The ExecMBA Podcast

In special episode of Experience Darden and The ExecMBA Podcast, we catch up with Sean Carr, Executive Director of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. We recently connected with Sean via Zoom to talk about Batten’s pivot to virtual programming, their slate of fall events, Darden’s resources and support for entrepreneurs and more. Sean is also the host of Darden’s Ideas to Action podcast – Be sure to check out this interview series featuring Darden faculty members

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Executive MBA alum Alison Williams. Alison graduated from Darden in 2015, and she is currently serving as a Chief of Staff for the Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson. We connected with Alison via Zoom to talk about her background, how she decided to pursue an MBA, how her Darden experience helps her in her current role and why she feels an MBA is value for policy professionals.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Dianne Oroz, an EMBA format student in our Class of 2021. Dianne is an architect and interior designer, and she helped design Darden’s Grounds in the Washington, DC area. We recently connected with Dianne via Zoom to talk more about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, her Darden experience, her advice for prospective students and much more.

In this episode of the podcast we welcome back Senior Associate Director of Admissions Katherine Alford for a conversation all about the application for our Executive MBA Class of 2023. With the application launch slated for mid-August, Brett and Katherine share updates about this year’s application as well tips and insights for applicants targeting an August 2021 start date. Essential listening for Executive MBA applicants.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jake Corbin! Jake is a recent graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2020, as well as a veteran and an entrepreneur. We recently connected with Jake via Zoom to talk about his background, his decision to pursue and MBA and how his Darden experience helped him with his oenophile-oriented start-up, Vinoshares.

In this episode, we catch up with Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Yael is Darden’s new Senior Associate Dean for Professional Degree Programs, and we recently connected via Zoom to talk with her about her background, what’s exciting to her about her new role, how she finds case ideas as well as the Executive MBA Program’s plans for Orientation, Leadership Residency 1 and the months ahead.

A special edition of the Experience Darden and The ExecMBA podcasts! In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Martin Davidson and Christie Julien. Martin is Senior Associate Dean and Global Chief Diversity Officer at the Darden School, and he is also a member of the Leadership and Organizational Behavior faculty. Christie is Darden’s Assistant Dean for Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and a two-time guest on the Experience Darden podcast (See: Episode #34). We recently connected with Martin and Christie via Zoom to talk more about their backgrounds, what brought them to Darden as well as Darden’s efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion.  

In this special episode of the ExecMBA and Experience Darden podcasts, we catch up with Professor Laura Morgan Roberts. Earlier this week, we connected with Laura via Zoom to talk about her experience facilitating a conversation in her Leading Teams course about the killing of George Floyd, the nationwide protests that followed and the social issues implicated by these and other recent events. During this wide-ranging interview, Laura shares how her research interests and lived experience inform her approach to these dialogues, why it is so hard for people to talk about race, and the important role students play in creating opportunity for these conversations.

In this episode of the podcast, we welcome back Director of Student Affairs, Laura Bordoni. We recently caught up with Laura via Zoom to talk about one of the most popular topics for incoming Executive MBA students: time management. During this conversation, Laura shares tips and insights as well as common challenges for students as they seek to balance work, life and school.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Eric Tyo. Eric is an EMBA format student in our Class of 2020, and we recently connected with him via Zoom to talk about his decision to pursue an MBA, how he managed the competing demands of work, life and school, as well as how he leveraged the program’s resources to facilitate a career transition. This episode is a must-listen for any prospective Executive MBA students who are interested in switching company, function and/or industry.