Speaking to the next generation of business leaders, Julie Dell’Aniello shared lessons in leadership that came with a key piece of advice: Don’t let a difficult decision stand in the way of doing the right thing.

The President of Martin Brower Canada told Brock students that leadership is about creating an environment where good things can happen — and how sometimes achieving that means making tough decisions. The words of wisdom were delivered while Dell’Aniello was on campus to receive the 2025 Goodman School of Business Distinguished Leader Award on Feb. 10.

“Doing the right thing isn’t always easy; it’s difficult,” she said during a fireside chat with Goodman Dean Barry Wright. “You will have to make tough decisions. Sometimes the decisions are unpopular, but I’m not afraid of doing what’s right because it matters. Difficult decisions have the power to change culture, evolve your organization and create an environment where people can thrive.”

The Goodman School of Business Distinguished Leader Award is given annually to a prominent Canadian business leader who shares their leadership journey and connects with students about their professional experiences.

Julie Dell’Aniello, President of Martin Brower Canada and 2025 Goodman School of Business Distinguished Leader, joined Goodman Dean Barry Wright in conversation during a fireside chat about her leadership journey on Monday, Feb. 10 at Brock’s campus.

More than 150 students and members of the Brock community gathered to hear Dell’Aniello insights, including her message that individuals at all levels can solve problems across an organization.

“You can bring people together with a common goal, without being in authority or without being a manager. If it’s for the benefit of everyone, all you need is the desire to make a difference,” she said.

Dell’Aniello’s words have already made a difference for students at Brock.

“The impact of your visit goes beyond a single day,” Goodman Graduate Business Council President Matthew Bignucolo told Dell’Aniello when presenting her with the Distinguished Leader Award on behalf of the student body following the fireside chat.

“You’ve showed us that you don’t need lines of authority to make a difference in business. What’s important is what we are giving and what we are taking forward into the community,” he added.

Joining Dell’Aniello at Brock for the day were three recent Goodman graduates who are now working at Martin Brower Canada: Bharat Koppaka (MBA ’21), Business Data Analyst; Isaac Gordon (BBA ’24), Operations Co-ordinator; and Sana Inam (BBA ’20), Execution Planner.

The group attended an informal morning session with Dell’Aniello where Goodman student leaders were able to ask her candid questions and get her advice on navigating the early stages of their careers, learning all aspects of their jobs and finding leaders with whom they are compatible.

She also gave a guest lecture in an MBA Operations class where she used examples from her career to detail what it’s like to work in supply chain management and operations and talked about the considerations that go into decision-making when solving problems.

Dell’Aniello is the 16th recipient of the Distinguished Leader award. A full list of past recipients can be found on Goodman’s website.