The ExecMBA Podcast

ExecMBA Podcast #387: App Tips | Navigating the Darden Interview

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, Admissions Committee members, Brett Twitty and Whitney Kestner, share advice for navigating the Darden admissions interview, including insights about the structure of the interview, how to prepare for the interview and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.  

ExecMBA Podcast #386: App Tips | Standardized Tests & Test Waiver Requests

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, Admissions Committee members, Brett Twitty and Whitney Kestner, discuss the role standardized tests can play in the admissions process, including how to build your academic readiness case, when a test waiver request can make sense for a Full-Time MBA applicant and more. For more insights, tips and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #385: App Tips | Crafting Your Short Answer Responses

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, Admissions Committee members, Brett Twitty and Christian West, share advice for crafting your best short answer responses, including what makes a great short answer response, the importance of authenticity and more. For more insights, tips and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #384: App Tips | Sharpening Your Resume

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, Admissions Committee members, Whitney Kestner and Catie Yeilding, share advice for sharpening your resume for the Darden application process, including how the resume fits into the overall application, tips for bringing a more personal element into the resume and more. For more insights, tips and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #383: App Tips | Approaching the Application Process

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, Admissions Committee members, Brett Twitty and Zoe Mayfield Boykin, share advice for approaching Darden’s Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA application processes, including when to apply, tips for getting organized and more. For more insights, tips and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #382: Tips for Learning More About Our Professional Degree Programs

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Associate Director of Admissions, Professional Degree Programs, Zoe Mayfield Boykin to the podcast to talk about ways to learn more about our Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA programs. Zoe shares her thoughts on where to begin your research, how an application process can reveal a school and its values, upcoming events of potential interest and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #381: Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA Applications Are Live!

The applications for our Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA classes enrolling August 2026 are now live! In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Associate Director of Admissions, Professional Degree Programs, Zoe Mayfield Boykin to discuss the new applications, our application requirements, our application deadlines and more. If you are planning to apply in this cycle, this episode is essential listening. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #380: In Conversation | Vice Dean and Senior Associate Dean, Professional Degree Programs, Melissa Thomas-Hunt

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Melissa Thomas-Hunt. Thomas-Hunt is the Vice Dean, John D. Forbes Professor of Business Administration, and the new Senior Associate Dean for the professional degree programs. We talk with Thomas-Hunt about her background, what led her to Darden, what she enjoys about teaching through the case method, what interested her about studying leadership and organizational behavior, what’s exciting to her about working with working professional students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #379: PhD Program Spotlight | Stephen Xu

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Stephen Xu. Stephen is currently pursuing his PhD at Darden in the Data Analytics and Decision Sciences area. We talk with Stephen about his background, his decision to pursue a PhD, what led him to Darden, how the program is going so far and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #378: Meet Morgan Lemley, Application Reader & Interviewer

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Morgan Lemley. Morgan is an Application Reader and Interviewer with our Professional Degree Programs Admissions team. We talk with Morgan about her background, what attracted her to this role, what she enjoys about working with Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA students, her thoughts on the value of the Darden learning experience and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #377: Meet Angie Griffith, Darden Military Benefits and Veteran Affairs Coordinator

During this episode, we catch up with Angie Griffith. Angie is member of the University of Virginia’s Registrar Office, and she works closely with Darden’s students who are using military benefits to pay for their education. We talk with Angie about her background, what attracted her to her role, what she enjoys about supporting military students, her advice for military benefits users and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #376: PhD Program Spotlight | Skyler Clark-Hamel

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Skyler Clark-Hamel. Skyler is a member of Darden’s Full-Time MBA Class of 2023, and he is currently pursuing his PhD at Darden in the Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship area. We talk with Skyler about his background, what led him to Darden for his MBA, how he decided to pursue a PhD, what he’s enjoyed about the PhD program so far, what he’s looking forward to in the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #375: Spotlight on Executive MBA Global Residencies with Maggie Nelsen

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Maggie Nelsen. Maggie is the Associate Director of Global Programs with Darden’s Center for Global Initiatives, and she works closely with our Executive MBA students on the global residency portion of their program. We talk with Maggie about her background, recent global residencies, the value of doing multiple global residencies, why students should consider the GEMBA format and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #374: Part-Time MBA Elective Experience

