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

ExecMBA Podcast #423: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Rory McDonald

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 Rory McDonald. McDonald’s research focuses on how firms compete and innovate effectively in new technology-enabled markets. Drawing on a mix of in-depth fieldwork and archival data, he studies how executives develop viable strategies in these contexts and how they obtain resources that improve their chances of success. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with McDonald about his background, what led him to Darden, how the Strategy course fits into the Darden core curriculum, his popular electives, “Disruptive Strategy” and “Disruptive Innovation,” his current research interests 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%7C0d069e5b535a40cd2f0a08dec334004f%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639162825280256839%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=t6QDnoL9QPKXPA6g5Zl3%2B0DRrAhBxsCAcO5wIsAW1%2BY%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%7C0d069e5b535a40cd2f0a08dec334004f%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639162825280283706%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=L0J3jf2CdPLYdi0Cl4cm4wsTN9X%2FACQMmVulPJYa2cM%3D&reserved=0].

ExecMBA Podcast #422: Student Spotlight | Tristan Gess

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Tristan Gess. Tristan is a first year student in the Part-Time MBA Class of 2028, and he is Co-President for his class. We talk with Tristan about his decision to pursue an MBA, what led him to Darden, what he’s enjoyed about his first year, how he decided to take on a 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%7Cb2423a2b5c2d4017b11208debd0b0804%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639156052239575807%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YD%2BBn4W0TM0SqRa9L4jc%2FjAcBqSkm4NCXXR00ZLrXOg%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%7Cb2423a2b5c2d4017b11208debd0b0804%7Cf913d821b468447ba84a8e886705359a%7C0%7C0%7C639156052239608955%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iyDMbAb%2Fo2B6Shyy4APZFX8gaezgFT6BfUGIIc3wwjg%3D&reserved=0].

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].