Biography
Kennard Hood is focusing on the future. As he looks to strengthen his leadership skills and expand his professional knowledge, he's also exploring opportunities to build a business with his daughter. Kennard currently works as medical director of Emory Clinic Primary Care. “In my current position as a medical director, [the EMBA program] really helps me to understand finances better,” he says. “In my department, it is very important that we remain solvent or close to it, and so this has really helped me understand spreadsheets, understand return on investments and things like that so that I can be a better medical director in our department in primary care.”
Beyond his current role, Kennard hopes to apply what he's learning to a business venture with his daughter, who is a physical therapist. He sees an opportunity to combine his business knowledge and experience with her clinical expertise and energy to build something together that will have a lasting impact. “I feel that we, together, can form a united front to start a business…there are many things I've learned in this program that will help me in the future,” he says. “I feel that we, together, can form a united front to start a business…there are many things I've learned in this program that will help me in the future,” he says.
Kennard has experienced many impactful moments in the program, including an executive coaching session focusing on leadership. “I've grown as a leader I think in poise,” he says. “The reason why I use that word is because we had an executive coaching session, which meant a lot to me, because it allowed me to see for myself the areas I could grow in and change in whenever I do public speaking. That was eye opening and humiliating at first, but it really gave me the confidence I needed to share things. I feel so much more secure at it now just from doing that program.”
For Kennard, the value of the EMBA extends beyond his current career, opening new possibilities for his future and his family. “I feel like this has put me on a trajectory where I can make a difference, not just in my life and in [my daughter’s] life, but even for generations to come,” he says. “That we can make a legacy for not just my child, but my grandchildren and great grandchildren.”