The ExecMBA Podcast

Hard to believe it took this long, but the ExecMBA podcast is back with our first Admissions-related episode! And, with our 2019 cycle ramping up, not a moment too soon. In this installment of the podcast, Whitney Kestner and I chat about our application process, the various components of our application, and our favorite tips for executive format applicants.

In this Episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Connie Dunlop, Darden’s Executive Director for Professional Advancement and a Darden alumna! In this wide-ranging conversation, we chat with Connie about what she enjoys about working with students on their career plans, her goals her Professional Advancement course, why she thinks we’re seeing more interest in entrepreneurship in our Executive...

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with MJ Toms, Director of Education and Experiential Learning for Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this broad-ranging conversation, MJ highlights the various entrepreneurship resources available to students at Darden through the Batten Institute and UVA, including the iLab, Start-Up Academy, Venture Capital Bootcamp,...

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we continue our ongoing series about entrepreneurship with a conversation with Ruchir Ghildiyal and Dan Fitzhenry, two EMBA format students in our Class of 2018. We talk with Ruchir and Dan about some of the recent student-led initiatives around entrepreneurship in our Executive MBA Program and how their Darden experience has shaped their approach to and tho...

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with a few of our Executive MBA students who work in politics – Julie Lasseter (EMBA ’18), Steve Gilleland (EMBA ’19), and Freddy Barnes (GEMBA ’19). We ask Julie, Steve and Freddy how and why they decided to pursue an MBA, what drew them to Darden, what they’ve enjoyed about the program, and their advice for politicos considering advanced education...

In this wide-ranging episode, we chat with Jim Detert. In addition to teaching Leadership and Organizational Beavior, Jim is the new faculty lead and Associate Dean for the Executive MBA Program, and we caught up with him to discuss what drew him to Darden, his goals for the Executive MBA Program, what he loves about teaching in the case method, and his plans for LR1.

In this episode, we continue our spotlight on the start of school with an interview with Callie Thompson. Callie is Director of Executive Degree Programs and leads the team of staff members who support our executive format students. We sat down with Callie to talk with her about the first Leadership Residency, LR1, and her advice for students as they navigate the first weeks of the program.

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Colin Hood and Teeja Boye, members of our Class of 2019 and two of the leaders of our Executive Student Investment Fund (ESIF). ESIF is one of six student organizations in our Executive MBA Program, and we spoke with Colin and Teeja about their goals and plans for ESIF in the coming months, and their experience as executive format students, as t...

In this episode of the ExecMBA podcast, with the start of school just a few weeks away, we talk with Barbara Millar, Assistant Dean for the Executive MBA Program. Barbara has worked with executive format students at Darden for over a decade, and we asked her advice for students starting the program. Hear Barbara's previous podcast interviews at the links below: https://listen.darden.virginia.edu/e...

In this episode of the ExecMBA podcast, we talk with Melissa Stefaniak, a 2019 EMBA format student, about her business start-up,  Single Baked Sweets . Melissa is spending the summer as part of  Darden’s iLab incubator , and we recently sat down to discuss her venture, how her classmates have helped her as she launches her business, and how the case method has pushed her to grow as a leader.

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Charlotte Robertson, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2018 and a recent Poets and Quants Best & Brightest selection. We talk with Charlotte about her decision to pursue an MBA, how her experiences in the program shaped her work as Director of Restaurants, Las Vegas for ThinkFoodGroup by Jose Andres, and how she used her Innovation and...

With our last deadline of the 2018 admissions cycle – 25 June – just a few days away, we sit down with Elan Freedy, a 2019 EMBA format in our Charlottesville section. We talk with Elan about how he chose Darden, what drew him to the Charlottesville section, what he enjoys most about being an executive format student, and his goals for his remaining time in the program.

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Jim Collins, one of two career advisors who support our executive format students. In this conversation, we explore how Jim and his colleague, Sarita Soldz, work with “climbers,” those students who wish to move up within their organization. We also touch upon what Jim loves about working with executive format students and how Darden’s career tea...

In this episode of the ExecMBA podcast, we talk with Hans Lauzen, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2019, about what he enjoys about being a member of the Charlottesville section and a student in the Executive MBA Program, what attracted him to Darden, and his advice for prospective students.

In this episode, we continue our exploration of our Charlottesville section experience with an interview with Christie May, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2019. We talk with Christie about her decision to pursue an MBA, her experience on the South Africa and China global residencies, what she enjoys about Charlottesville and the Charlottesville section, and what she loves about the program...

This episode of the ExecMBA podcast marks the first installment in a short series on our Charlottesville section experience. In this interview, we talk with Nii-Lante Lamptey, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2019, about why he decided to pursue his MBA and what he loves about learning in Charlottesville.

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Mariana Santos and Marco Mendoza about their experience as international students in Darden’s Executive MBA Program. Mariana is a 2018 EMBA format student (Charlottesville section) and originally from Brazil. Marco is a 2018 GEMBA format student (Charlottesville section) and based in Peru. We spoke with Mariana and Marco about why they chose Dar...

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Paul Conboy, an EMBA format graduate in our Class of 2017. We recently sat down with Paul to discuss his experience in the program, how he developed as a leader as a result of his time at Darden, what he loved about learning in Charlottesville, and more.

In this episode, we continue our exploration of entrepreneurship in the executive formats with a conversation with Sarita Soldz about career resources for students seeking to start their own ventures. Topics include peer support for entrepreneurially-inclined students, Darden’s iLab, and career support strategies for both emergent and experienced entrepreneurs.

In Episode 18, we begin with a short Admissions update before continuing our exploration of career support for executive format students at Darden with a conversation with Arica Booker, a 2018 EMBA format student in our Rosslyn section. Arica transitioned jobs during the program, and we talk with her about her search process, as well as her general experience as an EMBA format student at Darden. A...

In Episode 17, we talk with Sarita Soldz, one of two advisors with Darden’s Career Development Center (CDC) who work exclusively with our executive format students. In this conversation, we explore the process and available resources for those executive format students who are seeking to leverage their degree to facilitate a career transition. This is the first of several podcast episodes explorin...

The ExecMBA Podcast is back for 2018! In this podcast, we share a quick Admissions update, highlighting upcoming opportunities to learn more about Darden’s executive formats, and we also feature a conversation with Amanda Fox, a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format graduate from Darden’s Class of 2017. We talk with Amanda about her experience in the program, what led her to Darden, how she grew as...

In Episode 15, we return to the topic of entrepreneurship and talk with Corbin Norman, a GEMBA format student in our Class of 2018, about his passion for entrepreneurship, what he’s gained through the case method, what he’s learned from his classmates and how Darden has shaped his experience as an entrepreneur

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Chad Morgan, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2018, on a variety of topics ranging from how he chose Darden and what he loves about the case method to what he’s gained through his experience in the program and his recent global residency in India. We also profile our upcoming admissions deadline – January 10.

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with another recent graduate - Kate Stets, a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format student from our Class of 2017. We talk with Kate about her program experience, how GEMBA helped her develop as a leader and a case she wrote with two Darden faculty members.