The ExecMBA Podcast

The ExecMBA Podcast #184: Serving as a Second Year Tutor

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with four recent graduates from the Executive MBA Class of 2021 – Justin Aydelotte (EMBA ’21), Matt Duffy (EMBA ’21), Peter Frieslander (EMBA ’21) and Barry Hartzberg (EMBA ’21). Justin, Matt, Peter and Barry recently served as second year tutors – a new initiative for the Executive MBA program – providing academic support for first year students in the Executive MBA Class of 2022 across several core quantitative areas including Decision Analysis, Finance and Global Economies and Markets. 

The ExecMBA Podcast #183: Living a Passion for Diversity | Briana Apgar (Class of 2022)

In this episode of the podcast, we chat with Briana Apgar (Class of 2022). Briana is a second year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2022, and she is also one of the members of the Executive MBA program’s newly formed Diversity Committee. We talk with Briana about how she decided to pursue an MBA, how servant leadership has informed her career approach, why she is so passionate about diversity, and how her time at Darden has challenged to embrace the idea of “good enough.”

The ExecMBA Podcast #182: Chi Lo - Leading the Executive MBA Program’s Diversity Committee

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Chi Lo (Class of 2022), a second year student in the Executive MBA program. Chi is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and he recently started a new position at Tesla. He is also a founding member of the Executive MBA program’s Diversity Committee. We talk with Chi about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, and the goals for the Diversity Committee in the year ahead.

The ExecMBA Podcast #181: Senior Associate Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne | Announcing UVA Darden’s Part-Time MBA

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we welcome back friend of the pod, Senior Associate Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne, to talk about UVA Darden’s newest MBA format, the Part-Time MBA. We also take time to check in with Yael about her first year leading the Executive MBA program, what she’s currently researching, why she’s so passionate about project management and how she’s processing England’s recent loss to Italy in the European Championship final.

The ExecMBA Podcast #180: Leading Mindfully and Building Resilience | A Conversation with Professor Lili Powell

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the sixth installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Lili Powell. Powell is a member of the Communication faculty, and she also has a joint appointment with the UVA School of Nursing. We talk with her about her interest in mindfulness and resilience, as well as what she has learned from her work with healthcare providers. Powell also shares insights about how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped and redefined the ways we communicate with one another.

The ExecMBA Podcast #179: In Conversation | Senior Director of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Christian West

Senior Director of Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Christian West joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about his background, what led him to Darden, why he’s passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion and what he’s looking forward to in the months ahead. We even find time to discuss Christian’s preferred coffee orders and his status as an undefeated southern California karaoke champion.

The ExecMBA Podcast #178: Insights about the Application for the Executive MBA Class of 2024

Director of Admissions Katherine Alford returns to the podcast to share insights about the recently launched application for the Executive MBA Class of 2024. Discussion topics include advice for reapplicants, standardized test strategy, test waiver guidance, crafting your best short answer responses, telling your story through your application, preparing for the Darden interview and more. Essential listening.

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

The ExecMBA Podcast #177: Catching up with the Black Executive MBA Student Organization

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with the newly elected co-Presidents of the Black Executive MBA (BEMBA) student organization, Rex Minnis (Class of 2022) and Jemuir Rivers (Class of 2022). Minnis and Rivers reflect on their decisions to pursue an MBA, how they balanced work, life and school during their first year in the Executive MBA program and what BEMBA has planned for the months ahead. They also share their advice for prospective students seeking to learn more about the student organization.  

The ExecMBA Podcast #176: The Business of a Sustainable Future | A Conversation with Professor Mike Lenox

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the fifth installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Mike Lenox. We talk with Lenox about what led him to Darden, why he thinks lecturing is dead, and why he’s so passionate about Darden’s high-engagement learning environment. Lenox also shares insights from his extensive work on climate change and sustainability, including findings from his recent books "Can Business Save the Earth" (2018) and "The Decarbonization Imperative" (2021), both from Stanford University Press.

The ExecMBA Podcast #175: In Conversation with the Network of Executive Women

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with two newly elected leaders of the Network of Executive Women (NEW), President Sarah Powell (Class of 2022) and Vice President Hannah Poland (Class of 2022). Powell and Poland share more about their MBA journeys, what led them to Darden, the role that NEW played in their MBA decision-making process, and why they wanted to serve as student leaders during their time in the Executive MBA program. Interested in connecting with NEW? You can reach them at NEWinbox@darden.virginia.edu.

The ExecMBA Podcast #174: Emerging Domestic Markets | A Conversation with Professor Greg Fairchild

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the fourth installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Greg Fairchild (MBA ’92). We talk with Fairchild about what it’s like to teach at Darden as an alumnus, why he’s passionate about entrepreneurship in rural and inner city communities as well as his work with the Resilience Project and the Darden Prison Program. Fairchild also reflects upon how his personal connection to the Tulsa Race Massacre has shaped his professional interests.

The ExecMBA Podcast #173: Building a Better Sports Bra

Where some people see problems, other people see opportunities. We chat with Coco Woeltz (MBA ’21) and Isabelle Kayal Larsen (EMBA ’21) about Hummingbyrd, their sports bra and athletic apparel-focused venture. Woeltz and Larsen reflect upon their MBA journeys, what led them to Darden and how the venture courses and resources of the Batten Institute brought them together. Woeltz and Larsen  also share insights about the importance of friction points in the entrepreneurial journey and what they are learning as they work to take Hummingbyrd to the next level.

