Experience Darden

Experience Darden #57: Dawna Clarke, Executive Director of Admissions

In this episode, we welcome Executive Director of Admissions Dawna Clarke back to the podcast! We connected with Dawna to discuss recent updates to our Full-Time MBA application process in light of the global Coronavirus pandemic as well as her advice for Round 3 applicants. If you’re applying in Round 3, this episode is essential listening. Podcaster’s Note: This was our first “distance” podcast interview, and we’re excited to keep the podcast on the air during this time of social distancing.

Experience Darden #56: Lindsay Johnson, MBA Class of 2021

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Lindsay Johnson. Lindsay is a First Year student in our Class of 2021, and we sat down to talk about her background in entertainment and media, why she decided to pursue an MBA, her interest in brand management as well as her experience applying to Darden through the Consortium. We recorded this episode with Lindsay a few months ago, and over the next couple weeks, we’ll be clearing out our interview vault, but stay tuned for new episodes as well. We’re excited to announce that we’ve identified a remote solution that will allow us to keep the podcast going during this time of social distancing.

Experience Darden #55: The Asia Business Club at Darden (ABCD)

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Clement Le Royer and Yun “Chris” Lou, two Second Year students in our Class of 2020. Clement and Chris are leaders of the Asia Business Club at Darden (ABCD), and we recently sat down with them to talk about their backgrounds, what led them to Darden, how ABCD supports students and what they hope to accomplish in the months prior to graduation.

Experience Darden #54: Sarah Costa, MBA Class of 2021

In this episode of the Experience Darden podcast, we catch up with Sarah Costa. Sarah is a First Year student in our Class of 2021, and she is also mom. We recently sat down with Sarah to talk about her decision to pursue an MBA, what brought her to Darden, how her Learning Team has helped her navigate the first year experience, and how she has juggled the demands of school and parenting.

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Experience Darden #53: Pursuing Jobs in Financial Services

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two leaders of the Finance Club, Anne-Catherine Begley and Jay Patel. Anne-Catherine and Jay are both Second Year students in our Class of 2020, and we sat down with them to talk more about the job search process for students interested in Financial Services and how the Finance Club supports students pursuing this career path. Did you know that, for our Class of 2019, Financial Services was the second most popular post-graduate destination, with 24.4% of graduates accepting jobs in this industry? True story.

Experience Darden #52: Casey Floyd, Director of Employer Engagement and Recruiting

In this episode, we catch up with Director of Employer Engagement and Recruiting, Casey Floyd. Casey recently launched her own podcast, The Employer Perspective, in which she sits down recruiters to talk about the hiring process and what they’re looking for in candidates. We talk with Casey about the inspiration for her podcast as well as the work she does leading Darden’s Employer Engagement efforts.

Experience Darden #51: Admissions Update with Whitney Kestner, Director of Admissions

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Director of Admissions, Whitney Kestner. Whitney shares updates about Round 2, tips and insights for Round 3 applicants as well as guidance for applicants prepping for their Darden interview. We also find time to bust up some common myths around Round 3. Essential listening for anyone applying to Darden’s Full-Time MBA Program.

Experience Darden #50: Adam Miller, MBA Class of 2020

In this episode, we catch up with Second Year Adam Miller. Adam Miller applied to Darden through the Consortium, and he also hosts a popular MBA podcast called, The MBA Candidate. We sat down with him to talk about what led him to Darden, life as both a first year and now a second year student, his work with Darden’s Prison Program, his goals for his final months as an MBA student and what inspired him to launch his own podcast.

Experience Darden #49: Robyn Swift, Director of West Coast Initiatives for the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Robyn Swift. Robyn is Director of West Coast Initiatives for the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and we caught up with her during her recent trip to the East Coast to talk about the work she is doing to deepen the connections between Charlottesville and the Bay Area, the Batten Institute’s Connect program (now in SFO and Austin!), and Darden’s growing alumni presence in San Francisco and Tech generally. This episode is highly recommended for anyone interested in innovation, entrepreneurship and/or technology.

Experience Darden, Episode 48: An Interview with Haley Whitlock Gyory, Director of Admissions

Meet Haley Whitlock Gyory! Haley is a Director of Admissions, and she leads our women’s recruitment efforts. During this episode, we talk with Haley about her background, the work she does with our Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) club as well as the Forte Foundation, why she’s passionate about women’s recruitment, and next steps for candidates seeking to learn more about Darden.

Experience Darden, Episode 47: An Interview with Jordan Hart, MBA Class of 2020

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jordan Hart. Jordan is a Second Year student in our Class of 2020, and we recently sat down with her to talk about her summer internship, her extracurricular activities as well as her plans post-graduation. Jordan is President of the Tech Club, VP of Admissions for the Graduate Women in Business club and she also serves on the Second Year Student Admissions Committee (SAC).

Experience Darden, Episode 46: An Interview with Joey Burton, Executive Director for Darden's Institute for Business in Society

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Joey Burton. Joey is Executive Director for Darden’s Institute for Business in Society (IBIS), and we recently sat down with him about what brought him to Darden, how IBIS supports faculty research and how this research impacts the classroom experience as well as how Darden helps train responsible leaders.

