The ExecMBA Podcast

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.

Prior to Darden, First Year Sarah Lihan (Class of 2022) competed in the London 2012 Summer Olympics, and she has spent her professional career thinking about mobility for companies like Lyft and Spin. We recently connected with Sarah via Zoom to talk about her MBA journey and how things are going in the program so far.

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, Bi...

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Connie Dunlop, Executive Director for Professional Advancement at the Darden School. Connie leads a Quarter 1 course in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Program – the Professional Advancement Course (PAC) – and we recently connected with her via Zoom to talk about her career advancement-related PhD dissertation.

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Caroline Darney. Caroline is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2022, and we recently connected with her via Zoom to talk more about her background, how she decided to pursue an MBA and how things are going in the program so far. We even found time to talk a little UVA men’s basketball (after all, March Madness is right around the cor...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Perry Kaneriya. Perry is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2022, and he is also a radiologist. We recently connected with Perry via Zoom to talk about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, how he chose a general management MBA and how things are going in the program as he and his classmates wrap up Quarter 3.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Emily McMahan. Emily is a member of our Executive MBA Class of 2010, and she recently co-founded and launched an investment group for U.S. Service Academy graduates,  the Academy Investor Network . We recently connected with Emily via Zoom to talk with about her background, what led her to Darden and how her Darden experience has shaped and influenc...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Nate Scott. Nate is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2022, and he is also the Managing Editor for USA Today’s  For the Win . We recently connected with Nate via Zoom to talk about his MBA journey, what led him to Darden and how things are going so far. We also found time to talk about Nate’s USA Today/Wondery podcast,  The Sneak .

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 busine...

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the value of the Darden experience for healthcare professionals. This conversation was originally recorded as part of a webinar we hosted in late 2020, and participants include two current Executive MBA students – Luq Dad (Class of 2022) and Nicole Vij (Class of 2021) – as well as two recent alumni – Chris Thomson (EMBA ’19) and Leigh Webb (EMBA ’19). Col...

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Molly Just and Dillon Behr. Molly and Dillon are both second year students in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and they are also married to one another. We recently connected with Molly and Dillon to talk about their respective decisions to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, how they have managed the demands of work, school and a young family, t...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jason Lamb. Jason is a member of our Executive MBA Class of 2014, and he is also a veteran, serving as a Navy SEAL for over 20 years. After Darden, Jason launched his own business, The Hard Yards, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk about his MBA journey as well as how his Darden experience and network have helped him with his ventur...

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...

In this milestone 150th episode of the podcast, we welcome back Senior Associate Director of Admissions Katherine Alford. We recently connected with Katherine via Zoom to talk about how Executive MBA applicants can make the most of the upcoming winter break. If you are planning to apply for one our upcoming deadlines, this episode is essential listening.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two alumni from our Executive MBA program, Sam Calaway (EMBA ’20) and Pat Cerone (EMBA ’20). Sam and Pat both currently serve in the Navy, and we recently connected with them to talk about their MBA journeys and hear their thoughts on how an MBA – and specifically Darden’s Executive MBA program – can be of value to active duty service members seekin...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two leaders of our Network of Executive Women (NEW) student organization, Caroline Clark and Anura Shrivastava. Caroline and Anura are both second year students in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and we recently connected with them via Zoom to talk about how things are going, what NEW has been up to recently, their advice for prospective students a...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Kevin Rivers. Kevin is a second year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and he is also co-President of the Veteran Executive Students at Darden (VESD) student organization. We recently connected with Kevin via Zoom to talk about his MBA journey, what led him to Darden, what he enjoyed about his Brazil global residency, how the case method p...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Peter Webb. Peter is a graduate in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2019, and he is also a former US Army Special Forces Officer. After graduating from Darden, Peter founded a hydroponic farming venture, Grow. DC, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk about his background, how he decided to pursue an MBA, what inspired him to launch Gro...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with the co-Presidents of our Black Executive MBA (BEMBA) student organization, Michael Long and Aja Sae-Kung. Michael and Aja are both second year students in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and we recently connected with them via Zoom to talk about how things are going as the Executive MBA program pivots in response to COVID-19 and what BEMBA has been...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with David Black and Heather Townsend. David and Heather are both graduates in our Executive MBA Class of 2019, and they recently launched a mental health-focused venture, Even Health. We recently connected with David and Heather via Zoom to talk more about their background, what led them to start a business, what Even Health is all about and more.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Janeth Gomez. Janeth is Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format alumna from our Class of 2017, and we recently connected via Zoom to talk about her background, what led her to Darden, what attracted her to the GEMBA format, how her Darden experience has shaped and impacted her career and much more.  

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Emily Harper. Emily is an EMBA format student in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and we recently connected via Zoom to talk about her MBA journey, what led her to Darden. how she has balanced work, life and school and much more. Emily also shares her experience with the new hybrid class model as our Executive MBA program navigates the COVID-19 pand...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jeremiah Newman. Jeremiah is a member of our Executive MBA Class of 2018, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk about his MBA journey, what led him to Darden and how his Darden experience has helped him grow his Africa-inspired fashion start-up,  Trubaker .

This episode is all about our Network of Executive Women (NEW) student organization. We recently connected with three Presidents of NEW – Caroline Clark (EMBA ’21), Amanda Richardson (EMBA ’19) and Kristine Campbell (EMBA ’18) – via Zoom to talk more about their backgrounds, how they decided to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden and how the Network of Executive Women shaped and informed their...

In this episode, we catch up with Claritza Jiménez. Claritza is a second year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and she is also one of the co-President’s of our Executive MBA Entrepreneurship Club and a member of the Network of Executive Women student organization’s leadership team. Claritza is a journalist by trade, and we recently connected with her via Zoom to talk more about her back...