Experience Darden

Experience Darden #297: Student Spotlight | Adair Maynard

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Adair Maynard. Adair a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025. Adair is the President of the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, and she also has a venture – Memorial Tribute Legacy LLC. We talk with Adair about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, how her time at Darden has helped her develop her start-up, her advice for prospective students and more.

Experience Darden #296: Office Hours Spotlight | Darden Health Care Initiative

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series. This episode features a conversation with Professors Christoph Herpfer and Marc Ruggiano, two faculty members involved with the Darden’s Health Care Initiative, hosted by the Institute for Business in Society. We talk with Chris and Marc about healthcare-related curricular and co-curricular opportunities at Darden, the healthcare ecosystem at the University of Virginia, challenges with healthcare delivery in the United States 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 #295: Office Hours Spotlight | LaCross Institute for Ethical AI

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series. This episode features a conversation with Vice Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Professor Raj Venkatesan, Academic Directors for the LaCross Institute for Ethical AI at the Darden School of Business. We talk with Yael and Raj about their interest in AI, what attracted them to their roles with the LaCross Institute, what’s happening around AI at Darden, the Institute’s 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 #294: Tips for Waitlisted Candidates with Senior Associate Director Merav Frazier

In this special edition of the podcast, we catch up with Merav Frazier. Merav is the Senior Associate Director of Global Recruitment, and she also works closely with candidates on the waiting list for UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA program. Merav shares more about what the waitlist decision means, the waitlist process, next steps for candidates on the waitlist and more.

Experience Darden #293: Office Hours Spotlight | Mayo Center for Asset Management

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share a recent installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series. This episode features a conversation with Rodney Sullivan and Caitlin Boyer with Darden’s Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management. The Mayo Center advances the study and practice of responsible asset management globally through developing and delivering world-class research, educational programs and activities, awards, and support for student clubs and Darden Capital Management (DCM). We talk with Rodney and Caitlin about resources and opportunities for Darden students interested in a wide range of asset management-related fields including traditional asset management, private equity, venture capital and Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), and real estate.   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 #292: Student Spotlight | Andrew Yowell

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Andrew Yowell. Andrew is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and he is also a Future Year Scholar. We talk with Andrew about his decision to pursue an MBA, what attracted him to the Future Year Scholars Program, how he figured out the right time for him to enroll in business school, what he’s enjoyed about his Darden experience and more. We also talk with Andrew about the recent Darden Sustainability Conference, hosted in November 2024. 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 #291: Student Spotlight | Richie Todd

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Richie Todd. Richie is a second year student in UVA Darden's Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and he is also the President of the Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) club. We talk with Richie about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, why he's passionate about entrepreneurship, what the ETA 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 #290: Future Year Scholar Spotlight | Dan Smith

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Dan Smith. Dan is a first year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2026, and he is also a Future Year Scholar. We talk with Dan about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what attracted him to the Future Year Scholar Program, what he’s enjoyed about his first year and more. Dan also spent significant time as a youth soccer coach prior to Darden, and we talk with him about his coaching philosophy and what he enjoyed about coaching. 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 #289: Reflecting on This Year’s GWIB Conference

In this episode of the podcast, we spotlight this year’s Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) Conference. The conference is an annual event that kicks off the recruiting cycle for GWIB members and also offers members opportunity for leadership and professional development. We talk with two second year students in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, Meredith Johnson and Jin “JJ” Jiang who serve as VP Conference on the GWIB Board about highlights from this year’s conference, what guided their plans for the event, what GWIB has meant to them during their time at Darden and more. The Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) is an organization that serves to empower women to be the fullest expression of themselves by creating inclusive spaces to grow authentic connections, further gender equity and forge partnerships on and off grounds. 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 #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.