The ExecMBA Podcast

ExecMBA Podcast #310: Women@Darden Spotlight | Senior Associate Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Senior Associate Dean, Professional Degree Programs Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Grushka-Cockayne's research and teaching activities focus on data science, forecasting, project management and behavioral decision-making. Her research is published in numerous academic and professional journals, and she is a regular speaker at international conferences in the areas of decision analysis, project management and management science. During this conversation moderated by Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke, Clarke and Grushka-Cockayne share insights into the Women@Darden initiative which has the goal of making Darden the graduate business school of choice for women leaders across the world.

ExecMBA Podcast #309: Darden’s Global Courses | Marc and Shizuka Modica

In this special edition of Darden Admissions’ podcast, we talk with Marc and Shizuka Modica about Darden’s global course offerings. Marc is a Senior Lecturer in Business Administration with broad international experience in negotiation, communications and conflict management teaching and consulting. Shizuka is a lecturer and adjunct faculty member, and she is an expert on high performance, meaningful work, leadership and change management. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Marc and Shizuka about their backgrounds, what led them to Darden, what they enjoy about leading global courses and more. They also share insights about Darden’s global course offerings in Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.

ExecMBA Podcast #308: Executive MBA & Part-Time MBA Career Round-Up

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with UVA Darden’s Professional Degree Programs Career Team, Gopika Spaenle, Jennifer Windus and Jim Collins. We talk with Gopika, Jennifer, and Jim about the recent Professional Advancement Course (PAC), as well as career-related news and updates for Darden’s current Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA classes.

ExecMBA Podcast #307: Student Spotlight | Pam Peace, Executive MBA Class of 2024

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Pam Peace. Pam is a second year student in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2024, and she also serves as the Executive MBA Student Association’s VP, Outreach. We talk with Pam about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, her work as VP, Outreach, what she’s enjoyed about the second year of the Executive MBA program, the impact of her time at Darden and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #306: Student Spotlight | Kirby Landon, Part-Time MBA Class of 2025

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Kirby Landon. Kirby is a second year student in Darden’s Part-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she also currently serves as VP, Community for the Part-Time MBA Student Association. We talk with Kirby about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her Darden, what she’s enjoyed about the program so far and more. Kirby also gave birth during her first year, and we chat with her about balancing the demands of work, school and parenthood.

ExecMBA Podcast #305: Alumni Spotlight | Dan Biga (EMBA ’21)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Dan Biga. Dan is a graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and he currently works for Deloitte as a Lead Specialist, Social Impact Portfolio, Deloitte Leadership and Human Potential. We talk with Dan about his service in the United States Marine Corps, his experience teaching in Chicago, his decision to pursue an MBA, what he’s been up to since graduation and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #304: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Jim Naughton

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 Jim Naughton. Naughton is an Associate Professor in the Accounting area at Darden, and his research examines how financial, legal, and regulatory institutions shape both financial disclosure and economic choices. We talk with Naughton about why he’s passionate about the case method, Darden’s approach to Accounting, his interest in ESG disclosures and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #303: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Les Alexander

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 Les Alexander. Alexander is an experienced professor, venture capital and private equity investor, corporate executive, and investment banker, and he is a Professor of Practice in the Finance and Strategy, Ethics & Entrepreneurship areas at Darden. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Alexander about Venture Capital (VC), Private Equity (PE), his Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) elective, plans for the UVA Venture Capital Conference, his advice interested in VC and PE and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #302: Looking Back on the Fall Semester | Melissa Thomas-Hunt & Yael Grushka-Cockayne

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Melissa Thomas-Hunt and Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Melissa is the Senior Associate Dean for Darden’s Residential Full-Time MBA program and Yael is the Senior Associate Dean for Darden’s Professional Degree Programs. We talk with Melissa and Yael about the fall semester, highlights from the past few months, what they’re looking forward to in the spring, their advice for prospective students and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #301: Alumni Spotlight | Taylor Bennett (EMBA ’23)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Taylor Bennett. Taylor is a recent graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2023, and he is currently the Chief Development Office for Pizza Hut. We talk with Taylor about his decision to pursue an MBA, the impact of his Darden experience, his favorite Darden classes, as well as the independent study he did focused on his classmate's restaurant concept in Birmingham, Alabama.

ExecMBA Podcast #300: Alumni Spotlight | Patrick Clancey (EMBA ’20)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Patrick Clancey. Patrick is a graduate in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2020, and we talk with Patrick about this decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, how his Learning Team shaped his Darden experience, how he balanced work, life and school as an Executive MBA student, what he’s been up to since graduation and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #299: Alumni Spotlight | Stephen Beaudoin (EMBA ’22)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up Stephen Beaudoin. Stephen is a graduate in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2022, and he has built his career in the performing arts. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Stephen about his decision to pursue an MBA, the impact of his Darden experience, what he’s been up to since graduation, his new role as the President and CEO of the Music School of Delaware and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #298: Faculty Spotlight | Ayana Younge

In this special edition of the podcast, we catch up with Ayana Younge. Younge is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration in the Leadership and Organizational Behavior area at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and her research lies at the intersection of emotions, social hierarchy, and interpersonal processes. We talk with Younge about her journey to Darden, what it’s like to teach in Darden’s core curriculum, her elective – People, Purpose and the Power of Relationships, as well as her work with the PhD Project. Founded in 1994, The PhD Project seeks to diversify corporate America by diversifying the role models in the front of classrooms. Learn more.

