Darden BusinessCasts

What happens after you press submit? Who is reading your application? What does ‘holistic review' actually mean? Director of Admissions Catie Yeilding answers these questions – and many more – as she shares insights about Darden Admissions' evaluation process.

At Darden, the Admissions interview is conversational. But what exactly does this mean? Associate Director of Admissions Merav Frazier offers tips for approaching this conversation, including the importance of knowing your story, the value of focusing on your “why” and why the interview is a great opportunity for you to continue to learn about Darden. Interested in even more interview-related advice? Be sure to check out our longer Experience Darden podcast episode all about the Darden interview.

You've pressed submit. Congratulations! But now what? Assistant Director of Admissions Jenna Vermilya offers advice for how applicants can stay engaged and continue to use this time productively.

The Additional Comments section of the UVA Darden application is just that – additional. However, it is also space for applicants to offer context for information in their application, including academic performance, career path, recommender choice and more. Senior Associate Director of Admissions Cheryl Jones shares tips for utilizing the Additional Comments section of the application.

Who makes a good recommender? Director of Admissions Haley Whitlock Gyory chats about the UVA Darden recommendation process, including tips on recommender choice, the value of getting organized before approaching your recommender and why it's important your recommender know your target deadline.

In the Darden application, there are several short answer questions. Director of Admissions Catie Yeilding offers advice for applicants as they approach this section of the application, including the importance of considering how your responses align with your broader application narrative, why the short answers are a great opportunity for you to demonstrate your authentic voice as well as why every writer needs an editor.

Standardized tests can be helpful way for an applicant to provide a more recent data point regarding their readiness for an MBA curriculum. However, some applicants may wonder if a test waiver could make sense for them? Senior Director of Admissions Whitney Kestner shares advice for applicants weighing these options, including the importance of thinking about your candidacy objectively as you build your academic readiness case.

Executive Director of Admissions Dawna Clarke offers advice for how you can demonstrate your academic readiness for an MBA curriculum across a number of sections of the UVA Darden application – including degree-related coursework, non-degree-related coursework, professional certifications, work responsibilities, standardized test scores and more.

The application process is a storytelling exercise. Senior Director of Admissions Whitney Kestner discusses how you can leverage the various parts of the Darden application as you craft and advance your narrative, as well as the importance of thinking about your candidacy as our Admissions Committee will – holistically and objectively – as you approach your application. 

A little planning can go a long way. Senior Director of Admissions Whitney Kestner returns to share more advice for getting organized as you approach the Darden application.

You've decided to apply to Darden. But where to start? Senior Director of Admissions Whitney Kestner offers tips for getting organized as you approach the application process, including the value of working backwards from your target deadline, why you should read through the application before doing anything else, the important of giving your recommender(s) a little extra time and more.

When is the right time to apply? In short, when you feel like you can put together the strongest application. However, there are important considerations to be weighed as you finalize your plans. Executive Director of Admissions Dawna Clarke offers tips for navigating Darden's application deadlines.

Did you apply to one of Darden's MBA formats in the prior application cycle? If so, this episode is for you! Executive Director of Admissions Dawna Clarke shares advice for reapplicants – including insights about the reapplicant request process, application timing, recommendations and more.

In this episode, we talk with Director of Admissions Katherine Alford about the MBA research process. Katherine shares insights about utilizing MBA rankings, how to network effectively with current students and alumni and the value of using a spreadsheet to help you stay organized. 

Welcome to our application tips series! In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, members of the UVA Darden's Admissions Committee share advice insights for applicants targeting Darden's MBA formats – Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA and Executive MBA.

Our Admissions podcast feeds have split and moved to their new homes! You can now find new separate subscription feeds for both The ExecMBA Podcast and Experience Darden here on Podbean or on other popular listening outlets such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Sticher, Google Play, TuneIn and iHeartRadio! You may also find The ExecMBA Podcasts new episodes here: https://dardenexecmbapodcast.podbean.com/ and Experience Darden new episodes here: https://experiencedarden.podbean.com/. And as always... THANKS FOR LISTENING!

In advance of Darden hosting ClimateCAP: The Global MBA Summit on Climate, Capital and Business, keynote speaker Scott Price discusses the challenges and opportunities for a global logistics company to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while cutting costs and improving its competitive position. He discusses commercialization of new technologies, including robotics, autonomous vehicles and drones, changing the way UPS conducts business in an increasingly urbanized and resource-constrained world. He shares the importance of pursuing mission alignment across the organization, and the necessary partnerships for progress. Hosted by Erika Herz from Darden’s Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Meet Haley Whitlock Gyory! Haley is a Director of Admissions, and she leads our women’s recruitment efforts. During this episode, we talk with Haley about her background, the work she does with our Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) club as well as the Forte Foundation, why she’s passionate about women’s recruitment, and next steps for candidates seeking to learn more about Darden.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Taison Bell. Taison is a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format student in our Class of 2020, and he is also a physician and a founder. We recently sat down with Taison to talk about his background, why he decided to pursue an MBA, why he thinks business and leadership training is important for medical professionals as well as Owl Peak Labs, the start-up he founded with his classmate and recent podcast guest Tim Harvey.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jordan Hart. Jordan is a Second Year student in our Class of 2020, and we recently sat down with her to talk about her summer internship, her extracurricular activities as well as her plans post-graduation. Jordan is President of the Tech Club, VP of Admissions for the Graduate Women in Business club and she also serves on the Second Year Student Admissions Committee (SAC).

