Experience Darden

Experience Darden #288: Student Spotlight | Matt Rafferty

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Matt Rafferty. Matt is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and we talk with him about his decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Charlottesville, the impact of his time at Darden and more. Matt is passionate about entrepreneurship, and we talk with him about his venture experience and how Darden and the Batten Institute have helped him explore his ideas. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #287: Student Spotlight | Jack Alexander

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jack Alexander. Jack is an MBA/M.Ed dual degree student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025. We talk with Jack about his background, his experience as a Teach for America volunteer, hang gliding, his decision to pursue an MBA/M.Ed dual degree, his experience in the Prison Re-Entry Education Program (PREP), serving as a Second Year Coach and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #286: Women@Darden Spotlight | Professor Melanie Prengler

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Professor Melanie Prengler. Prengler is an Assistant Professor in the Leadership and Organizational Behavior area, and her research focuses on the future of work, specifically alternative work arrangements and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has studied this research using a qualitative approach in the context of Black police officers, digital nomads, and mothers returning to work. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #285: Student Spotlight | Custis Coleman

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Custis Coleman. Custis is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and he is also the President of the Darden Outdoors Club. We talk with Custis about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what he’s enjoyed about his time at Darden, what the Outdoors Club has planned for the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #284: MSBA Spotlight | Jingjing Li, MSBA Co-Academic Director

In this episode of the podcast, we spotlight UVA’s MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) program with a conversation with Jingjing Li. Li is the Andersen Alumni Associate Professor of Commerce at UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce, and she also serves as one of the Directors of the MSBA program. Li’s research interests are in artificial intelligence and big data analytics, with applications spanning search engines, healthcare, marketing, platforms, and public policy. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Li about her role with the MSBA program, her thoughts on the value and impact of the MSBA curriculum, her interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and more. This episode is essential listening for anyone considering UVA’s MSBA program. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #283: Student Spotlight | Madelyn Merchant

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Madelyn Merchant. Madelyn is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and we talk with her about her background, what led her to Darden, her work with Darden’s Net Impact Board Fellows student organization, the annual Darden ski trips and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #282: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Gabrielle “Gabe” Adams

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Gabrielle “Gabe” Adams. Adams is a behavioral scientist, with a joint appointment as an associate professor of public policy (Batten) and business administration (Darden: Leadership and Organizational Behavior area). She studies the processes and dynamics that give rise to 'good' decisions, policies, and conditions in organizations.  We talk with Adams about her background, what led her to Darden, what she enjoys about teaching through the case method, what makes an effective team, why people default to considering what they might add when improving things and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #281: Student Spotlight | Nini Ratto Schol & Rodrigo Delgado

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Lieneke “Nini” Ratto Schol and Rodrigo Delgado. Nini and Rodrigo are second year students in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and they are also married. We talk with Nini and Rodrigo about their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, navigating the application process as a married couple, how they’re working to raise awareness about Darden in their home country of Peru and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #280: Women@Darden Spotlight | Melissa Thomas-Hunt, Senior Associate Dean, Residential Full-Time MBA Program

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Melissa Thomas-Hunt, Senior Associate Dean for the Residential Full-Time MBA program at the UVA Darden School of Business. In this conversation hosted by Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke, Thomas-Hunt reflects upon her personal story, her career journey, what she loves about being at Darden, why she’s passionate about engaging with students, what makes Darden’s faculty unique and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #279: Catching up with Greg Fairchild, Dean and CEO, UVA Northern Virginia

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Darden faculty member and Dean and CEO of UVA Northern Virginia, Greg Fairchild. In this conversation, we talk with Greg about the inspiration for UVA Northern Virginia, where things stand with their current plans, their strategy and vision for the road ahead and more. This episode is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about UVA and Darden’s efforts in the Washington, DC metro area.

