesize and reflect on all we just learned. #ProudtobeaBuckeye
You know when you read something that stops you in your tracks? A lightbulb ignites?
Professor Nate Craig has us reading “Power and Prediction” and Chapter 8, The System Mindset, did this for me.
The chapter discusses the limits of task-level thinking. So often, business solutions, including those offered through AI, focus on efficiencies that can be created through substitution of human effort by a machine. The problem is, while these may offer some mild cost savings based on labor replacement, they will not actually create the VALUE that a system-level change may.
To truly reap benefits of technology, you cannot just drop it into an existing system. You must think about full system redesign and the actual incentives for adoption. I don’t know many healthcare workers who have the incentive to be replaced by a machine. Further, gains will be limited if predictions do not yield utility for the end users (patients, providers and those who have economic interests).
It seems simple yet my mind was blown. It is time to challenge ourselves to overhaul the system, not offer point solutions.
🎉 Exciting News! 🎉
I'm thrilled to share some exciting updates with you all! ✨ After diving deep into a marketing class, I felt inspired to take my coaching business to the next level.
🌟 First off, I am happy to unveil my first logo!
💼 Secondly, I have decided to expand my services to include consulting. Your feedback and insights have been invaluable, and I'm eager to bring even more value to the table. 💡
🌱 Reflecting on the incredible transformations my clients have experienced brings me so much joy. From gaining clarity on career goals to advocating for change within their organizations, every success story reaffirms the power of investing in oneself. 💪
👏 I'm immensely grateful for the trust you've placed in me, and I'm here to support you every step of the way. Whether it's coaching, consulting, or simply a chat, my door is open. Check out my updated website here: https://lnkd.in/gHxJCpJM
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here's to reaching new heights together! 🥂 hashtagCelebratingSuccess hashtagCoachingJourney
I am still trying to put into words the experiences of last week.
As a homework assignment, my EMBA class viewed a documentary Startup.com The Downfall of Internet American Dream.
It was absolutely riveting and had so many take home messages for aspiring hashtagentrepreneurs. I definitely recommend you watch it, but here were a few of my lessons learned:
-Beware the Illusion of Quick Success: this movie depicts the rapid success of govWorks.com. The founders received substantial investment ($60 million) and acclaim from Forbes and others touting their company as the next big thing. Yet it rose to greatness, and collapsed completely within the course of 6 months.
-Proceed with caution if you choose to mix friendship and business. Even in the best of friendships, conflict will arise.
-Have a path for decision making: there must be a process and all must agree to it to be effective
-Realize the strain that entrepreneurship can create on your life and personal relationships. Often the balance is hard and sacrifice is most definitely involved.
-Money does not actually come easy. In fact, more often than not, businesses fail and you leave with nothing.
That said, you can go through all of this and come out on the other side. In fact, you can rebuild your friendships and go on to have several successful businesses after a rough start. You can continue to pursue your dreams and strive to make an impact on the world. But it will take grit, passion and belief in something greater than yourself.
Not only did I learn this from the movie, but I learned from our Professor Dan Oglevee, who surprised us with a debrief about the documentary with a star himself: Co-Founder 🌱 Tom Herman 🌿. I will never forget the disbelief on all of our faces when Tom walked in. What followed was the chance to hear the “after” of his next 20+ years of life. He spoke to us with honesty, vulnerability and humility. It was a 2-hour experience that left memories of a lifetime. Truly priceless.
Thank you 🌱 Tom Herman 🌿 for sharing your story!! I am excited for your next venture, with true environmental, legacy impact!
I am delighted to see more conversations around AI in Healthcare starting. We had an inaugural start to a series on this topic today in our research institute, thanks to our Office of Data Science!
It is nice to reinforce concepts I am learning through Data Analytics at hashtagOSU. Earlier this week, I was exploring the Stanford AI Index report and was amazed by Chapter 5’s coverage of AI in healthcare. They featured two of the uses in hashtaggenomics, including AlphaMissense and work of the Human PanGenome Consortium.
July 15, 2024: Napa Valley Experience
Today was a full day spent exploring the Napa Valley wine region with my hashtagEMBA cohort, diving deep into wine production and discovering the passionate families and staff behind the vineyards.
We explored the charm of small wineries like Madonna Estate and the impressive operation of larger ones like Kendall Jackson.
