The ExecMBA Podcast

In this episode of the podcast we catch up with UVA Darden’s Professional Degree Programs Career Team, Gopika Spaenle, Jennifer Windus and Jim Collins. We talk with Gopika, Jennifer, and Jim about the recent Professional Advancement Course (PAC), as well as career-related news and updates for Darden’s current Executive MBA and Part-Time MBA classes.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Pam Peace. Pam is a second year student in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2024, and she also serves as the Executive MBA Student Association’s VP, Outreach. We talk with Pam about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her to Darden, her work as VP, Outreach, what she’s enjoyed about the second year of the Executive MBA program, the impact of her time at Darden and more.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Kirby Landon. Kirby is a second year student in Darden’s Part-Time MBA Class of 2025, and she also currently serves as VP, Community for the Part-Time MBA Student Association. We talk with Kirby about her decision to pursue an MBA, what led her Darden, what she’s enjoyed about the program so far and more. Kirby also gave birth during her first year, and we chat with her about balancing the demands of work, school and parenthood.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Dan Biga. Dan is a graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2021, and he currently works for Deloitte as a Lead Specialist, Social Impact Portfolio, Deloitte Leadership and Human Potential. We talk with Dan about his service in the United States Marine Corps, his experience teaching in Chicago, his decision to pursue an MBA, what he’s been up to since graduation and more.

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 Jim Naughton. Naughton is an Associate Professor in the Accounting area at Darden, and his research examines how financial, legal, and regulatory institutions shape both financial disclosure and economic choices. We talk with Naughton about why he’s passionate about the case method, Darden’s approach to Accounting, his interest in ESG disclosures and more.

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 Les Alexander. Alexander is an experienced professor, venture capital and private equity investor, corporate executive, and investment banker, and he is a Professor of Practice in the Finance and Strategy, Ethics & Entrepreneurship areas at Darden. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Alexander about Venture Capital (VC), Private Equity (PE), his Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) elective, plans for the UVA Venture Capital Conference, his advice interested in VC and PE and more.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Melissa Thomas-Hunt and Yael Grushka-Cockayne. Melissa is the Senior Associate Dean for Darden’s Residential Full-Time MBA program and Yael is the Senior Associate Dean for Darden’s Professional Degree Programs. We talk with Melissa and Yael about the fall semester, highlights from the past few months, what they’re looking forward to in the spring, their advice for prospective students and more.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Taylor Bennett. Taylor is a recent graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2023, and he is currently the Chief Development Office for Pizza Hut. We talk with Taylor about his decision to pursue an MBA, the impact of his Darden experience, his favorite Darden classes, as well as the independent study he did focused on his classmate's restaurant concept in Birmingham, Alabama.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Patrick Clancey. Patrick is a graduate in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2020, and we talk with Patrick about this decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, how his Learning Team shaped his Darden experience, how he balanced work, life and school as an Executive MBA student, what he’s been up to since graduation and more.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up Stephen Beaudoin. Stephen is a graduate in Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2022, and he has built his career in the performing arts. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Stephen about his decision to pursue an MBA, the impact of his Darden experience, what he’s been up to since graduation, his new role as the President and CEO of the Music School of Delaware and more.