Experience Darden

Experience Darden #106: Creating a First of Its Kind Product for Women - Megan Nash

We continue our spotlight on student founders with an interview with Megan Nash (Class of 2022). Megan‘s venture, Rayna, is an electric hair trimmer made for women, by women. We talk with Megan about the inspiration for the product, what her research says about the potential market opportunity, how the Darden community have helped her along her entrepreneurial journey and how her venture has gone from idea to prototype and manufacturing in less than a year. 

Experience Darden #105: Inflation, K-Shaped Recoveries and Cybersecurity Risk in the Banking System - A Conversation With Professor Kinda Hachem

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the second installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Kinda Hachem. We talk with Hachem about growing up in Toronto, what initially sparked her interest in Economics, her “Economics of Money and Banking” course and more. We also check in about a number of hot topics in Economics, including the current U.S. debate about inflation, K-shaped recoveries on a global scale, the greatest current threat to the banking system, and the concept of a global corporate tax rate.

Experience Darden #104: Purvaj Dharia - Cultivating a Network of a Lifetime Through International Student Leadership

Purvaj Dharia (Class of 2021) is the outgoing VP for International Affairs for the Darden Student Association (DSA). We connected with Purvaj earlier this year to talk about his MBA journey and how the DSA has supported international students during the pandemic. Purvaj also shares why he thinks people and culture should be top of mind for any prospective MBA student.

Experience Darden #103: Making Fashion More Sustainable

Did you know the fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of global greenhouse emissions? However, Darden First Year student Elizabeth Blankenship (Class of 2022) has a solution. Her contemporary fashion venture, Coton, uses only existing materials, bought directly from other luxury fashion brands and mills across Europe, to produce its clothes. We recently connected with Blankenship to talk about her MBA journey, the inspiration for her venture and the importance of doing the hardest thing first.

Experience Darden #102: MBA Entrepreneur on Creating Meaningful Connections

Alex Zorychta (Class of 2021) is a connector, and his venture, Zalence, allows connectors to curate pools of people they think should meet one-on-one. We chat with him about his entrepreneurial journey and how the Darden community has helped him explore and refine his venture.

Experience Darden #101: Director of Venture Programs Jason Brewster: ‘If You’re Having Doubts, You’re Making Progress’

We caught up with Director of Venture Programs for the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (and friend of our Admissions podcasts) Jason Brewster to talk about the current state of the venturing at Darden. He also shares insights about effectuation, resources available to Darden student entrepreneurs and reading recommendations for aspiring venturers.

Experience Darden #100: A Podcast Idea Inspired by a Daily Darden Tradition

Harsha Gummagatta (Class of 2021) and Eric Linde (Class of 2021) are good friends, but they are also the hosts of a brand new Darden-inspired podcast, Third Coffee. As our listeners may know, First Coffee is a popular tradition at Darden – it’s a dedicated time each weekday when the community convenes for coffee (or tea!) and conversation. We chat with Harsha and Eric about the inspiration for the podcast, how things are going so far and their tips for fellow podcasters.

Experience Darden #99: SPACs, GameStop and the Challenge of Bitcoin: A Conversation With Professor Rich Evans

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we’re pleased to share our recent Office Hours conversation with Darden Professor Rich Evans. We talk with Evans about his background, what led him to Darden, what he enjoys about teaching Finance through the case method and more. We also find time to hear Evans’ thoughts about a number of Finance-related “hot topics” – SPACs, GameStop, Bitcoin and the current state of the U.S. stock market.

Experience Darden #98: Darden's Future Year Scholars Program with Admissions Committee Members Katherine Alford and Merav Frazier

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Katherine Alford and Merav Frazier, two members of our Admissions Committee at the Darden School of Business. Katherine and Merav work closely with our Future Year Scholars Program (FYSP), Darden’s deferred enrollment program for college seniors and fifth year Master’s students, and we recently connected with Katherine and Merav to learn more about the Future Year Scholars Program as well as their tips and advice for FYSP applicants.

Experience Darden #97: Tre Tennyson, MBA Class of 2021, Chair, UVA Graduate and Professional Council and Graduate Affairs Chair, UVA Student Council

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tre Tennyson. Tre is a second year student in Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, and he is also Chair of the UVA Graduate and Professional Council and the Graduate Affairs Chair on the UVA Student Council. We recently connected with Tre via Zoom to talk about his MBA journey and how he is advocating for graduate and professional students across grounds.

Experience Darden #96: Ann Joseph, MBA Class of 2021 and President of Darden’s Global Business and Culture Club

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up Ann Joseph. Ann is a second year student in Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, and she is also the President of Darden’s Global Business and Culture Club. We recently connected with Ann to discuss her MBA journey, what led her to Darden and how the Global Business and Culture Club has found creative ways to offer programming, like the always popular Global Food Festival, during the pandemic.

Experience Darden #95: Larry Murphy, President of Custom Solutions for Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Larry Murphy. Larry is President, Custom Solutions, for Darden’s Executive Education and Lifelong Learning group, and we recently connected with him to talk about a meal initiative that was piloted this year to help foster community during the pandemic. Larry also shares an update about the Darden Inn construction project as well as the School’s plans to bring an arboretum and botanical garden to North Grounds.  

Experience Darden #94: Experience Charlottesville!