A highlight was creating our own wine blends using various grape and barrel combinations—yes, mouth pipetting included! This experimentation, along with the discussions on genotypes and phenotypes of the grapes made me feel right at home 🍷 🧬
July 18, 2024: Silicon Valley Venture Capital
Today felt like a dream come true! A few classmates and I kicked off the morning with a run on the stunning hashtagStanford campus, setting the perfect tone for the day.
We had the privilege of learning from some of the top minds in Silicon Valley venture capital. Engaging discussions with fund managers from prestigious firms like Andreesen Horowitz (a16z), Lightspeed, Canaan, and IVP were nothing short of incredible.
A highlight for my genetics colleagues was seeing hashtagGuardantHealth featured at Lightspeed. It was also fascinating to glimpse the 2012 Snapchat pitch book – a piece of startup history.
The day wrapped up with an energizing lecture by Dr. Ron Weissman, Chair of the Angel Capital Association, in Dr. James Terranova’s class. Attending this alongside Stanford students was invigorating.
I am immensely grateful for this eye-opening, world-class experience. hashtagEMBA
July 23: Silicon Valley Reflection
Bill Reichert from Pegasus Tech Ventures spoke last week to the The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business hashtagEMBAc24 class during our tour of Silicon Valley. He had an energetic presentation with frank, specific and actionable advice.
He asked us to followup by up by sharing what we learned that was most surprising. I thought these learnings would be helpful to you as well.
A couple of things:
Takeaway 1: A large venture capitalist firm, a16z, did a Podcast with their Founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen, who endorsed Trump. They explained their reasons why here. This shocked me as I associate the Valley with being liberal leaning. In this case, I felt like other variables were ignored (women’s rights, future of democracy, immigrant rights) but self-interest in tech, crypto and finances swayed their opinion. This was disappointing, yet the Podcast is worth listening to.
Takeaway #2: There are a variety of experiences and paths that lead people to the Valley. Some tech execs had very circuitous paths to the top. There is a strong sense of culture that leads to success and many people feel that you must reside there to reach your greatest potential (it is all about who you know, and they are concentrated there).
Most valuable insights:
-Christopher Phillips from Google Geo discussed decision making and the consideration of a 1-way door (can't go back) or a 2-way door. I thought this was a great way to think about problems. He had other great advice that resonated with me, particularly around getting clear on the culture you thrive in and what makes you cringe, and choosing accordingly.
Several speakers asked me about my own reasons for pursuing the EMBA and what I plan to do with the degree. This trip allowed me to reflect further. I can clearly say that I have aspirations to move into Executive leadership and/or pivot into commercial industry or entrepreneurism. I also aspire to serve on Boards and contribute to diverse organizations to gain perspective and insights. Lastly, I aspire to be a role model to my 16, 12 and 8 year old boys, showing them what hard work and continuous learning looks like.
This was truly a life changing journey!
I’m happy to share that I will be starting a new role as a mentor with Rev1 Ventures. I am excited to support entrepreneurs as part of the “Customer to Capital” Accelerator program.
I look forward to applying all that I am learning about entrepreneurship through my Executive MBA program in this tangible way. I aspire to help startup founders in the life sciences sector transform their vision into a successful company by providing insights into clinical care, healthcare systems and technologies, clinical research, strategic planning, operational management, and growth and leadership of cross-functional teams.
We are fortunate to have organizations and resources like Rev1 in our community. It is so important to foster innovation and economic growth in Ohio. I am committed to this mission and excited to provide support. Thank you Mark E. Hester and Megan Neff for opening doors to get me on this path.
Reflection Sunday 🧘♀️
I can’t believe I am over halfway through my Executive MBA program with 10 months down, 8 to go!
This semester we are conquering:
🌎 Global Business Environments: I am already fascinated by the models and considerations a company must make when entering new markets. Decisions around aggregation, arbitrage and adaptation;
Cultural, administrative, geographic and economic differences that must me considered. I am enjoying taking a deep dive into an international citrus 🍊 company that we will visit in Spain this November.
💵 Finance: so much math! I have not used algebra on the regular in 30 years. I had to reteach myself how to use a scientific calculator (along with my middle and high schooler). Solving for exponents? It is hard to use my brain in this way again, but the content is so applicable to personal and business finances that it is worth the effort.
📉 Operations management: I love this the most. In healthcare and in my current role, I am constantly solving operational problems. Always looking for ways to perform smarter. I love working with teams, sharing perspectives, discussing challenges, and formulating solutions. I love applying fixes and tracking results.
