The ExecMBA Podcast

The ExecMBA Podcast #175: In Conversation with the Network of Executive Women

June 17, 2021

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two newly elected leaders of the Network of Executive Women (NEW), President Sarah Powell (Class of 2022) and Vice President Hannah Poland (Class of 2022). Powell and Poland share more about their MBA journeys, what led them to Darden, the role that NEW played in their MBA decision-making process, and why they wanted to serve as student leaders during their time in the Executive MBA program. Interested in connecting with NEW? You can reach them at NEWinbox@darden.virginia.edu.

The ExecMBA Podcast #174: Emerging Domestic Markets | A Conversation with Professor Greg Fairchild

June 11, 2021

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the fourth installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Greg Fairchild (MBA ’92). We talk with Fairchild about what it’s like to teach at Darden as an alumnus, why he’s passionate about entrepreneurship in rural and inner city communities as well as his work with the Resilience Project and the Darden Prison Program. Fairchild also reflects upon how his personal connection to the Tulsa Race Massacre has shaped his professional interests.

The ExecMBA Podcast #173: Building a Better Sports Bra

June 4, 2021

Where some people see problems, other people see opportunities. We chat with Coco Woeltz (MBA ’21) and Isabelle Kayal Larsen (EMBA ’21) about Hummingbyrd, their sports bra and athletic apparel-focused venture. Woeltz and Larsen reflect upon their MBA journeys, what led them to Darden and how the venture courses and resources of the Batten Institute brought them together. Woeltz and Larsen also share insights about the importance of friction points in the entrepreneurial journey and what they are learning as they work to take Hummingbyrd to the next level.

The ExecMBA Podcast #172: James Hoffman (Class of 2022) - Bringing 5G Technology to Virginia’s Communities

May 28, 2021

At Verizon, James Hoffman (Class of 2022) works with local governments and communities across Virginia to bring 5G technology to more users. We chat with James about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, and how he has juggled both starting a new job and a busy Executive MBA program. James also talks about the importance of humility to his learning approach, and how he has intentionally sought out those topics that are new and less familiar to him in the first few quarters of the program.

The ExecMBA Podcast #171: Accounting, Science Fiction and a Very Full Plate

May 21, 2021

Bob McMurtry (Class of 2022) is the Director of Finance for a boarding school in the Charlottesville area. We talk with Bob about his MBA journey, how the program has helped him sharpen his time management skills, how he has juggled the demands of work, school and a growing family, and how he has been able to apply lessons from class in his work. We also touch upon Bob’s new role as a member of the Executive Student Association (ESA) leadership board, and we even find time to discuss Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic, Dune.

The ExecMBA Podcast #170: Opportunities and Challenges in US Healthcare Delivery - A Conversation with Professor Dennie Kim

May 14, 2021

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the third installment of our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Dennie Kim. We talk with Kim about his background growing up in New York City, how he knew he wanted to be a teacher, what attracted him to healthcare and how COVID-19 has highlighted challenges and inequities in the US healthcare system. Kim also shares his advice for MBA students considering a career in healthcare.

The ExecMBA Podcast #169: Transitioning from Luxury Fashion to Technology

May 7, 2021

Susanna Klein (Class of 2022) built her career with luxury fashion brands like Chanel before coming to Darden. We chat with Susanna about her MBA journey, how she has leveraged the learnings from class in her work, and why she intentionally chose a business school program outside of her base location in New York City. Susanna also shares reflections on her 12 years at Chanel, and how the brand deepened her understanding and appreciation of French history and culture.

The ExecMBA Podcast #168: Why Now Is the Right Time to Pursue Your MBA - Marina Peddy

April 30, 2021

Marina Peddy’s (Class of 2022) initial inspiration to pursue her MBA actually came from her father, who also participated in an Executive MBA program. We chat with Marina about her human resources career path, what led her to Darden, Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (naturally) and how she has applied the lessons from the program even in her family life. She also shares and why now is the right time to pursue an MBA.

The ExecMBA Podcast #167: Inflation, K-Shaped Recoveries and Cybersecurity Risk in the Banking System - A Conversation With Professor Kinda Hachem

April 23, 2021

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.

The ExecMBA Podcast #166: Will Payne - Driving New Business Investment in Southwest Virginia

April 16, 2021

Will Payne (Class of 2022) focuses on bringing business opportunity to Southwest Virginia. Will has deep roots in politics, and we discuss the steps that brought him to pursue an MBA, what he loves about his current work in economic development and how Darden has offered him an opportunity to be the student he always wanted to be. We also talk about Appalachian Grains, his craft grain business that has supplies grains to distilleries and breweries across the Commonwealth, including Charlottesville’s own Three Notch’d Brewery.

Archives