The ExecMBA Podcast
An informational podcast series about the Executive MBA Program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
Episodes

Feb 5, 2021
Feb 5, 2021
38 min
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.

Jan 29, 2021
Jan 29, 2021
30 min
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 business leaders and how he feels Darden’s ethical approach prepares students for the long run.

Jan 22, 2021
Jan 22, 2021
51 min
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). Collectivity they reflect a range of roles and experiences across the healthcare industry, and we caught up with them to talk about their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, how the program has helped them grow and develop as leaders and more.
Jan 15, 2021
Jan 15, 2021
38 min
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, their advice for prospective students and much more.

Jan 11, 2021
Jan 11, 2021
39 min
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 venture.

Dec 18, 2020
Dec 18, 2020
46 min
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 Yael also share insights about the principles guiding the School’s planning efforts for the months ahead.

Dec 11, 2020
Dec 11, 2020
37 min
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.

Dec 4, 2020
Dec 4, 2020
46 min
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 seeking to climb within with the military.

Nov 21, 2020
Nov 21, 2020
46 min
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 and much more.

Nov 13, 2020
Nov 13, 2020
38 min
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 promotes accountability and much more.

Nov 6, 2020
Nov 6, 2020
46 min
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 Grow.DC and much more.

Oct 30, 2020
Oct 30, 2020
36 min
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 up to over the past few months.

Oct 23, 2020
Oct 23, 2020
31 min
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.

Oct 16, 2020
Oct 16, 2020
41 min
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.

Oct 9, 2020
Oct 9, 2020
44 min
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 pandemic.

Oct 2, 2020
Oct 2, 2020
36 min
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.

Sep 25, 2020
Sep 25, 2020
54 min
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 Darden experience.

Sep 18, 2020
Sep 18, 2020
39 min
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 background, how she decided to pursue an MBA, how her Darden experience has impacted her work and much more.

Sep 11, 2020
Sep 11, 2020
36 min
In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Mike Rudolph. Mike is a graduate in the Executive MBA Class of 2018, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk his decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, his experience participating in the program while living in Boston, MA and how his time at Darden continues to inform and impact his work.

Sep 3, 2020
Sep 3, 2020
43 min
In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Alan Thompson. Alan is a member of our Executive MBA Class of 2018, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk about how he decided to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, how he pivoted his career from the CIA to operating a Chick-fil-a in Washington, DC and how his business is weathering the coronavirus pandemic.

Aug 28, 2020
Aug 28, 2020
38 min
In special episode of Experience Darden and The ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Sean Carr, Executive Director of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. We recently connected with Sean via Zoom to talk about Batten’s pivot to virtual programming, their slate of fall events, Darden’s resources and support for entrepreneurs and more. Sean is also the host of Darden’s Ideas to Action podcast – Be sure to check out this interview series featuring Darden faculty members

Aug 21, 2020
Aug 21, 2020
29 min
In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Executive MBA alum Alison Williams. Alison graduated from Darden in 2015, and she is currently serving as a Chief of Staff for the Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson. We connected with Alison via Zoom to talk about her background, how she decided to pursue an MBA, how her Darden experience helps her in her current role and why she feels an MBA is value for policy professionals.

Aug 14, 2020
Aug 14, 2020
36 min
In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Dianne Oroz, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2021. Dianne is an architect and interior designer, and she helped design Darden’s Grounds in the Washington, DC area. We recently connected with Dianne via Zoom to talk more about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, her Darden experience, her advice for prospective students and much more.

Aug 7, 2020
Aug 7, 2020
33 min
In this episode of the podcast we welcome back Senior Associate Director of Admissions Katherine Alford for a conversation all about the application for our Executive MBA Class of 2023. With the application launch slated for mid-August, Brett and Katherine share updates about this year’s application as well tips and insights for applicants targeting an August 2021 start date. Essential listening for Executive MBA applicants.

Jul 24, 2020
Jul 24, 2020
29 min
In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jake Corbin! Jake is a recent graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2020, as well as a veteran and an entrepreneur. We recently connected with Jake via Zoom to talk about his background, his decision to pursue and MBA and how his Darden experience helped him with his oenophile-oriented start-up, Vinoshares.

UVA Darden School of Business
At the UVA Darden School of Business, our mission is to improve the world by developing responsible leaders through unparalleled transformational learning experiences. Through degree and non-degree programs, delivered by the world’s best faculty and bolstered by their research and ideas, we put your personal purpose in motion, setting the stage for a lifetime of career advancement and impact.






