The ExecMBA Podcast

ExecMBA Podcast #421: In Conversation | Ellen Johnson (EMBA ’26)

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Ellen Johnson. Ellen is a recent graduate in our Executive MBA Class of 2026, and she was also a recent member of the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA) leadership board. We talk with Ellen about her decision to pursue an MBA, what it’s like to change jobs during the program, the program-wide student newsletter she curated, The Executive Edit, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.darden.virginia.edu%2Fadmissions%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C40832edd16734c0fadb808deb79a0019%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639150069234143623%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7EzM10UTBHgs7BuW2KDNhMjCQWQjz36UQpPI3DcOVgQ%3D&reserved=0] and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdardenmba%2F%3Fhl%3Den&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C40832edd16734c0fadb808deb79a0019%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639150069234177687%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1aWmQYkwjOniSNG7RVYiCmoru4wBfR8JbQDT%2FhLNv7k%3D&reserved=0].

ExecMBA Podcast #420: Student Spotlight | Mike Dorsey

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Mike Dorsey. Mike is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2027, and he is the newly elected President fo the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA). We chat with Mike about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what he’s enjoyed about his first year, why he decided to pursue a student leadership role, and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.darden.virginia.edu%2Fadmissions%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C091d374e116642791b1a08deb292bfc9%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639144540518704718%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NwNEeAeYkOH9BBC2U4DdDarVdWIiwpre4ieZJxHzLAM%3D&reserved=0] and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdardenmba%2F%3Fhl%3Den&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C091d374e116642791b1a08deb292bfc9%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639144540518749360%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BYbkLaUiuton4wNTc46Dhr8z0mw2c4T8PcYhdc7EYHc%3D&reserved=0].

ExecMBA Podcast #419: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professors Marc Ruggiano and Rob Phillips

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 Professors Marc Ruggiano and Rob Phillips. In this hour-long conversation, we talk with Ruggiano and Phillips about what Darden means by ethical AI as well as some of the ethical considerations across the AI value chain.  For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.darden.virginia.edu%2Fadmissions%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7Ca32179e4d8ce42ee677108dead37d7d7%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639138652512755069%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=f7jBgZAds4PvxQkGNyEvmN%2BGwhNDWA9l6MQ%2FYsRHILQ%3D&reserved=0] and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdardenmba%2F%3Fhl%3Den&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7Ca32179e4d8ce42ee677108dead37d7d7%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639138652512788540%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PIsOrNh%2FGxFkOxQE6ugApgklLoVScTRczMCs94Onxpc%3D&reserved=0].

ExecMBA Podcast #418: Student Spotlight | Jesse Byrnes

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jesse Byrnes. Jesse is a first year student in our Executive MBA Class of 2027, and he is also the newly elected Executive Vice President for the Executive MBA Student Association (ESA). Jesse is a journalist, and he is a recipient of Darden’s Batten Media Fellowship, a full tuition and fee scholarship focused on professionals engaged in the media. We talk with Jesse about his background, his decision to pursue an MBA, what attracted him to a leadership role, what he’s looking forward to in the months to come and more. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.darden.virginia.edu%2Fadmissions%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C49e1856d99b149e3403d08dea7c7dc62%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639132673996149036%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=huqOL1hpRYLE7UAu2fALmL2DsPOWBrAACg0dd8QyNGs%3D&reserved=0] and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdardenmba%2F%3Fhl%3Den&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C49e1856d99b149e3403d08dea7c7dc62%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639132673996180335%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lCCFyt%2BUHrT2BoPOLIBSWpBUi99bn8oVyTlFwLn8Sho%3D&reserved=0].

ExecMBA Podcast #417: MSBA Update with Professor Raj Venkatesan

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Raj Venkatesan. Raj is a member of the Marketing faculty at the Darden School of Business, and he is also one of the Academic Directors for UVA’s MS in Business Analytics program. We talk with Raj about the MSBA program, how the faculty keep the curriculum current, the program’s upcoming fifth and final module, some of his favorite MSBA capstone projects and more. We also find time to discuss his Digital Marketing elective and how he’s incorporated AI into that course. For more insights, tips, and stories about the Darden experience, be sure to check out the Discover Darden Admissions blog [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblogs.darden.virginia.edu%2Fadmissions%2F&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C5fc9cef5a5ec4f5c8b9708dea1ab8d55%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639125955342158720%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bxE6oIT13ghG9bkzC238f7ef6yeTudUjdKCi02UDlVI%3D&reserved=0] and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fdardenmba%2F%3Fhl%3Den&data=05%7C02%7CLopezN%40darden.virginia.edu%7C5fc9cef5a5ec4f5c8b9708dea1ab8d55%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639125955342186688%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Aijg3HYcfPfZwvMYZl0pWJO6CLwwveNBM3JqCwa4Z8I%3D&reserved=0].