The ExecMBA Podcast

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 60: An Interview with Brian Larsen, GEMBA Class of 2020

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Brian Larsen, a GEMBA format student in our Class of 2020. Brian founded and currently runs a business, RestoraPet, and we recently sat down to talk more about his decision to pursue an MBA, his experience on the recent Brazil global residency and his advice for prospective students.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 59: An Interview with Terrell Fuller, EMBA Class of 2019

In the episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we continue our exploration of entrepreneurship and the executive formats with a conversation with Terrell Fuller. Terrell is an EMBA format student in our Class of 2019, and we recently caught up with her about how she decided to pursue an MBA and her experience launching her own business.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 58: An Interview with Melinda Woods, EMBA Class of 2019

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Melinda Woods, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2019. We sat down with Melinda to talk more about how she decided to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, and how she juggles life and the demands of work and school.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 57: An Interview with Manish Dharia, Director of Product Development, Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Manish Dharia of the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Manish is Director of Product Development at GMAC, and we recently sat down to talk more about the Executive Assessment (EA). The EA is 40-question, 90-minute test that requires on average 15 to 20 hours of preparation, and it was designed with executive format applicants and their busy schedules in mind. Check it out!

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 56: An Interview with Jason Brewster, Incubator Program Director, i.Lab at UVA

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we continue our exploration of entrepreneurship and the executive formats with a conversation with Jason Brewster, Director of the UVA i.Lab’s summer incubator program. Listen and learn more about Jason’s background, what he enjoys about working with start-ups and how the i.Lab’s effectuation-based approach helps new businesses ask critical questions and quickly assess what their customers actually want.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 55: An Interview with Erin Tollini, EMBA Class of 2020

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Erin Tollini, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2020. Erin is a lawyer by training as well as a former mayor of Tiburon, California, and she is currently pursuing an entrepreneurial path. We caught up with Erin to talk about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden and how she balances school, work and life.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 54: An Interview with Ron Wilcox, Senior Associate Dean for Degree Programs

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Ron Wilcox, Senior Associate Dean for Degree Programs. Ron is also a Marketing professor and a former Dean of the Executive MBA Program, and we discuss what led him to Darden, how he approaches case writing and what he enjoys about teaching executive format students.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 53: An Interview with Michael Stroud, Executive Director of Darden's Facilities and Operations

In March of 2018, Darden opened a beautiful new space in the Washington, DC area, the Sands Family Grounds. In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Mike Stroud, Executive Director of Facilities and Operations, about the new facility in DC, as well as the overall plans for Darden’s building and grounds in the years ahead.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 52: An Interview with Katherine Alford, Senior Associate Director of Admissions

In this episode of the ExecMBA podcast, we catch up with Katherine Alford! Katherine has been leading a number of our women’s recruitment initiatives in the DC area, and we talk with her about those efforts, as well as what she enjoys about recruiting executive format students. 

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 51: An Interview with Jen Coleman, Executive Director, Alumni Career Services

Did you know Darden graduates have access to career services for life? True story! In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jen Coleman, Executive Director, Alumni Career Services. In this conversation, Jen discusses what drew her to Darden and her current work as well as how she and her team support Darden graduates. And be sure to check out our other career conversations with Jim Collins, Connie Dunlop, Casey Floyd, Kellogg Leliveld and Sarita Soldz!  

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 50: The Tables Are Turned - An Interview with Brett Twitty, Director of Admissions, Executive Formats

Episode 50! A milestone! It’s been quite a run for the ExecMBA Podcast, and in this episode, friend of the pod, Whitney Kestner, turns the tables and interviews Brett Twitty. In a conversation that touches on everything from Darden’s efforts in the DC area to The Smiths, Whitney and Brett chat about music, movies and, of course, all things Executive MBA. And be sure to check out Brett and Whitney’s prior episodeall about the Executive MBA application process.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 49: Brett Twitty Answers Frequently Asked Questions

In this episode, Director of Admissions, Brett Twitty, answers the questions we most frequently receive from applicants. Curious about how our deadlines work? Want to learn more about our test requirement? Have questions about what materials are required for our application process? Check out this episode and then head over to the Exec Video Blog for even more answers!

