The ExecMBA Podcast

ExecMBA Podcast #252: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Luca Cian

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 Luca Cian. Cian is a member of the Marketing faculty at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and his research area is consumer behavior, with a focus on sensory marketing, aesthetics, and human-machine interaction. In this conversation, we talk with Cian about his background, his passion for teaching, his research in artificial intelligence, “word of machine” recommendations and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #251: Women@Darden Spotlight | Professor Mary Margaret Frank

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Professor Mary Margaret Frank. Frank is the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development, the John Tyler Professor of Business Administration and the Institute for Business in Society Academic Director at the Darden School of Business. Her expertise is in the integration of business and public policy, including cross-sector collaborations. She is a former board member of Veru Inc., (formerly known as the Female Health Company), which works with public-private partnerships that empower women to fight HIV globally, especially in Africa. She is also an expert in regulated disclosure focusing on tax, financial accounting and patent reporting. During this conversation moderated by Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke, Frank reflects upon her background, how she helps prepare faculty to teach at Darden, her passion for her students, her experience leading Darden Worldwide Courses in Africa and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #250: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Pedro Matos

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 Pedro Matos. Matos is the academic director of the Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management and a member of the Finance faculty at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. His research focuses on the growing importance of institutional investors in financial markets worldwide, and in this conversation, we talk with Matos about his background, his work with the Mayo Center, his role as advisor to Darden Capital Management, his passion for ESG (Environmental Social Governance) investing and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #249: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Yo-Jud Cheng

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 Yo-Jud Cheng. Cheng teaches in the Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship area at Darden, and her research focuses on corporate governance and top executives in public companies. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Cheng about her background, what led her to Darden, and what she enjoys about teaching Strategy in the first year core curriculum. She also shares insights about several recent corporate governance scandals as well as the important role corporate boards play in shaping a company’s strategic direction.

ExecMBA Podcast #248: Student Spotlight | John Grant and Carter Whitelow

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with John Grant and Carter Whitelow. John is a second year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2023, and Carter is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2024. As you will learn from this conversation, John and Carter are friends outside of Darden, and this relationship played an important role in Carter’s MBA journey. We talk with John and Carter about their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, the impact of the Executive MBA program and much more.

ExecMBA Podcast #247: In Conversation | Scott Beardsley, Dean of the Darden School of Business

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share a recent conversation between the Dean of the Darden School of Business Scott Beardsley and Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke about why it has never been a better time to be at Darden. Beardsley and Clarke share insights on a number of topics including the importance of financial accessibility and scholarships, Darden’s unique academic environment, updates on School priorities and how students can take a Darden MBA ‘from here to anywhere.’ This conversation was recorded on 2 November.

ExecMBA Podcast #246: Women@Darden Spotlight | Professor Melissa Thomas-Hunt

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share another installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Professor Melissa Thomas-Hunt. Thomas-Hunt is the John Forbes Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business and Professor of Public Policy at the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, and she is also the former Head of Global Diversity and Belonging at Airbnb where she led the strategy and execution of our global internal diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging programs. For 25 years, she has taught MBAs and executives leadership, team dynamics, and negotiations and conducted research on the factors that unleash, leverage, and amplify the contributions made by individuals, particularly women, underrepresented individuals, and numerical minorities. During this wide-ranging conversation moderated by Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke, Thomas-Hunt touches upon her professional journey, what led her to Darden, her experience at Airbnb and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #245: Career Spotlight | Strategies for Career Switchers with Career Coach Jim Collins

Did you know over half of our Executive MBA students identify as career switchers? True story. In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jim Collins. Jim is a Career Coach with UVA Darden’s Professional Degree Programs, and we talk with him about the career exploration process for working professional students. Jim also shares tips and insights for students seeking to leverage their Part-Time MBA or Executive MBA experience to facilitate a career change.

ExecMBA Podcast #244: Meet Jennifer Windus, Career Center Executive Coach

In this episode of the podcast, we talk with Jennifer Windus. Jennifer is a Career Center Executive Coach, and she is the newest member of the Career team that supports Darden’s Professional Degree Program students. We talk with Jennifer about her background, what led her to career coaching, what she enjoys about working with students on their professional goals as well as her advice for prospective students as they consider next steps along their career path.

