Julie Taparia MPP 2003

Enjoying a Bird’s Eye View

After graduating from the Harris School, Julie Taparia, MPP’03 spent four years working first for the Chicago Public School’s Board of Education and then for a nonprofit organization focusing on adult education and workforce development.

In December, however, Taparia moved to the corporate world and started as a senior consultant at Deloitte LLP as a part of the U.S. Industry Practices. This part of the organization helps build Deloitte’s industry competency levels, by supporting its practitioners to develop stronger knowledge of each client’s industry and its issues.

“The programs we are developing help make our people smarter about the industries in which they practice,” she explained. “We know we have world-class auditors and consultants and tax people but, as an example, we want the best auditors in the automotive industry, not just the best auditors.”

Deloitte LLP is a member firm of the global professional services firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Primarily provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte LLP, services include audit, consulting, tax, and financial advisory services to national and global organizations in all industries - from financial services to health care to government to automotive to technology to energy.

Taparia explains, “The programs developed by U.S. Industry Practices relate to hiring senior leaders who are eminent in their industries, developing tools to support practitioners and client teams, and building learning programs to make our practitioners aware of nuances in the industries. The U.S. Industry Practices also look at the growth and trends of each industry, information that leadership uses to develop strategic priorities.”

No stranger to consulting, Taparia had worked at a private consulting firm prior to attending the Harris School, but decided to pursue an MPP after an undergraduate internship at the U.S. Embassy in London and teaching children in the slums of Bombay. “These experiences gave me exposure to international policy and insight into what’s going on in the world,” she said.

Talking about her current role, Taparia said, “The draw to this job is that it opens your horizons to different sectors of the economy,” she said. “You get a bird’s eye view of the economy, how it relates to public policy, and how businesses operate in various conditions. These are life-long skills, which make the job very interesting and intellectual.”

She continued, “I’m not just focusing on one area, on one industry, using one skill.” Because she is not “pigeonholed” to one area of focus, Taparia is able to draw on many experiences from previous jobs, and she interacts with a variety of Deloitte support areas, including marketing, communications, and strategy.

She called using these many skills combined with learning about a variety of sectors a “great path for a public policy major.” She also noted that she uses her Harris School skills on a daily basis—from her statistics and economics knowledge to analytical skills that allow her to “break down the issues in every field.”

After spending time in the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, Taparia said, “I like the fast pace and the reward system of the private sector. There are lots of interesting and smart people on both sides, but the motivations are different. You can do impactful work in both private and public sectors, but it is all about finding the exact place you choose to work and then you can use your public policy degree in any way possible.”