On this episode of the podcast, we share a recent webinar about the elective portion of the Part-Time MBA program. During the first 10 minutes, Managing Director of Admissions Brett Twitty details the structure and design of the Part-Time MBA program. Then, students from the Part-Time MBA Classes of 2025 and 2026 reflect upon their elective experience and offer tips and insights for students considering UVA Darden’s Part-Time MBA program. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #373: Part-Time MBA First Year Overview

On this episode of the podcast, we are excited to share a recent webinar about the first year of the Part-Time MBA program. During the first 10 minutes of the episode, Managing Director of Admissions Brett Twitty shares insights about the structure and design of the program. Then current Part-Time MBA students join to discuss highlights from the first year, their favorite class, how they juggle work, life and school, their advice for incoming students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #372: Meet Jennifer Hulvey, Senior Director of Financial Aid

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jennifer Hulvey. Jennifer is the Senior Director of Financial Aid at the Darden School of Business, and she joined the Darden team after 15 years at the University of Virginia School of Law. We talk with Jennifer about her background, what she enjoys about financial aid, ways students can learn more about the financial aid process, her advice for incoming students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #371: Student Spotlight | Annie McCormick and Sydney Stoops, Executive MBA Class of 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Annie McCormick and Sydney Stoops. Annie and Sydney are second year students in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2025, we recently connected with them to talk more about their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, how their mothers’ examples inspired them on their MBA journeys, the challenges of pursuing an MBA while balancing family responsibilities, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #370: Shift to Rolling Admissions for Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA

In this episode of the podcast, Brett Twitty and Zoe Mayfield Boykin discuss the recent shift to rolling admissions for UVA Darden’s Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA programs. They talk about the reason for this shift, the benefits to applicants, the decision timeline for the rolling period, their advice for applicants and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #369: Spotlight on the Executive MBA Elective Experience

On this episode of the podcast, we are excited to share a recent webinar about the second year, and more specifically, the elective experience, of the Executive MBA program. During the first 10 minutes of the episode, Managing Director of Admissions Brett Twitty shares insights about how electives fit into the program’s overall structure and design. Then current students from the Executive MBA Class of 2025 join to discuss highlights from the second year, how they choose their electives, their favorite elective, their advice for incoming students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #368: Executive MBA First Year Overview

On this episode of the podcast, we are excited to share a recent webinar about the first year of the Executive MBA program. During the first 15 minutes of the episode, Managing Director of Admissions Brett Twitty shares insights about the structure and design of the program. Then current students from both the Executive MBA Classes of 2025 and 2026 join to discuss highlights from the first year, their favorite class, how they juggle work, life and school, their advice for incoming students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #367: Women@Darden Spotlight | Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88)

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88). Career-wise, Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88) has seemingly done it all. She’s worked in corporate America for a Fortune 500 company, been an entrepreneur overseas, taught in higher education, and served as CEO for a global NGO. Now, she’s back in Charlottesville, having completed a term as the Interim President of the Darden School Foundation, and continuing to serve as the John Alden Purinton Jr. Professor of Practice and senior adviser to the dean helping the school implement its ambitious 2030 sustainability goals. The Women@Darden event series is hosted by Senior Assistant Dean for Admissions Dawna Clarke. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #366: Meet Aman Dar (Part-Time MBA ’25)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Aman Dar. Aman recently completed Darden’s Part-Time MBA program, and we talk with him about his decision to pursue an MBA, how his career goals evolved during the program, his favorite memory from the program and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #365: Spotlight on the Experiential Learning Course | Professor Laura Bordoni

During this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Laura Bordoni. Laura is a member of the Darden faculty, and she leads the Experiential Learning course, a six-credit course that takes place during the second half of the first year and the first half of the second year of the Executive MBA program. We talk with Laura about her background, what she enjoys about the Experiential Learning course, her goals for the course, some of the highlights from this year’s course and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #364: Student Spotlight | Ramy Stephanos

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ramy Stephanos. Ramy is a second year student in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2025, and we talk with him about his decision pursue an MBA, what attracted him to Darden’s Executive MBA program, how his global residencies have enhanced his program experience, his thoughts on the best time to start your MBA and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

ExecMBA Podcast #363: Meet Hieu Le (Part-Time MBA ‘25)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Hieu Le. Hieu recently completed Darden’s Part-Time MBA program, and we talk with him about his decision to pursue an MBA, the impact of his time at Darden, how his career goals evolved during the program, his advice for prospective students and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.