ExecMBA Podcast #243: Spotlight on the Executive MBA Venture Capital Club

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tanveer Kathawalla and Natalie Szmyd. Tanveer and Natalie are second year students in the Executive MBA Class of 2023, and they are Co-Presidents of the Executive MBA Venture Capital Club. We talk with Tanveer and Natalie about their backgrounds, how they decided to pursue an MBA, the impact of their Darden experience so far as well as their plans for the VC Club in the months ahead.

ExecMBA Podcast #242: Spotlight on the Executive MBA Entrepreneurship Club

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Johnny O’Boyle and Hannah Solomon. Johnny and Hannah are second year students in the Executive MBA Class of 2023, and they are also Co-Presidents of the Executive MBA Entrepreneurship Club (EMBEC). We talk with Johnny and Hannah about their backgrounds, their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden and their plans for EMBEC in the year ahead.

ExecMBA Podcast #241: Spotlight on the Black Executive MBA Student Organization

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Matthew Boyd and JB Norcott. Matthew and JB are second year students in the Executive MBA Class of 2023, and they are also Co-Presidents of the Black Executive MBA (BEMBA) student organization. We talk with Matthew and JB about their backgrounds, their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden and their plans for BEMBA in the year ahead.

ExecMBA Podcast #240: Women@Darden Spotlight | Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88), Executive Fellow and Professor of Practice

In this special episode of the Darden Admissions podcast, we’re excited to share a recent installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Carolyn Miles (MBA ’88). Miles is an Executive Fellow and Professor of Practice, and she is also the former Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children, an organization that gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. In this conversation, Miles shares reflections on her MBA journey, the impact of her Darden experience, the work she and other are doing as part of Darden’s Women 2.0 initiative, highlights from UVA Darden’s inaugural women’s summit and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #239: Meet Sherri Watson, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement, Professional Degree Programs

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Sherri Watson. Sherri is the Assistant Dean for Student Engagement for the Professional Degree Programs at the Darden School of Business, and in her role, she supports Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA students learning out of Sands Family Grounds in Rosslyn. In this wide-ranging conversation, Sherri reflects upon her background, her passion for working with students, what led her to Darden, her impressions of UVA Darden’s Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA student communities and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #238: Club Spotlight | Executive MBA Consulting Club

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Remington “Rem” Roth and Josh Rubbelke. Josh and Rem are second year students in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2023, and they are Co-Presidents of the Executive MBA Consulting Club. We talk with Josh and Rem about their backgrounds, what led them to Darden, the impact of their Darden experience so far, their plans for the Consulting Club and more. This episode is highly recommended for any listeners potentially interested transitioning to a role with a consulting firm.

ExecMBA Podcast #237: MSBA Spotlight | Interview with Trey Maxham, MSBA Co-Academic Director

In this episode of the podcast, we spotlight the MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) program with a conversation with James G. “Trey” Maxham III. Maxham is the William Stamps Farish Entrepreneurial Eminent Research professor at UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce and he also serves as one of the Academic Directors for the MSBA program. In this wide-ranging conversation, Maxham reflects upon how the MSBA program has evolved since its launch in 2017, sharing insights about the inspiration for the program, how the program’s integrated design leverages faculty and expertise from both Darden and McIntire, his experience teaching in the program and more. This episode is essential listening for anyone considering the MSBA Program.