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 48: An Interview with Jonas Porcar-Ferrer and Bhavin Patel, EMBA Class of 2020

In this episode, we catch up with two students in our Class of 2020, Jonas Porcar Ferrer and Bhavin Patel, during a busy first quarter of the program. In this wide-ranging conversation, we chat with Jonas and Bhavin about why they chose Darden, what they enjoy about learning through the case method, how they are juggling school and their many other commitments, and their advice for prospective students. Stay tuned for additional interviews with Jonas and Bhavin throughout the coming months!

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 47: An Interview with Kellogg Leliveld, Director of Career Education and Advising

In this episode, we catch up with Kellogg Leliveld! Kellogg is one of the career advisors who work with our executive format students, and we chat with her about her background, what she enjoys about working with Darden students, her advice for students considering an MBA and her approach to career advising. If you’re interested in learning more about career resources for executive format students, be sure to also check out our conversations with Sarita Soldz and Jim Collins.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 46: An Interview with Ladi Carr, Director for Global Executive Programs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ladi Carr! Ladi is a member of Darden’s Center for Global Initiatives (CGI) team, and she helps lead the global residencies for our Executive MBA Program. This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to learn more about our Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format, our week-long global residencies or additional global opportunities available to executive format students at Darden.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 45: An Interview with Jim Collins, Associate Director of Career Education and Advising, Executive MBA Students

In this episode, we catch up with Jim Collins. Jim is one of the career advisers who support our executive format students, and he returns to the podcast to talk about networking tactics for job seekers. He also shares highlights from our recent virtual job fair. And while you’re streaming, be sure to check out his previous interview exploring strategies for individuals who wish to climb within their current companies. 

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 44: An Interview with David Touve, Senior Director, i.Lab at UVA

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with David Touve, Senior Director of the i.Lab at UVA. David brings a wealth of experience to his work, and we sat down to talk with him about his background, as well as the wide range of resources available to entrepreneurs at the University of Virginia. One of our favorite interviews, this conversation is an essential listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and the executive formats of the Darden MBA.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 43: An Interview with Jim Detert, Associate Dean for Executive Degree Programs and Leadership Initiatives

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Associate Dean for Executive Degree Programs, Jim Detert. We recently announced several innovations to our Executive MBA Program, and we chat with Jim about moving both sections of the Executive MBA Program to Rosslyn, the Explorations in Enterprise Leadership course, the career-related modules that are currently in development, and the impact of these updates for students.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 42: An Interview with Camille Smith, EMBA Class of 2019

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Camille Smith. Camille is a GEMBA format student in our Class of 2019 as well as co-President of our Black Executive MBA (BEMBA) student organization. We chat with her about how she chose Darden, her experiences as a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format student, and what BEMBA has planned for the coming months.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 41: An Interview with Casey Floyd, Director, Employer Engagement and Recruiting

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Casey Floyd. Casey is a 2017 GEMBA format graduate, and she is also Director of Employer Engagement and Recruiting at Darden. We recently caught up with her to talk about her decision to pursue a Darden MBA, what she enjoyed our Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format, and the work she does building relationships with employers on behalf of Darden students.
NOTE: During this conversation, Casey references having an MBA prior to matriculating at Darden. Applicants who have an MBA from an AACSB-accredited institution are not eligible to apply to Darden.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 40: An Interview with Kathy Masloff, Associate Director of Executive Degree Programs

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we talk with Kathy Masloff, a member of our Executive MBA Program Team. Kathy helps manage many of the program logistics while our students are in Charlottesville, and we sat down with her to debrief Orientation and Leadership Residency 1, but to also talk about what she and her colleagues enjoy about working with our students and everything they do to make our students’ experience truly seamless.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 39: An Interview with Amanda Richardson, EMBA Class of 2019

In this episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Amanda Richardson, a 2019 EMBA format student in our Rosslyn section. Amanda is the President of our Network of Executive Women (NEW) student organization, and in this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, NEW’s plans for the upcoming year, and how she balances the demands of work, school and being a mom.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 38: An Interview with Whitney Kestner, Director of Admissions and Recruiting

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.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 37: An Interview with Connie Dunlop,Executive Director for Professional Advancement

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 MBA Program, and her advice for students considering Darden’s executive formats.

The ExecMBA Podcast, Episode 36: An Interview with MJ Toms, Director of Education and Experiential Learning at Darden's Batten Institute

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, UVA’s Entrepreneurship Cup, Coursera Courses, and much more.