Experience Darden #278: Meet Megan McGee (MBA ’21), Director of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), Batten Institute

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Megan McGee. Megan is a repeat guest on the Experience Darden podcast, and a member of UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2021. Megan also recently joined Darden’s Batten Institute as the Director of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). We recently caught up with Megan to talk about her MBA journey, her interest in ETA, what attracted her to her new role with the Batten Institute, what she’s looking forward to in the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba

Experience Darden #277: Catching up with Jason Brewster, Director of Venture Programs

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Jason Brewster. Jason is a repeat podcast guest, and he is the Director of Venture Programs for UVA Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Jason about his background, the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Darden, the recent iLab incubator cohort, and more. This episode is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about venturing at Darden. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #276: Catching up with Dawna Clarke | Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Dawna Clarke. Dawna is the Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions at UVA Darden, and we talk with her about the start of school, the newest class of Full-Time MBA students, what she’s looking forward to in the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #275: Entrepreneur Spotlight | Kelly Okun

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Kelly Okun. Kelly is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she is also a founder. We talk with Kelly about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, her experience in Darden’s iLab summer incubator, her advice for prospective students and more. Kelly’s venture, Fairway to Green, covers all areas of golf and seeks to increase the visibility and funding for the women’s game. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #274: Student Spotlight | Betsy Brandon

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Betsy Brandon. Betsy is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she applied to Darden through the Future Year Scholars Program, our deferred enrollment program for undergraduates in their final year of study or full-time masters students who have not held a full-time work position. We recently caught up with Betsy to talk about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, how she spent her first year summer, what she’s enjoyed about her time at Darden and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #273: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Sasa Zorc

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Sasa Zorc. Zorc studies incentives in multi-agent systems such as health care and decentralized matching markets. Methodically, his research relies on stochastic dynamic games, search theory, mechanism design, contract theory as well as data-driven simulations of those systems. We talk with Zorc about his background, what led him to Darden, the core Decision Analysis course as well as his game theory elective, his thoughts on AI and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #272: Student Spotlight | Ellie Marsh

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ellie Marsh. Ellie is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she is also a section representative for Section D. We recently caught up with her to talk about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, where she spent her summer internship, her plans for her second year and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #271: International Student Support with Larry Mueller and Merav Frazier

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Larry Mueller and Merav Frazier. Larry is the Assistant Dean for Global Advising at Darden and Merav is Senior Associate Director of Global Recruitment. We talk with Larrry and Merav about their backgrounds, what they enjoy about working with international students, their advice for incoming students and more. Larry and Merav also reflect on this year’s International Student Orientation Program (ISOP). For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #270: Healthcare @ Darden | Lindsey Moran (MBA ’24)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Lindsey Moran. Lindsey is recent graduate in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and we talk with her about what led her to Darden, how she spent the summer after her first year, her experience with the Prison Reentry Education Program (PREP) and more. We also talk with Lindsey about her interest in healthcare, and her advice for healthcare-focused students at Darden. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #269: Healthcare @ Darden | Chris Egbert (MBA ’24)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Chris Egbert. Chris is a recent graduate in Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and we chat with him about his decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, what he enjoyed about his time in Charlottesville and more. We also discuss Chris’ interest in healthcare, and he shares his thoughts on opportunities for healthcare-focused students at Darden. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #268: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Michael Ho

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Michael Ho. We talk with Ho about his background, what led him to Darden, his mergers and acquisitions elective, how his work at Fifth Third Bank informs his classes at Darden and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #267: Entrepreneur Spotlight | Alexander Durant & Maximilian Martin

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two recent graduates from UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, Alex Durant and Maximilian Martin. We talk with Alex and Maximilian about their decisions to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, the impact of their Darden experience and more. In addition, Alex and Maximilian have recently started a new microfinance venture, Mingle Money, and we talk with them about the inspiration for this idea and their plans for the months ahead.  For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #266: Entrepreneur Spotlight | Curie Chang

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Curie Chang. Curie is a recent graduate in the Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and she is also the founder of Petrichor, the first apparel manufacturing and disposal startup specializing in zero waste and closed-loop processes. We talk with Curie about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, what inspired her to launch Petrichor, how her venture evolved during her time at Darden, her plans for the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #265: Tingting Su, VP Admissions, Graduate Women in Business

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tingting Su. Tingting is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she is also VP Admissions for Darden’s Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) student organization. We talk with Tingting about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, what GWIB has meant to her during her time at Darden, what she’s looking forward to in the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #264: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Ian Appel

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Ian Appel. His main area of interest is empirical corporate finance, and his recent work studies different types of institutional investors (e.g., index funds, activist hedge funds), corporate environmental behaviors, and governance in decentralized finance.. We talk with Appel about his background, what led him to Darden, his FinTech electives, decentralized finance, cryptocurrency and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.