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tim Harvey. Tim is a Global Executive MBA format student in our Class of 2020, and we recently caught up with him to talk about his decision to pursue an MBA, what attracted him to our GEMBA format as well as the start-up, Owl Peak Labs, he recently founded with his classmate, Taison Bell. Pro Tip: Keep an eye out in the next few days for our conversation with Taison!

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Olivia Zhou. Olivia is a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format student in our Class of 2020, and she gave birth to her son just a few weeks after the start of the program. We recently sat down to talk with her about her background, the impact of her Darden experience, as well as how she has balanced the program and the demands of being a new mom.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Joey Burton. Joey is Executive Director for Darden’s Institute for Business in Society (IBIS), and we recently sat down with him about what brought him to Darden, how IBIS supports faculty research and how this research impacts the classroom experience as well as how Darden helps train responsible leaders.

In this episode, Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles (MBA'88) discusses the role of women in the developing world and the ability of women and girls to change the trajectory of a country's development towards a more equal and democratic society.  Leadership Unscripted is a Darden speaker series hosted at UVA Darden DC Metro in Arlington, Virginia. To learn more, visit us at: www.darden.virginia.edu.  Recorded 6 November 2019.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tom Duffy. Tom is an Executive MBA (EMBA) format student in our Class of 2020, and he is based in New England. We recently sat down to talk more about his background, why he decided to pursue an MBA, what brought him to Darden as well as what motivated him to serve as a Section representative for his class.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ed Yu. Ed is Senior Director for Investment Banking Careers with Darden’s Career Development Center (CDC), and we recently sat down to talk with Ed about his background, how the CDC prepares students for the Investment Banking interview process as well as why Darden is such a great fit for future investment bankers.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Laura Martens. Laura is Director of Washington, DC Initiatives for the Darden School of Business, and we recently sat down to talk about her background, what attracted her to her current role and some of the things she is currently working on as Darden continues to build its presence and brand in the Washington, DC metro area.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tom Steenburgh. Tom is the Richard S. Reynolds Professor of Business Administration, and he is also Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development and the Full-Time MBA Program. We recently sat down with Tom to talk about his background, what brought him to Darden, what he enjoys about his role as Senior Associate Dean, and how he feels the two years of MBA study, including pre-matriculation activities, fit together.

They’re back! We continue our ongoing conversation with Jonas Porcar Ferrer and Bhavin Patel. In this episode, we catch up with Jonas and Bhavin to talk about Quarters 6 and 7, including the recent Europe global residency, their elective choices as well as what they’ve enjoyed their latest slate of core courses.

In this episode of the podcast, we take a deep dive into the application experience for military candidates. We catch up with Executive Director of Admissions, Dawna Clarke, as well as Darden Military Association (DMA), Brigitte Fox and Burton “Pierce” Lee. Brigitte and Pierce share more about their respective backgrounds, what led them to Darden, as well as their advice for military candidates, and Dawna offers insights and tips about navigating the admissions process.   

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Read Wall. Read is an Executive MBA (EMBA) format student in our Class of 2021, and he is also an entrepreneur. We sat down to talk with Read about his men’s clothing ventures, what led him to Darden, what he has enjoyed about the program so far as well as his advice for entrepreneurs considering an MBA.

A double feature! Whitney Kestner returns to host an episode all about Latin America. This installment of the podcast features conversations with Executive Director of Admissions, Dawna Clarke, as well as two students from our Class of 2020 - Julie Calderon Benavente and Henrique Argollo. Dawna shares more about what she loves about recruiting in Latin America and why Darden is such a great fit for students from this region. Julie and Henrique discuss their backgrounds (Editor’s Note – Julie is from Peru, Henrique is from Brazil), why they chose Darden, what they’ve enjoyed about learning in the case method and the community they’ve found in Charlottesville.

Ayush Bharti (MBA '14) graduated with an ambitious goal. Having lost family to medical negligence, he wanted to improve the healthcare system in his native India. Now with his health tech startup OurHealthMate, a technology platform that connects patients providers and payers in developing economies, he's doing just that all across India and beyond. In this episode of the Darden Founders Project, Ayuish reflects on The Darden experience, Darden faculty, his stint in Darden's i.Lab and the vital importance of a good laugh.

