The ExecMBA Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Dr. Luqman “Luq” Dad (Class of 2022). Luq is a Radiation Oncologist in the Washington, DC area, and he is a second-year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2022. During this wide-ranging conversation, Luq shares insights about what led him to a general management MBA program, why Darden appealed to him and what the impact of the program has been for him so far. Luq was also instrumental in the founding of the Executive Healthcare Alliance student group as well as the planning of the Executive MBA program’s first annual Global Diversity Event. We talk with Luq about both of these initiatives and how extracurricular engagement has enhanced his Darden experience.  

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Kate deLacy. Kate is a second year in our Executive MBA Class of 2022, and we recently connected with her via Zoom to talk about her MBA journey, what led her to Darden and much more. During this wide-ranging conversation, Kate reflects on moving from the restaurant world to the investment industry. She also shares insights about how her time in the Executive MBA program has shaped and expanded her career interests.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the ninth installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Casey Lichtendahl. Lichtendahl is a member of the Quantitative Analysis faculty and Co-Academic Director for the MS in Business Analytics program. He is also a Darden alumnus, and in this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Lichtendahl about his background in the beverage industry, how a Quantitative Analysis course with Robert Carraway sparked his passion for data and changed his life, his recent work forecasting for Google, what it’s like to teach at Darden as an alumnus, why he feels the Darden learning environment is truly special and much more. Essential listening.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the seventh installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Dan Murphy. Murphy is a member of the Global Economies and Market, and during this wide-ranging conversation, he touches upon everything from growing up in Denver and his twin passions for policy and economics to affordable housing and his favorite book of all-time.

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jonathan Vassil (EMBA ’18). During this conversation, Jonathan reflects upon his MBA journey, including why he was drawn to the case method and the educational experience at Darden. He also shares insights from his career, including his recent work as a SVP/GM at Toast, Inc.. Toast, a Software as a Service company focused on the restaurant industry, recently conducted an IPO at a $20 billion valuation. 

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we recap the recent Darden Diversity Conference! This year’s conference was hosted virtually, and it marked the fourth occasion of this annual event. We catch up with two students who served on the Diversity Conference planning committee – Full-Time MBA student Khaliyah Legette (Class of 2022) and Executive MBA student Chi Lo (Class of 2022) – to talk about this year’s conference, the planning and preparation that went into the two-day affair, why diversity matters at Darden and more.

This weekend marks the occasion of Darden’s annual Diversity Conference! In this special episode of the ExecMBA Podcast, we share excerpts from some of our favorite conversations with Executive MBA student leaders from the past couple years. Featured organizations include the Network of Executive Women (NEW), the Black Executive MBA (BEMBA) student organization and the Executive MBA Diversity & Inclusion Committee. This episode also features interviews with two panelists from this weekend’s conference – Ron Cook (EMBA ’20) and Nicole Reyna (Class of 2022).

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Second Year Executive MBA student Colin Thomas (Class of 2022). During this conversation, Colin, a real estate entrepreneur, discusses his decision to pursue an MBA and how Darden, including his classmates, faculty, and coursework, have helped him as he has worked to launch and grow his venture.

In this episode of the podcast, we continue our spotlight on life outside the classroom in the Executive MBA program with a conversation all about the Executive MBA Venture Capital Club. A few months ago, we caught up with Barry Hartzberg (EMBA ’21) and Greg Benante (Class of 2022) to talk more about the Venture Capital Club – the club’s origins, the response from their classmates and the organization’s plans for the months ahead. Barry and Greg also discuss their respective backgrounds, how they decided to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden and more.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcasts, we share the seventh installment in our ongoing ‘Office Hours’ faculty spotlight series, a conversation with Professor Ed Freeman. Freeman is a member of the Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship faculty, and an academic director for UVA Darden’s Institute for Business in Society. We talk with Freeman and his background in philosophy, his work on stakeholder theory, and why we need a new story about business. Freeman also discusses his recent documentary, Fishing With Dynamite, as well as his new podcast, The Stakeholder Podcast. He also shares his top five “desert island” albums. Essential listening.