What’s it like to live in Charlottesville? In this episode, we catch up with three second year students in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, Emma Coogan, Tejaswi Kambalapally and Louis Margules about their respective MBA journeys as well as their favorite things to do in Cville.
Thumbnail image by Saadiq Hasan, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Experience Darden #93: Professor Bidhan ("Bobby") Parmar

In the special episode of the podcast, we catch up with Bobby Parmar. Bobby is an Associate Professor of Business Administration and the Shannon Smith Emerging Scholar in Business here at the Darden School, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk about the movie he recently produced, Fishing with Dynamite, why he thinks stakeholder theory is gaining traction with more and more business leaders and how he feels Darden’s ethical approach prepares students for the long run.
 

Experience Darden #92: Lauren Wallace, Assistant Director of Student Affairs and Global Engagement Manager

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Lauren Wallace. Lauren is an Assistant Director of Student Affairs and Global Engagement Manager at the Darden School of Business, and she has also been the key point of contact for the section of full-time MBA students who just matriculated in January, Section J. This section was created as a one-time offering to give students enrollment flexibility in response to the global pandemic, and we recently connected with Lauren via Zoom to talk more about the work she and others at the School did to support these students.

Experience Darden #91: Alex May, MBA Class of 2021 and VP for Darden Cup

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Alex May. Alex is a second year student in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, and he is also VP for Darden Cup, Darden’s annual section-wide competition featuring extracurricular, athletic and artistic events. We recently connected with Alex via Zoom to talk with him about his MBA journey and how Darden Cup has adapted and adjusted in response to COVID-19 and the University’s health and safety guidelines.

Experience Darden #90: Debbie Wilson, Staff Psychologist at the UVA Darden School of Business

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Debbie Wilson. Debbie is the Staff Psychologist at the Darden School of Business, and we recently connected with her to talk about students’ adjustment to life at Darden. During this wide-ranging conversation, Debbie shares a host of insights and tips for incoming students, including self-care strategies, how to prepare for the start of school and much more.

Experience Darden #89: Fall Semester Special with Senior Associate Deans Tom Steenburgh and Yael Grushka-Cockayne

In this special episode of the podcast, we catch up with Senior Associate Deans Tom Steenburgh and Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Tom and Yael are repeat guests on our Admissions podcasts, and we welcomed them back to talk about the fall semester and how Darden’s MBA programs – both Full-Time MBA and Executive MBA – adapted to the evolving COVID-19 landscape. During this wide-ranging conversation, Tom and Yael also share insights about the principles guiding the School’s planning efforts for the months ahead. 

Experience Darden #88: Andrew Kalna and Jeremy Rosenthal, Student Admissions Committee Members in the MBA Class of 2021

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two members of the Student Admissions Committee (SAC), Andrew Kalna and Jeremy Rosenthal Andrew and Jeremy are both second year students in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, and we recently connected with them to talk about their respective MBA journeys, what led them to Darden as well as their best tips for Darden applicants.

Experience Darden #87: Jeff McNish, Assistant Dean, Career Center and Casey Floyd, Director for Employer Engagement

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jeff McNish, Assistant Dean, Career Center and Casey Floyd, Director for Employer Engagement. Casey and Jeff have both been on the podcast previously, and we recently connected with them via Zoom to talk about Darden’s approach to career support, what they love about the work they do, what recruiting looked like this fall and more.

Experience Darden #86: Rachel Barnes, JD/MBA Dual Degree Student in Darden's MBA Class of 2021

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Rachel Barnes. Rachel is a JD/MBA student in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, and we recently connected with her via Zoom to talk more about her background, why she decided to pursue a dual degree, how she has balanced the demands of both law school and business school and much more!

Experience Darden #85: Zakiah Pierre, Associate Director in the Office of Student Affairs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Zakiah Pierre. Zakiah is an Associate Director in Darden’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA), and she works closely with Darden’s student clubs and organizations. We recently connected with her via Zoom to talk more about her background, what brought her to Darden, how student clubs and organizations are staying active and engaged during COVID-19 and much more.

Experience Darden #84: Sammi Zhang, MBA Class of 2021 and President of the Asia Business Club at Darden

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Sammi Zhang. Sammi is a second year student in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, and she is also the President of the Asia Business Club at Darden (ABCD). We recently connected with Sammi via Zoom to talk about her background, what led her to Darden, how things are going during the COVID-19 pandemic, her advice for prospective students and much more. Fun fact: Sammi was in China when we recorded this conversation, and she was kind enough to stay up to midnight for this interview!

Experience Darden #83: Emily Kelly, MBA Class of 2021 and President of the Black Business Students Association

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Emily Kelly. Emily is a second year student in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2021, and she is also President of the Black Business Students Association (BBSA). We recently connected with Emily via Zoom to talk more about her background, how she decide to pursue an MBA, what BBSA has been up to this year and much more

Experience Darden #82: Mark Delaney, MBA Class of 2022 and Host of the Veteran (Semi) Professional Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Mark Delaney. Mark is a first year student in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2022, and he is also a former military officer. We recently connected via Zoom to talk about his decision to pursue an MBA, what brought him to Darden, how his first semester is going as well as his advice for transitioning military members. Mark also hosts his own podcast – The Veteran (Semi) Professional Podcast – and he was kind enough to give us a sneak preview of a few upcoming episodes.