Experience Darden

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Khushali Shah. Khushali is a student in our Full-Time MBA Class of 2023, and she was recently named Forte fellow ambassador for 2022-2023. She is also VP International for UVA Darden’s Graduate Women in Business (GWIB). We talk with Khushali about her background and her decision to pursue an MBA, as well as what attracted her to the Forte fellow amb...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Nikolaus Jacobs. Nikolaus, or “Niko” as his classmates know him, is a second year student the Full-Time MBA Class of 2022. Niko is originally from Germany and came to the United States for college before spending time working for Google in Ireland. We talk with Niko about his MBA journey and how his career interests have evolved during his time at D...

In this episode of the podcast, we continue our ongoing spotlight on student founders. We catch up Bradley Levergood (Class of 2023) and Maya Singh (Class of 2023) about their venture, Clarifi Technologies, LLC, a product to help students with ADHD stay focused while doing digital work. We also talk with Bradley and Maya about their MBA journeys, how UVA's Entrepreneurship Cup has helped them  alo...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Adriana Gadala-Maria. Adriana, or “Adri” as her Darden classmates know her, is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2022. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about Adri’s journey from the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay Area to Darden community in Charlottesville. She reflects upon her decision to pursue an MBA,...

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with Raj Venkatesan. Venkatesan is a member of the Marketing faculty at Darden, and he was recently named the Co-Academic Director for the M.S. in Business Analytics program, a one-year specialized masters offered by the UVA Darden School of Business in partnership with UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce. Venkatesan’s areas of ex...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Rachel Edwards. Rachel is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2022, and she is also an entrepreneur. Rachel has spent her career in fashion, and we chat with her about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, her work with the UVA Seed Fund and early stage ventures during her two years in Cville, as well the so...

In what is quickly becoming an annual tradition on the podcast, in this episode we catch up with the new Consortium co-liaisons for the upcoming academic year – Alexis Orr (Class of 2023), Minnie Lahoti (Class of 2023) and Angel Monrroy (Class of 2023). Alexis, Minnie and Angel reflect upon their MBA journeys and why they’re excited to serve as Consortium liaisons in the year ahead. They also shar...

In this episode of the podcast, we spotlight the Second Year Tutor Program, and we are joined for this conversation by the outgoing Second Year Tutor Chairs Kate Shadlock (Class of 2022) and Johnny Mac Yates (Class of 2022). With graduation on the horizon, Kate and Johnny Mac talk reflect upon their MBA journey and the impact of their Darden experience. They also discuss what the tutoring program,...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Sukari Brown (Class of 2023). Sukari is a First Year student in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2023, and it’s fair to say she is involved in the extracurricular life of the school. Sukari is the President-Elect of the Private Equity Club, a Breakthrough Scholar, a Consortium member and a portfolio manager for Darden Capital Management. She is a...

In this conversation, we catch up with Ryan Cox. Ryan is a first year student in Darden’s Class of 2023, and he is also enrolled in UVA’s MS in Data Science program. We talk with Ryan about his experience as a dual degree student, what it’s like learning in the case method, his plans for his summer internship and what he loves about his first year section, Section D. Ryan applied to Darden through...

In this conversation, we catch up with Kristian Robinson. Kristian is the Associate Director of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Recruiting at the Darden School of Business, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk about his journey to Darden. Kristian has a background in mental health counseling and he is currently working on a Ph. D at Virginia Commonwealth University, and in th...

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Tyler Kelley and Moriah Horner. Tyler and Moriah are First Year students in the Full-Time MBA Class of 2023, and they are also newly elected leaders of the Darden Student Association (DSA). Tyler is the DSA President and Moriah is DSA Executive Vice President, and we talk with them about their backgrounds, how they decided to pursue an MBA, how their...

In this special edition of the podcast, we spotlight the University of Virginia’s MS in Business Analytics. The MSBA is a 12-month program offered in partnership by the Darden School of Business and the McIntire School of Commerce, and it is designed for working professionals seeking to learn essential and emerging data analysis techniques within a business context. We are joined for this conversa...

In this special episode of the Darden Admissions podcast, we’re excited to share a recent installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke and Professor of Practice Vivian Riefberg. Riefberg is a Professor of Practice at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia where she holds a David C. Walentas Jefferson Scholars...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Hemant Das. Hemant serves as the Principal Advisor for India Initiatives through Darden's partner Sannam S4. Hemant works collaboratively across the Darden Enterprise, leading efforts to advance the school’s impact and engagement in India and the region. He is a key liaison for Darden to alumni, corporate partners, current/prospective students, and...

In this episode of the podcast, we connect with Kate Allen (Class of 2022). Kate is a second year student, and she also serves as Vice President for Darden Cup on the Darden Student Association. During this wide-ranging conversation, Kate talks about how she identified her target MBA programs, why Darden resonated with her, and what it was like to go through the business school application process...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Doris Cao. Doris is Director of China Initiatives with Darden’s Center for Global Initiatives, and she is based in Shanghai, China. We recently connected with Doris via Zoom to talk about what led her Darden, what enjoys about working with Darden students and why she thinks Darden is such a transformational MBA experience. She also shares reflection...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Second Year students Juan Montiel (Class of 2022) and Jorge Laborde (Class of 2022). Juan and Jorge are both members of the Latin American Student Association (LASA) student organization leadership board, and we talk with them about their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden and their experiences relocating to Charlottesville from Arge...

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the 11th installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Toni Irving. Irving is a Professor of Practice at the Darden School, and she teaches several courses in the Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship area, including “Getting in the Room Where It Happens: How to Successfully Navi...

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the 10th installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Marc Lipson. Lipson is a member of the Finance faculty, and he teaches a wide range of courses at the Darden School, including First Year Finance, International Corporate Finance, and Innovators, Designers, and Entrepreneurs...

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back an old friend, Director of Admissions Catie Yeilding. In this episode we talk with Catie about a wide range of topics, from her recent favorite podcast and college football to application tips and the Darden interview. Catie shares insights for applicants targeting Darden’s Full-Time MBA Round 2 application deadline. Essential listening.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Olivia Pavco-Giaccia. Olivia is a second year student in the Full-Time MBA Class of 2022, and prior to arriving at Darden, she founded and ran a social enterprise, LabCandy, focused on breaking down gender barriers and educating young girls in STEM. We talk with her about her background in science and how she decided to pursue an MBA. Olivia is also...

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the ninth installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Casey Lichtendahl. Lichtendahl is a member of the Quantitative Analysis faculty and Co-Academic Director for the MS in Business Analytics program. He is also a Darden alumnus, and in this wide-ranging conversation, we talk w...

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the seventh installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Dan Murphy. Murphy is a member of the Global Economies and Market, and during this wide-ranging conversation, he touches upon everything from growing up in Denver and his twin passions for policy and economics to affordabl...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Shuai Yao (Class of 2023). Shuai reflects upon her personal story, including relocating from China to the Washington and launching her own global social media talk show on which she interviewed passengers she picked up while driving for Lyft. Shuai also shares insights from her first couple quarters at Darden, including how her Learning Team has bec...