The ExecMBA Podcast

Hosted by UVA Darden School of Business

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Episodes

425

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

An informational podcast series about the Executive MBA Program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.

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60 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 42645 min

ExecMBA Podcast #424: MSBA Update with Professor Jingjing Li

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Jingjing Li. Jingjing is an Associate Professor of IT and Innovation at the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, and she is also one of the Academic Directors for UVA’s MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) program. We talk with Jingjing about Module 4, the module she leads in the MSBA program, how the program is incorporating AI into the curriculum, how the program stays relevant in a rapidly evolving landscape 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.

June 5, 2026Episode 42559 min

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 and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

May 29, 2026Episode 42428 min

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 and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

May 22, 2026Episode 42340 min

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 and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

May 15, 2026Episode 42244 min

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 and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

May 8, 2026Episode 4211 hr 5 min

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 and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

May 1, 2026Episode 42023 min

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 and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

April 24, 2026Episode 41938 min

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 and follow us on Instagram @dardenmba.

April 10, 2026Episode 41859 min

ExecMBA Podcast #416: Office Hours Spotlight | In Conversation with Professor Jared Harris

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 Jared Harris. Harris’ research centers on the interplay between ethics and strategy, with a particular focus on the topics of corporate governance, business ethics and interorganizational trust. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Harris about his background, what led him to Darden, how he has incorporated AI in the core Strategy course, why he thinks his Business Ethics Through Literature elective may be more important now than ever 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.

April 3, 2026Episode 41740 min

ExecMBA Podcast #415: Professional Advancement Course with Chris Clark and Rose Khouri

In this episode of the podcast, we catch up with Chris Clark and Rose Khouri. Chris and Rose are First Year students in UVA Darden’s Executive MBA Class of 2027, and in this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with them about the recent Professional Advancement Course, as well as their decision to pursue an MBA, what led them to Darden, how their career goals have evolved during their first semester in 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.