ExecMBA Podcast #236: Meet Leah Svoboda, President, Network of Executive Women

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Leah Svoboda. Leah is a second year student in the Executive MBA Class of 2023, and she is the newly elected President of the Network of Executive Women (NEW) student organization. We talk with Leah about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her Darden as well as NEW’s plans for the years ahead. This episode is highly recommended for prospective students interested in learning more about Executive MBA clubs and organizations.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: UVA Darden | A Step by Step Application Guide

Please join our Admissions team for these special micro-podcast episodes giving you a step by step guide to the application process. There are two ways to listen to the playlist... here, on Spotify ► https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2EtyMkjZzi9ErgSjrTxKEl?si=1bffd345fee549ad

ExecMBA Podcast #235: In Conversation | LaShondra Ervin, VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Executive Student Association

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with LaShondra Ervin. LaShondra is a second year student in the Executive MBA Class of 2023, and she is also the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Executive Student Association (ESA). We chat with LaShondra about her decision to pursue an MBA, what attracted her to Darden, as well as how she and her family have navigated the first year of the program. We also talk with LaShondra about the work of the Executive MBA Program’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, including what they have planned for the months ahead. Fun fact: LaShondra was one of three Executive MBA recipients of the C. Steward Sheppard Distinguished Service Award at the program’s mid-point celebration.

ExecMBA Podcast #234 – Part-Time MBA and Executive MBA Applications Now Live!

On this episode, we are joined by longtime friend of the podcast, Director of Admissions Katherine Alford, for a conversation that is something of an annual tradition – the application launch episode! Our new Part-Time MBA and Executive MBA applications are now live, and we catch up with Katherine to talk about the applications as well as tips and strategies for Part-Time MBA and Executive MBA applicants.

ExecMBA Podcast #233: A Historic Opening Week

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dawna Clarke, to reflect on a truly historic opening week for the Darden School of Business. On Monday, 15 August, for the first time in the history of the School, we welcomed Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, and Executive MBA students to grounds for the start of school. In this episode, we discuss key data points for each of these classes and look ahead to a busy fall for the Admissions team, including upcoming deadlines, the annual Diversity Conference, a Women’s Leadership Symposium in Rosslyn and more.

ExecMBA Podcast #232: In Conversation | Senior Associate Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne

In this special episode of the Darden Admissions podcast, we’re excited to share a recent installment from our ongoing Women@Darden event series featuring Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions Dawna Clarke and Senior Associate Dean, Professional Degree Programs Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Grushka-Cockayne leads UVA Darden’s Part-Time MBA, Executive MBA  and MSBA programs, and she is also a member of the Quantitative Analysis faculty. This conversation touches upon a wide variety of topics including UVA Darden’s differentiators, how faculty are an integrated part of the Darden community, the power of the case method, imposter syndrome and more. Grushka-Cockayne also shares insights from her research and publication.

ExecMBA Podcast #231: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Robert Carraway

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share the 15th installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Robert Carraway. Carraway teaches in the Quantitative Analysis area, and he has taught in UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA and Executive MBA programs, and he will teach Decision Analysis in the core curriculum of the newly launched Part-Time MBA program. He served as Senior Associate Dean for MBA programs at UVA Darden from 2006 to 2011, a period that included the introduction of the Executive MBA program. In this wide-ranging conversation, Carraway offers his insights about the case method, the Darden community as well as the design of Darden’s core curriculum. He also discusses the important role intuition plays in analysis, and why stories matter when working with data.

ExecMBA Podcast #230: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Andy Wicks

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we share the 14th installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Andy Wicks. Wicks teaches Ethics in Darden’s MBA and Executive Education programs. An ethicist with a background in religious studies, Wicks examines both the theoretical and practical implications of ethics through thought-provoking courses such as: "Responsible Leadership: Ultimate Questions and Creating Value for Stakeholders"; "Leadership, Values and Ethics"; "Servant Leadership"; and "Contemporary Issues in Business Ethics." In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Wicks about his background in Religious Studies, what led him to Darden, what he enjoys about teaching Ethics in business school, the inspiration behind his popular “Ultimate Questions” elective and more. Wicks is also the Director of UVA Darden’s Doctoral program, and he discusses the re-launch of the PhD program this fall. 

ExecMBA Podcast #229: Debbie Herndon | The Power of Community

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Debbie Herndon. Debbie is a student in the Executive MBA Class of 2023, and in this wide-ranging conversation she reflects upon her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden and the supportive community she encountered from her very first moments as a Darden student. Debbie also reflects upon returning to school later in her career and the impact of her first year in the Executive MBA program