It is a lot to balance given workplace responsibilities, back to school for kids, sports (for them and for me) and other investments that take time and energy. Yet, I love it and am excited to wake up each day, so I have to conclude that the stress is worth it.
Truly fantastic events last week through Fisher College of Business Executive Education. I was inspired by the impressive speakers and their authenticity in sharing their journeys through entrepreneurship. It was also fun to connect socially with our families to celebrate a Buckeyes win!
Repost from Fisher Executive Education:
This past weekend was truly one for the books! From reconnecting with familiar faces to welcoming new ones, our Executive MBA and Master of Business Operational Excellence alumni events at Lower.com Field, The Blackwell Inn, and the Schottenstein Center were filled with inspiration, learning, and a lot of Ohio State pride.
We were honored to hear from our remarkable speakers—Rachel Friedman, Craig Morin, Coach Jake Diebler, Vikrant Mastoli, and Rocio Manriquez—who shared their insights and experiences, leaving us all motivated to continue making an impact in our respective fields. The facility tours and family-friendly tailgate added extra layers of engagement and fun to the experience.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us! As we look to the future, we are more committed than ever to creating opportunities that connect, inspire, and elevate our alumni, current students, and prospective students.
Here’s to more events that bring us together and to the continued success of our The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business family!
For those who attended, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Please check your email for a link to our post-event survey, and don't forget to check out the event photos, including those fantastic headshots we took at The Blackwell Inn. 📸
hashtagBuckeyeForLife hashtagFisherAlumni hashtagLifelongLearning hashtagOhioState
What a difference a year makes.
Last year on this weekend, I was observing my first class for OSU’s Executive MBA program.
Now, I am getting my last schedule and syllabus before graduation.
It has been an awesome and wild ride. One I will never forget and always be grateful for.
I have news to share 📣📰🎉 I’ve accepted a new role as Administrative Director of Patient and Family Experience at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, starting in the New Year!
Since starting in 2006 as a Genetic Counselor and Research Coordinator, my career at Nationwide Children’s has been filled with purpose and growth. I’ve had the privilege of launching transformative programs like the cancer predisposition clinic and working with multidisciplinary teams to scale our translational research. Now, I’m stepping into a new chapter that’s equally full of opportunity and aligned with my passion for enhancing patient and family experience.
The knowledge and skills I’ve gained through my Executive MBA program have been invaluable in leading me to this decision. The experience has expanded my business acumen, strategic thinking, and leadership skills, preparing me to make a larger impact on the patient experience and to lead cross-functional teams with an even stronger focus on organizational excellence.
In this new role, I’ll collaborate with our marketing and branding teams to create a seamless, consistent experience for patients and families across the organization. I’m eager to work with our diversity and health equity groups to ensure inclusivity and support, and to lead initiatives that measure and improve our patient experience through meaningful, data-driven impact. I’ll also oversee vital services such as patient relations, our family resource center, and our psychosocial support programs, including child life specialists and educators.
Leaving the IGM team was not an easy decision. I’m deeply grateful for the partnerships and purpose-filled moments we shared, and I’ll always hold our mission close to my heart. Thank you to my incredible colleagues, classmates, team and family for your support and encouragement. Here’s to continuing to make a difference for patients and families in a new and exciting way!
We have had some fantastic experiences in Spain, traveling with the The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. I loved learning about the Mercadona philosophy where the customer is the boss and all decisions are made with the boss in mind.
As we depart València, we turn our attention the city of Barcelona. I was excited to learn that SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital has a Patient Experience Area that collaborates with healthcare teams to co-create care models centered on patients and their families. I have enjoyed reading about their programs in innovation, patient experience, rare disease and genomics.
I am reflecting back on our trip to Spain and some of the experiences we had at EDEM Escuela de Empresarios, a fantastic business school in Valencia.
It was incredible to see the legacy created by Juan Roig, Hortensia Herrero and their children, through the support of EDEM, Lanzadera and Angels, which provide a full ecosystem of education, funding and support for entrepreneurs. Their generosity also supports the community through sports and the arts.
I left feeling so inspired, even considering options for my son to be a part of the EDEM community someday as he approaches college-age, and seeks to become an entrepreneur. May we all learn from their generosity and remember that “money and knowledge bring happiness- if you share them.”
Questions? I'm here to help!
Hello! I’m Haleigh DePalma, your guide to the Executive MBA program at Ohio State. Whether you’re just starting your exploration or ready to apply, I’m here to provide personalized support. Please don’t hesitate to contact me—I look forward to helping you achieve your goals!