Experience Darden, Episode 45: An Interview with Ed Yu, Senior Director for Investment Banking Careers

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ed Yu. Ed is Senior Director for Investment Banking Careers with Darden’s Career Development Center (CDC), and we recently sat down to talk with Ed about his background, how the CDC prepares students for the Investment Banking interview process as well as why Darden is such a great fit for future investment bankers.

Experience Darden, Episode 44: An Interview with Tom Steenburgh, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development and the Full-Time MBA Program

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tom Steenburgh. Tom is the Richard S. Reynolds Professor of Business Administration, and he is also Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development and the Full-Time MBA Program. We recently sat down with Tom to talk about his background, what brought him to Darden, what he enjoys about his role as Senior Associate Dean, and how he feels the two years of MBA study, including pre-matriculation activities, fit together.

Experience Darden, Episode 43: Advice, Insights and Tips for Military Applicants to Darden

In this episode of the podcast, we take a deep dive into the application experience for military candidates. We catch up with Executive Director of Admissions, Dawna Clarke, as well as Darden Military Association (DMA), Brigitte Fox and Burton “Pierce” Lee. Brigitte and Pierce share more about their respective backgrounds, what led them to Darden, as well as their advice for military candidates, and Dawna offers insights and tips about navigating the admissions process.   

Experience Darden, Episode 42: Latin America Special

A double feature! Whitney Kestner returns to host an episode all about Latin America. This installment of the podcast features conversations with Executive Director of Admissions, Dawna Clarke, as well as two students from our Class of 2020 - Julie Calderon Benavente and Henrique Argollo. Dawna shares more about what she loves about recruiting in Latin America and why Darden is such a great fit for students from this region. Julie and Henrique discuss their backgrounds (Editor’s Note – Julie is from Peru, Henrique is from Brazil), why they chose Darden, what they’ve enjoyed about learning in the case method and the community they’ve found in Charlottesville.

Experience Darden, Episode 41: An Interview with Larry Mueller, Assistant Dean of Global Advising

We’re excited to add an additional host to the podcast - Director of Admissions, Whitney Kestner! In this episode, Whitney catches up with Larry Mueller, Assistant Dean, Global Advising. Whitney and Larry discuss the many resources available to international students at Darden, as well as life in Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. 

Experience Darden, Episode 40: An Interview with Marc Johnson, Senior Director for Global Affairs and Enterprise Initiatives

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Marc Johnson. Marc is the Senior Director for Global Affairs and Enterprise Initiatives at the Darden School, and we recently sat down to talk with him about Darden’s many global opportunities, the value of the case method as well as what he enjoys about Charlottesville. This episode is highly recommended for prospective students seeking additional insights about Darden Worldwide Courses as well as the Darden Worldwide Scholarship.

Experience Darden, Episode 39: An Interview with Jeanne Liedtka, Senior Associate Dean for Degree Programs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jeanne Liedtka. Jeanne is the United Technologies Corporation Professor of Business Administration, and she is also Darden’s Senior Associate Dean for Degree Programs. Jeanne is widely known for he work in the area of Design Thinking, and we recently sat down to talk with her about what led her to Darden, why she’s so passionate about Design Thinking, her advice for prospective students as well as what MBA students can learn from Picasso, Dali and Gaudi.

Experience Darden, Episode 38: An Interview with David Touve, Senior Director, Ventures with the iLab at UVA

Calling all entrepreneurs! In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with David Touve. David is Senior Director, Ventures with the iLab at UVA, and in this wide-ranging conversation, David details a number of the resources available at Darden and UVA for entrepreneurially-inclined students. If you like this episode, we also recommend checking out our earlier conversation with Sean Carr, Executive Director, Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as our interview with the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club.

Experience Darden, Episode 37: An Interview with Sarah Elliott and Ed Warwick of Darden's Student Affairs Team

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Sarah Elliott and Ed Warwick. Sarah and Ed are members of Darden’s Student Affairs team, and we recently sat down to talk with them about what they enjoy about working with Darden students, the resources the Office of Student Affairs provides, how Learning Teams are assembled as well as their advice for incoming Darden students.

Experience Darden, Episode 36: An Interview with Max Linden, Class of 2020 & President of the Darden Student Association

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with second year student, Max Linden. Max is President of the Darden Student Association (DSA), and we recently sat down to talk with him about his background, what led him to Darden, what the DSA has in store for the year ahead and his advice for prospective students. Pro Tip: For additional DSA-related listening, be sure to check out our previous interview with last year’s DSA President, Tom Gonzalez.

Experience Darden, Episode 35: An Interview with GWIB Leaders Laura Brokaw and Lauren Shaw

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Second Year students, Laura Brokaw and Lauren Shaw. Laura and Lauren are both leaders of Darden’s Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) student organization, and we recently sat down to talk with them about what led them to Darden, what GWIB has planned for the coming year and how their career and curricular interests have involved during their time in business school.

Experience Darden, Episode 34: An Interview with Christie Julien, Assistant Dean for Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Christie Julien. Christie is Darden’s Assistant Dean for Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and she is also the newest member of Darden’s Enterprise leadership team. We sat down with Christie as she approached her one month anniversary in her role to talk about what attracted her to Darden, why she’s passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and her goals and plans for the months ahead.