In this episode of Leadership Unscripted, Case Foundation CEO and National Geographic Society Chairman Jean Case discusses the importance of taking risks, being fearless, and leveraging difference in order to change the world.  Leadership Unscripted is a Darden speaker series hosted at UVA Darden DC Metro in Arlington, Virginia. To learn more, visit us at: www.darden.virginia.edu.  Recorded 10 October 2019

In this episode, UPS Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Scott Price (MBA/MA ’90) discusses how to influence and create transformation from within a global corporation.  The Darden Leadership Speaker Series is held on Darden Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and events are open to the public. To learn more, visit us at: www.darden.virginia.edu Recorded 31 October 2019

In this episode of Darden Leadership Speaker Series, Richmond Federal Reserve President and CEO Tom Barkin shares 10 life tips he has learned during his career and offers his thoughts on economic issues, from global trade wars to potential recession.  The Darden Leadership Speaker Series is held on Darden Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and events are open to the public. To learn more, vist us at: www.darden.virginia.edu.  Recorded 3 October 2019

In this episode of the Darden Leadership Speaker Series, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States of America Mahendra Siregar shares the story of Indonesia's recovery from near collapse and discusses the impact of global trade skirmishes.  The Darden Leadership Speaker Series is held on Darden Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and events are open to the public. To learn more, visit us at: www.darden.virginia.edu Recorded on 16 September 2019

In this episode of the podcast, we’re excited to feature our first conversation with a member of our Class of 2021. We recently sat down with EMBA format students, Caroline Clark, to talk about her background, why she decided to pursue an MBA, what she’s enjoyed about her first few months at Darden, as well as her advice for prospective students.

We’re excited to add an additional host to the podcast - Director of Admissions, Whitney Kestner! In this episode, Whitney catches up with Larry Mueller, Assistant Dean, Global Advising. Whitney and Larry discuss the many resources available to international students at Darden, as well as life in Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. 

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Sameer Raina. Sameer is a GEMBA format in our Class of 2020, and we recently sat down with him to talk about his background, what led him to Darden, his advice for doctors and healthcare professionals considering an MBA as well as why he feels ethics are a critical component of any business education.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Marc Johnson. Marc is the Senior Director for Global Affairs and Enterprise Initiatives at the Darden School, and we recently sat down to talk with him about Darden’s many global opportunities, the value of the case method as well as what he enjoys about Charlottesville. This episode is highly recommended for prospective students seeking additional insights about Darden Worldwide Courses as well as the Darden Worldwide Scholarship.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Audrey Hartland. Audrey is an EMBA format student in our Class of 2020, and we recently caught up with her to talk about her decision to pursue an MBA, her recent career transition, what it’s like to plan a wedding while balancing school, work and life, as well as her advice for prospective students.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jeanne Liedtka. Jeanne is the United Technologies Corporation Professor of Business Administration, and she is also Darden’s Senior Associate Dean for Degree Programs. Jeanne is widely known for he work in the area of Design Thinking, and we recently sat down to talk with her about what led her to Darden, why she’s so passionate about Design Thinking, her advice for prospective students as well as what MBA students can learn from Picasso, Dali and Gaudi.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Michelle Mullaney. Michelle is a GEMBA format student in our Class of 2020, and she is also President of our Veteran Executive Students of Darden (VESD) student organization. Michelle comes from a healthcare background, and we recently sat down with her to talk about her decision to pursue an MBA, what it’s like to change jobs during the program, her advice for healthcare professionals considering an MBA and how her global residencies have shaped her MBA experience.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Rob Wiederecht. Rob is a GEMBA format student in our Class of 2020, and we recently sat down to talk about why he decided to pursue an MBA, why he choose our Global Executive MBA format as well as how his MBA experience has helped him take the next step with his start-up idea.

Calling all entrepreneurs! In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with David Touve. David is Senior Director, Ventures with the iLab at UVA, and in this wide-ranging conversation, David details a number of the resources available at Darden and UVA for entrepreneurially-inclined students. If you like this episode, we also recommend checking out our earlier conversation with Sean Carr, Executive Director, Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as our interview with the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Laura Bordoni. Laura works closely with our Class of 2021 as a Student Affairs resource, and we recently sat down to talk about her background, what she enjoys about working with executive format students, her tips for balancing the demands of work, life and school, as well as the extracurricular opportunities and support available to students in our Executive MBA Program.

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with Sarah Elliott and Ed Warwick. Sarah and Ed are members of Darden’s Student Affairs team, and we recently sat down to talk with them about what they enjoy about working with Darden students, the resources the Office of Student Affairs provides, how Learning Teams are assembled as well as their advice for incoming Darden students.

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Ron Cook. Ron is a two-time guest on the podcast, and we recently sat down to talk with him about his leadership roles with our Executive MBA Entrepreneurship Club and Black Executive MBA student organization, what he hopes to accomplish with these organizations this year, as well as his start-up in Kenya that will be the basis of a Global Consulting Project this year.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with second year student, Max Linden. Max is President of the Darden Student Association (DSA), and we recently sat down to talk with him about his background, what led him to Darden, what the DSA has in store for the year ahead and his advice for prospective students. Pro Tip: For additional DSA-related listening, be sure to check out our previous interview with last year’s DSA President, Tom Gonzalez.