The ExecMBA Podcast

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 Rory McDonald. McDonald’s research focuses on how firms compete and innovate effectively in new technology-enabled markets. Drawing on a mix of in-depth fieldwork and archival data, he studies how executives develop viable strategies in these ...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tristan Gess. Tristan is a first year student in the Part-Time MBA Class of 2028, and he is Co-President for his class. We talk with Tristan about his decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, what he’s enjoyed about his first year, how he decided to take on a leadership role and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check o...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ellen Johnson. Ellen is a recent graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2026, and she was also a recent member of the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA) leadership board. We talk with Ellen about her decision to pursue an MBA, what it’s like to change jobs during the program, the program-wide student newsletter she curated, The Executive Edit, and more. For more insights, ...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Mike Dorsey. Mike is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2027, and he is the newly elected President fo the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA). We chat with Mike about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what he’s enjoyed about his first year, why he decided to pursue a student leadership role, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about ...

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 Professors Marc Ruggiano and Rob Phillips. In this hour-long conversation, we talk with Ruggiano and Phillips about what Darden means by ethical AI as well as some of the ethical considerations across the AI value chain.  For more insights, tips, and sto...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jesse Byrnes. Jesse is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2027, and he is also the newly elected Executive Vice President for the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA). Jesse is a journalist, and he is a recipient of Darden’s Batten Media Fellowship, a full tuition and fee scholarship focused on professionals engaged in the media. We talk with Jesse about his ...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Raj Venkatesan. Raj is a member of the Marketing faculty at the Darden School of Business, and he is also one of the Academic Directors for UVA’s MS in Business Analytics program. We talk with Raj about the MSBA program, how the faculty keep the curriculum current, the program’s upcoming fifth and final module, some of his favorite MSBA capstone projects and more. We also...

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 Jared Harris. Harris’ research centers on the interplay between ethics and strategy, with a particular focus on the topics of corporate governance, business ethics and interorganizational trust. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with ...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Chris Clark and Rose Khouri. Chris and Rose are First Year students in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2027, and in this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with them about the recent Professional Advancement Course, as well as their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, how their career goals have evolved during their first semester in the program and more. Fo...

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 Justin Hopkins. Professor Hopkins has taught various courses across Darden's programs and at the UVA Law School including electives on financial reporting and financial statement analysis. He has authored a number of cases helping students to gain a...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jim Collins and Jennifer Windus. Jim and Jennifer are Career Coaches with Darden’s Professional Degree Programs Career team, and we talk with them about the Professional Advancement Course, a required, career-focused course that takes place during January term in the first year of the Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA programs. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darde...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Greg French. Greg is a Career Coach with our Professional Degree Programs Career team. We talk with Greg about what led him to career coaching, what he enjoys about his work, as well as what brought him to Darden. Greg works closely with our MSBA students, and he also shares his insights about career resources and outcomes for MSBA students.  For more insights, tips, and stories...

In this episode of the podcast, we spotlight the Darden Executive Fund (DEF) with a conversation featuring two of its leaders – Steve Miller and Philip Hunter. Steve and Philip are second year students in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2026, and we talk with them about their backgrounds, what drew them to the Darden Executive Fund, what they’ve been working on with the Fund this year ...

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 Scott Miller. Miller is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business, Director of the Democracy and Capitalism Lab at the Karsh Institute of Democracy, and Senior Fellow at the Miller Center of Public Affairs.&n...

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with friend of the podcast, Zoe Mayfield Boykin. Zoe is the Associate Director of Admissions, Professional Degree Programs, at the Darden School of Business, and we talk with her about the importance of engaging your manager in your plans to participate in a Part-Time MBA or Executive MBA program. Creating a support network at work is essential for success in any working professional prog...

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 Professors June West and Steve Soltis. West and Soltis teach classes across Darden's MBA formats, including Leadership Communication, and they are also co-founders of the Darden Leadership Communication Council. Their podcast series, CEO Voices: Leading with ...

In this special episode of the Darden Admissions podcast, we are excited to share a recent conversation with Jennifer Hulvey and Reece Meares, two members of the Darden Financial Aid team. We talk with Jennifer and Reece about what they enjoy about financial aid, what students should be thinking about as they prepare financially for business school, upcoming federal loan changes resulting from the passage of the One Big Beautiful B...

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share audio from a recent webinar with Interim Dean Mike Lenox. In addition to serving as the Interim Dean of the Darden School of Business, Lenox is a member of the Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship faculty, and he teaches the core MBA strategy course and an MBA elective on Strategy in the Digital Age, among other offerings. In this conversation facilitated by Managi...

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 Doug Thomas. Thomas is the Academic Director of the Sands Institute for Lifelong Learning, and a member of the Technology and Operations Management faculty at the Darden School of Business. We talk with Thomas about his background, what led him to Darden...