Experience Darden

Experience Darden #263: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Shane Dikolli

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 Shane Dikolli. Dikolli’s primary research interests focus on the performance evaluation of CEOs spanning both analytical modeling and empirical analysis, and he currently serves as an editor at The Accounting Review. We talk with Dikolli about his background, what attracted him to Accounting, what led him to Darden, his Strategic Costing elective, his global course in Australia 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 #262: Student Spotlight | Jessa Ursabia, President, Graduate Women in Business (GWIB)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jessa Ursabia. Jessa is a rising second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she is also the President of Darden’s Graduate Women in Business Club. In this conversation, we talk with Jessa about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, applying to Darden through the Consortium, her plans for GWIB in the year ahead, her advice for prospective students 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 #261: Meet Lisandro Sagastume and Hailey Webster, Parents of Darden Student Organization

In this episode of the podcast, we spotlight the Parents of Darden student organization with a conversation with Lisandro Sagastume and Hailey Webster. Lisandro is a recent graduate in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and Hailey is a rising second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025 and both have served as leaders of Parents of Darden. We talk with Lisandro and Hailey about their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, balancing the demands of an MBA program and family commitments, how Parents of Darden supported them during their 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 #260: Student Spotlight | Kristin Scruggs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Kristin Scruggs. Kristin is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she also serves as VP Academics for Darden’s Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) student organization and will lead the tutoring program for first year students in the coming year. We talk with Kristin about her background in speech pathology, her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, how she’ll be spending this summer, her advice for prospective students 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 #259: Meet the Consortium Liaisons | Amari Brown, Chris Woodfolk, Camilla Zhang and Beth Siyoum

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Amari Brown, Chris Woodfolk, Camilla Zhang and Beth Siyoum. Amari, Chris, Camilla and Beth are rising second year students in Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and they are also Darden’s newest Consortium liaisons. In this conversation, Amari, Chris, Camilla and Beth reflect upon their MBA journeys, what the Consortium has meant to them during their time at Darden, what attracted them to the Consortium liaison role, their plans for the months ahead and more. Learn more about the Consortium. 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 #258: Meet Carlos Bortoni (MBA/M.Ed ’19), Senior Director, Tech Hub, Batten Institute

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with Carlos Bortoni. Carlos is an MBA/M.Ed graduate in Darden’s Class of 2019, and he currently serves As Senior Director for the Batten Institute’s new launched “Tech Hub,” a cross-departmental effort to advance Darden’s presence and standing in technology through thought leadership, faculty and student engagement, and stakeholder management across the broader tech, startup, VC/PE, and industry-specific ecosystems in the U.S. and globally. We talk with Carlos about his Darden experience, what brought him back to Darden for his current role, why he’s so passionate about tech, what he’s looking forward to in the coming months 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 #257: Meet Jen Coleman, Executive Director, Armstrong Center for Alumni Career Services

In this special episode of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with Jen Coleman. Jen is the Executive Director of the Armstrong Center for Alumni Career Services at Darden, and she also serves as an Executive Coach and Career Consultant. We chat with Jen about her background, what brought her to coaching, how she works with alumni, her advice for prospective students and more. All Darden alumni have complimentary access to career support through Alumni Career Services for life. 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 #256: Women@Darden Spotlight | Executive Fellow and Professor of Practice Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88)

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Executive Fellow and Professor of Practice Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88). This wide-ranging conversation hosted by Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke touches on Miles’ advice and insights for prospective and admitted students, her work as CEO of Save the Children, what brought her back to 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 #255: Spotlight on UVA Venture Capital Conference

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we’re excited to highlight an upcoming event – the University of Virginia Venture Capital Conference taking place at Sands Family Grounds in Arlington, Virginia on Friday, 12 April. In honor of this year’s conference, we recently connected with two second year students in Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, Malcolm Stewart and Ellie Jamison, to talk about Venture Capital at Darden – what resources and courses are available to students, advice for prospective students interested in VC 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 #254: Student Spotlight | Sloane Grey

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Audriana “Sloane” Grey. Sloane is an MBA/M.Ed student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and we recently connected with her to talk about her background, how she decided to pursue an MBA, how she’s explored her entrepreneurial interests during her time at Darden, her role as President of Building Goodness in April 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 #253: Meet Vincent Truong and Jill Howland, DSA President and DSA Executive Vice President

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Vincent Truong and Jill Howland. Vincent and Jill are first year students in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, and they were recently elected to serve as the President and Executive Vice President, respectively, of the Darden Student Association (DSA). We talk with Vincent and Jill about the MBA journeys, their experience at Darden so far, how they will be spending their summers as well as their plans for the DSA in the year 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 #252: Student Spotlight | Jon Rickords

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jon Rickords. Jon is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and he is also the outgoing President of the Sobriety Initiative, a Darden student organization that seeks to provide a welcoming community at Darden and foster inclusivity by hosting alcohol-free events, individually or in partnership with other clubs. We talk with Jon about his background in Accounting, his decision to pursue an MBA, moving to the east coast for business school, what the Sobriety Initiative has been up to this 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 #251: Meet Anna Fife (MBA ’14), Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, Batten Institute

