The ExecMBA Podcast

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with Tony Smith. We talk with Smith about his career in real estate, his second year electives "Introduction to Real Estate Finance and Development" and "Hot Topics in Real Estate," Darden’s new real estate concentration, his advice for students interesting pursuing a career in real estate and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.  

In this special edition of the podcast, we are excited to share audio from a recent webinar featuring Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, Willie Green, and Dean of the Darden School of Business, Yael Grushka-Cockayne. In this conversation, Green and Grushka-Cockayne discuss the state of the school, the value of the Darden learning experience, what’s ahead for the business school, AI and the MBA curriculum and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Rich Diemer. Rich is Managing Director for CAV Angels, a non-profit network composed of UVA alumni, faculty, parents, students, and friends of the University whose purpose is to elevate the entrepreneurial ecosystem for UVA alumni by educating, connecting, funding, and mentoring the extended UVA startup community. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Rich about his background as a senior finance executive, how he got involved with CAV Angels, the entrepreneurial and business environment in Charlottesville, his advice for students who are interested in entrepreneurship and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Izzie Mirghani. Izzie is a recent graduate in UVA’s MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) Class of 2026, and we caught up with him to talk about what attracted him to the MSBA program, how the MSBA curriculum helped him sharpen his communication skills, how AI is integrated into the program, how his career goals evolved over the course of the program and more.  For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Catherine Kelley. Catherine is a student in Darden’s Part-Time MBA Class of 2028, and she is also the Executive Vice President for Darden’s Network of Executive Women student organization. We talk with her about her background, her decision to pursue an MBA, what she’s enjoyed about Darden’s Part-Time MBA program, the Network of Executive Women student organization, what she’s looking forward to in the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with two Darden faculty members, Professors Rob Phillips and Manel Baucells. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Rob and Manel about Darden’s PhD program. They discuss the structure and philosophy of the program, what makes Darden’s program distinctive, how someone might know if pursuing a PhD may be right for them and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jasmine Latour. Jasmine is a student in Darden’s Part-Time MBA Class of 2028, and we recently caught up with her about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, navigating the program as a new mom, what she’s looking forward to in the months ahead and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

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 Dr. Tracey Hoke. Dr. Hoke is trained as a Pediatrician and Pediatric Cardiologist, and she is the inaugural health Chair, Innovation in Healthcare Operations at UVA Health. We talk with Dr. Hoke about her medical career, what led her to Darden, the courses she teaches – Challenges in Healthcare and Solutions in Healthcare – her advice for prospective MBA students considering a career in healthcare, what makes Charlottesville an attractive destination for biotech and life sciences firms, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba. 

The applications for Darden’s Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA classes enrolling August 2027 are now live! To mark the occasion, we catch up with Zoe Mayfield Boykin, Associate Dean of Admissions, Professional Degree Programs, to talk about this year’s applications, guidance on application timing, how a Darden interview works, what happens after an applicant presses submit on their application and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.