ExecMBA Podcast #297: Faculty Spotlight | Allison Elias

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Allison Elias. Elias teaches courses about communication and negotiation in Darden’s MBA and Executive MBA programs, and we recently connected with her to discuss her journey to Darden, her elective – Women, Gender and Work – as well as her 2022 book, The Rise of Corporate Feminism. Elias was a nominee for the 2022 Outstanding Faculty Award at Darden, and her elective, Women, Gender, and Work, was rated among the top 10% of all Darden electives (according to student ratings regarding course content and instructor quality).

ExecMBA Podcast #296: Alumni Spotlight | Liz Brunette (EMBA ’23)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Liz Brunette. Liz is a recent graduate in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2023, and we recently connected with her about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, how she managed her time during the Executive MBA program, what it was like navigating the program with a newborn, what she’s been up to since graduation and much more.

ExecMBA Podcast #295: Meet Ryan DeVito, Admissions, Professional Degree Programs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ryan DeVito. Ryan is the newest member of our Admissions team supporting Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA students, and we recently connected with him to discuss his background, what led him to his current role, what he enjoys about working with professional degree students and more. As you will learn from this podcast, Ryan is also a big Billy Joel fan!

ExecMBA Podcast #294: Mythbusters with Brett Twitty and Ali Torres

In this special edition of the podcast, Managing Director of Admissions Brett Twitty and Assistant Director of Admissions Ali Torres debunk frequent Executive MBA- and Part-Time MBA-related myths! In this wide-ranging conversation, Brett and Ali share application tips, offer insights about the working professional student experience, detail career support for Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA and much more. Essential listening.

ExecMBA Podcast # 293: Alumni Spotlight | Matt Kemph (EMBA ’23)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Matt Kemph. Matt is a recent graduate in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2023, and we connected with him to talk more about his decision to pursue an MBA, how a class visit experience shaped his interest in Darden, as well as the impact of his time in the Executive MBA program. We also discuss his venture, Velocity Rating, which is on a mission to revolutionize the world of college athletics and brand partnerships by providing the most comprehensive and accurate NIL assessments for college athletes.

ExecMBA Podcast #292: In Conversation | Interim Dean Jeanne Liedtka

In this special edition of Darden Admissions’ podcasts, we’re excited to share a recent conversation between Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke and Interim Dean of the Darden School of Business Jeanne Liedtka. In this wide-ranging conversation, Liedtka reflects upon her tenure at the Darden School, what drew her to the field of Design Thinking, what she loves about Charlottesville, the impact of the Darden academic environment and more. This episode is essential listening.

ExecMBA Podcast #291: Meet the Darden Executive Veterans Student Organization

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with the leaders of our Darden Executive Veterans (DEV) student organization, Kevin O’Neill and Bret Leach. Kevin and Bret are second year students in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2024, and we talk with them about their decision to pursue an MBA, what they’ve enjoyed about the Executive MBA program, their advice for prospective students, DEV’s plans for the months ahead and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #290: Meet the Black Professional MBA Student Organization

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with three leaders of our Black Professional MBA student organization – Mike Shipp (Executive MBA Class of 2024), Linda Hartman (Executive MBA Class of 2024) and Steven Daley (Part-Time MBA Class of 2025). We talk with Mike, Linda and Steven about their backgrounds, their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, their plans for the Black Professional MBA, their advice for prospective students and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #289: Academic Spotlight | Part-Time MBA Electives

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Senior Associate Dean, Professional Degree Programs Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Callie Thompson, Assistant Dean for Academic Operations, Professional Degree Programs, to talk about electives in UVA Darden’s Part-Time MBA program. Yael and Callie discuss how the elective lineup is developed, the courses that have been offered to the Part-Time MBA Class of 2025 in their first elective quarters, how the elective registration process works and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #288: Meet Sarah Sowden, President, Network of Executive Women

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Sarah Sowden. Sarah is a second year student in Darden’s Part-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she is also the President of Darden’s Network of Executive Women (NEW) student organization. We talk with Sarah about her background, how she decided to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, and what she’s enjoyed about being in Darden’s first Part-Time MBA class. We also discuss NEW’s plans for the coming months.

ExecMBA Podcast #287: Meet Erin Colwell, Assistant Director, Academic Advising and Student Affairs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Erin Colwell. Erin is the Assistant Director, Academic Advising and Student Affairs for UVA Darden’s Professional Degree Programs, and we talk with her about her background, what led her to Darden and what she enjoys about supporting working professional students. Erin is the advisor for students in the Executive MBA Class of 2025, and we also discuss how she works with these students.

ExecMBA Podcast #286: Meet Lauren Lopez-Maurer, Assistant Director, Academic Advising & Student Affairs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Lauren Lopez-Maurer. Lauren is the Assistant Director, Academic Advising and Student Affairs for UVA Darden’s Professional Degree Programs, and we talk with her about her background, what led her to Darden and what she enjoys about supporting working professional students. Lauren is the advisor for students in the Part-Time MBA Class of 2026, and we also discuss how she works with these students.