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Anna Fife (MBA ’14). Anna is the Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for Darden’s Batten Institute, and we recently connected to talk with her about her background, what led her to Darden as an MBA student, and what brought her back to Darden for her role with the Batten Institute. Anna also shares insights about Darden’s Batten Scholars 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 #250: Student Spotlight | Aidan Connell

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Aidan Connell. Aidan is a MBA/M.Ed student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and we recently connected with him to talk more about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA/M.Ed dual degree, what he’s enjoyed about his second year, his advice for prospective students and more. Aidan also shares more about a case he is currently writing on educational leadership. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, click the link the description to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.
https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/?hl=en
https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/
For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, click the link the description to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

Experience Darden #249: Student Spotlight | Yonah Greenstein

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Yonah Greenstein. Yonah is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and we recently connected with him to talk about his background, what led him to Darden, his work with the Prison Reentry Education Program (PREP), his experience as a Tri-Sector Leadership Fellow and more.

Experience Darden #248: Student Spotlight | Ty Sheets

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ty Sheets. Ty is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and we recently connected with him to talk about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, his experience moving to Charlottesville with a family, his favorite class from his time at Darden and more. During this interview, we also discuss the Kington Scholarship. The Kingston Scholarship was established in 2018 by Mark (MBA ’88) and Ann Kington to support students from the Appalachian Region.

Experience Darden #247: Women@Darden Spotlight | Senior Associate Dean Yael Grushka Cockayne

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Senior Associate Dean, Professional Degree Programs Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Grushka-Cockayne's research and teaching activities focus on data science, forecasting, project management and behavioral decision-making. Her research is published in numerous academic and professional journals, and she is a regular speaker at international conferences in the areas of decision analysis, project management and management science. During this conversation moderated by Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke, Clarke and Grushka-Cockayne share insights into the Women@Darden initiative which has the goal of making Darden the graduate business school of choice for women leaders across the world.

Experience Darden #246: Darden’s Global Courses | Marc and Shizuka Modica

In this special edition of Darden Admissions’ podcast, we talk with Marc and Shizuka Modica about Darden’s global course offerings. Marc is a Senior Lecturer in Business Administration with broad international experience in negotiation, communications and conflict management teaching and consulting. Shizuka is a lecturer and adjunct faculty member, and she is an expert on high performance, meaningful work, leadership and change management. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Marc and Shizuka about their backgrounds, what led them to Darden, what they enjoy about leading global courses and more. They also share insights about Darden’s global course offerings in Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

Experience Darden #245: Student Spotlight | Ibukunoluwa Aiyemo

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ibukun Aiyemo. Ibukun is a second-year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and we talk with her about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her Darden, adjusting to life as a first year MBA student, how she spent the summer after her first year, what she’s enjoyed about her second year and more.

Experience Darden #244: Student Spotlight | Seiver Jorgensen, MBA/ME

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Seiver Jorgensen. Seiver is pursuing an MBA/Master of Engineering dual degree, and she is currently completing her first year at Darden. We talk with Seiver about what attracted her to the MBA/ME dual degree, what led her to Darden, and what she’s enjoyed about her experience so far. As she shares in the conversation, Seiver is neurodivergent, and we also discuss a new student organization she is starting focused on supporting students with disabilities.

Experience Darden #243: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Jim Naughton

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 Jim Naughton. Naughton is an Associate Professor in the Accounting area at Darden, and his research examines how financial, legal, and regulatory institutions shape both financial disclosure and economic choices. We talk with Naughton about why he’s passionate about the case method, Darden’s approach to Accounting, his interest in ESG disclosures and more.

Experience Darden #242: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Les Alexander

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 Les Alexander. Alexander is an experienced professor, venture capital and private equity investor, corporate executive, and investment banker, and he is a Professor of Practice in the Finance and Strategy, Ethics & Entrepreneurship areas at Darden. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Alexander about Venture Capital (VC), Private Equity (PE), his Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) elective, plans for the UVA Venture Capital Conference, his advice interested in VC and PE and more.

Experience Darden #241: Looking Back on the Fall Semester | Melissa Thomas-Hunt & Yael Grushka-Cockayne

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Melissa Thomas-Hunt and Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Melissa is the Senior Associate Dean for Darden’s Residential Full-Time MBA program and Yael is the Senior Associate Dean for Darden’s Professional Degree Programs. We talk with Melissa and Yael about the fall semester, highlights from the past few months, what they’re looking forward to in the spring, their advice for prospective students and more.

Experience Darden #240: Spotlight on the GWIB Conference

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Alankritha Bhushan and Madison Carey. Alankritha and Madsion are second year students in Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2024, and they serve as VPs Conference for Darden’s Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) club. We talk with Alankritha and Madison about their respective MBA journeys, what attracted them to serving on the GWIB leadership board, highlights from this year’s GWIB Conference and more.

Experience Darden #239: Student Spotlight | First Generation and Low-Income College Student Initiative

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with second year Full-Time MBA students Hoi-San Guan and Chloe Ramnarine to discuss Darden’s First Generation and Low-Income College Student Initiative (FGLI). The goal of this initiative is to foster community and a sense of belonging among first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) college students at Darden. We talk with Hoi-San and Chloe about their MBA journeys, what led them to Darden, plans for the FGLI Initiative in the months ahead and more.