The ExecMBA Podcast #172: James Hoffman (Class of 2022) - Bringing 5G Technology to Virginia’s Communities

At Verizon, James Hoffman (Class of 2022) works with local governments and communities across Virginia to bring 5G technology to more users. We chat with James about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, and how he has juggled both starting a new job and a busy Executive MBA program. James also talks about the importance of humility to his learning approach, and how he has intentionally sought out those topics that are new and less familiar to him in the first few quarters of the program.

The ExecMBA Podcast #171: Accounting, Science Fiction and a Very Full Plate

Bob McMurtry (Class of 2022) is the Director of Finance for a boarding school in the Charlottesville area. We talk with Bob about his MBA journey, how the program has helped him sharpen his time management skills, how he has juggled the demands of work, school and a growing family, and how he has been able to apply lessons from class in his work. We also touch upon Bob’s new role as a member of the Executive Student Association (ESA) leadership board, and we even find time to discuss Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic, Dune.

The ExecMBA Podcast #170: Opportunities and Challenges in US Healthcare Delivery - A Conversation with Professor Dennie Kim

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the third installment of our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Dennie Kim. We talk with Kim about his background growing up in New York City, how he knew he wanted to be a teacher, what attracted him to healthcare and how COVID-19 has highlighted challenges and inequities in the US healthcare system. Kim also shares his advice for MBA students considering a career in healthcare.  

The ExecMBA Podcast #169: Transitioning from Luxury Fashion to Technology

Susanna Klein (Class of 2022) built her career with luxury fashion brands like Chanel before coming to Darden. We chat with Susanna about her MBA journey, how she has leveraged the learnings from class in her work, and why she intentionally chose a business school program outside of her base location in New York City. Susanna also shares reflections on her 12 years at Chanel, and how the brand deepened her understanding and appreciation of French history and culture.

The ExecMBA Podcast #168: Why Now Is the Right Time to Pursue Your MBA - Marina Peddy

Marina Peddy’s (Class of 2022) initial inspiration to pursue her MBA actually came from her father, who also participated in an Executive MBA program. We chat with Marina about her human resources career path, what led her to Darden, Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (naturally) and how she has applied the lessons from the program even in her family life. She also shares and why now is the right time to pursue an MBA.

The ExecMBA Podcast #167: Inflation, K-Shaped Recoveries and Cybersecurity Risk in the Banking System - A Conversation With Professor Kinda Hachem

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the second installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Kinda Hachem. We talk with Hachem about growing up in Toronto, what initially sparked her interest in Economics, her “Economics of Money and Banking” course and more. We also check in about a number of hot topics in Economics, including the current U.S. debate about inflation, K-shaped recoveries on a global scale, the greatest current threat to the banking system, and the concept of a global corporate tax rate.

The ExecMBA Podcast #166: Will Payne - Driving New Business Investment in Southwest Virginia

Will Payne (Class of 2022) focuses on bringing business opportunity to Southwest Virginia. Will has deep roots in politics, and we discuss the steps that brought him to pursue an MBA, what he loves about his current work in economic development and how Darden has offered him an opportunity to be the student he always wanted to be. We also talk about Appalachian Grains, his craft grain business that has supplies grains to distilleries and breweries across the Commonwealth, including Charlottesville’s own Three Notch’d Brewery.

The ExecMBA Podcast #165: A Test Pilot Sets His Sights on an MBA

First year Executive MBA student Jemuir Rivers (Class of 2022) is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and a test pilot in the United States Navy. In this podcast, we talk with Rivers about his decision to pursue an MBA, how classes are going so far, the important role his Learning Team has played in these first few quarters and what he believes really matters in an MBA program. Spoiler alert: It’s about more than just numbers.

The ExecMBA Podcast #164: Student Leaders on Building Community During a Pandemic

Executive MBA students Catriona Stadtler-Ayer (Class of 2022) and Sean Taylor (Class of 2022) are card-carrying members of the “full plate club,” as parents, pet owners, working professionals and now leaders of the Executive Student Association (ESA). We connected with Catriona and Sean to discuss what led them to Darden for an MBA and what the ESA hopes to accomplish in the months ahead.  

The ExecMBA Podcast #163: Director of Venture Programs Jason Brewster: ‘If You’re Having Doubts, You’re Making Progress’

We caught up with Director of Venture Programs for the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (and friend of our Admissions podcasts) Jason Brewster to talk about the current state of the venturing at Darden. He also shares insights about effectuation, resources available to Darden student entrepreneurs and reading recommendations for aspiring venturers.

The ExecMBA Podcast #162: Former Olympian Takes on Business School

Prior to Darden, First Year Sarah Lihan (Class of 2022) competed in the London 2012 Summer Olympics, and she has spent her professional career thinking about mobility for companies like Lyft and Spin. We recently connected with Sarah via Zoom to talk about her MBA journey and how things are going in the program so far.

The ExecMBA Podcast #161: SPACs, GameStop and the Challenge of Bitcoin: A Conversation With Professor Rich Evans

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we’re pleased to share our recent Office Hours conversation with Darden Professor Rich Evans. We talk with Evans about his background, what led him to Darden, what he enjoys about teaching Finance through the case method and more. We also find time to hear Evans’ thoughts about a number of Finance-related “hot topics” – SPACs, GameStop, Bitcoin and the current state of the U.S. stock market.