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23 Apr 2021, 08:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Future Year Friday: Zak DePasquale on Making Pivots and Achieving Goals Through Deferred MBA Opportunities |
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The Future Year Friday series continues with Zak DePasquale (Class of 2022), a Future Year Scholar who is wrapping up his first year as a full-time Darden MBA student. DePasquale spent two years working with a disaster-recovery contracting firm in the Washington, D.C. area before enrolling at Darden with the Class of 2022. Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program invites outstanding college students to join the ranks of a Top 5 business school, before ever gaining work experience. Admitted scholars may choose to begin their MBA after gaining two, three or four years of work experience. When asked in a recent panel discussion for admitted Future Year Scholars what stood out about Darden when considering MBA programs, DePasquale shared, “Darden is constantly bringing in top-tier faculty, innovating in terms of courses and other opportunities for us to be involved as students. Darden keeps pushing the needle forward in what can be accomplished in business school and they really take an interest in the students individually so it seemed like a great fit for someone coming out of undergrad to eventually come back to.” Undergrad School: UVA (Go Hoos!) Undergrad Major: Psychology and Cognitive Science (with a minor in Entrepreneurship) Undergrad Graduation Year: 2018 Q: What stood out to you about the Future Year Scholars Program and why did you decide to apply? A: What stood out to me was the ability to get a top-level MBA earlier in my career than the average candidate and have a strong boost toward achieving my career goals early in life. Applying enabled me to take an early career position I wouldn’t have necessarily taken with the knowledge that I could pivot industries and job functions after graduating from Darden. Q: What did you do between graduating from your undergraduate institution and joining Darden? A: I worked in project management and business development for a small government contracting company in northern Virginia. I managed teams of field staff who were working on natural disaster sites in Puerto Rico, Texas, and Florida, serving as a liaison between our staff and FEMA while pursuing new contracts and forming new strategic partnerships. Q: What advice do you have for someone thinking about applying to Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program? A: Go for it! Our MBA class is full of students from diverse industry, educational, and geographic backgrounds, so the Admissions Committee will always be excited to learn about you and see how you could be a fit for the class. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Future Year Friday: Zak DePasquale on Making Pivots and Achieving Goals Through Deferred MBA Opportunities first appeared on Discover Darden. |
23 Apr 2021, 08:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Future Year Friday: Zak DePasquale on Making Pivots and Achieving Goals Through Deferred MBA Opportunities |
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The Future Year Friday series continues with Zak DePasquale (Class of 2022), a Future Year Scholar who is wrapping up his first year as a full-time Darden MBA student. DePasquale spent two years working with a disaster-recovery contracting firm in the Washington, D.C. area before enrolling at Darden with the Class of 2022. Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program invites outstanding college students to join the ranks of a Top 5 business school, before ever gaining work experience. Admitted scholars may choose to begin their MBA after gaining two, three or four years of work experience. When asked in a recent panel discussion for admitted Future Year Scholars what stood out about Darden when considering MBA programs, DePasquale shared, “Darden is constantly bringing in top-tier faculty, innovating in terms of courses and other opportunities for us to be involved as students. Darden keeps pushing the needle forward in what can be accomplished in business school and they really take an interest in the students individually so it seemed like a great fit for someone coming out of undergrad to eventually come back to.” Undergrad School: UVA (Go Hoos!) Undergrad Major: Psychology and Cognitive Science (with a minor in Entrepreneurship) Undergrad Graduation Year: 2018 Q: What stood out to you about the Future Year Scholars Program and why did you decide to apply? A: What stood out to me was the ability to get a top-level MBA earlier in my career than the average candidate and have a strong boost toward achieving my career goals early in life. Applying enabled me to take an early career position I wouldn’t have necessarily taken with the knowledge that I could pivot industries and job functions after graduating from Darden. Q: What did you do between graduating from your undergraduate institution and joining Darden? A: I worked in project management and business development for a small government contracting company in northern Virginia. I managed teams of field staff who were working on natural disaster sites in Puerto Rico, Texas, and Florida, serving as a liaison between our staff and FEMA while pursuing new contracts and forming new strategic partnerships. Q: What advice do you have for someone thinking about applying to Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program? A: Go for it! Our MBA class is full of students from diverse industry, educational, and geographic backgrounds, so the Admissions Committee will always be excited to learn about you and see how you could be a fit for the class. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Future Year Friday: Zak DePasquale on Making Pivots and Achieving Goals Through Deferred MBA Opportunities first appeared on Discover Darden. |
26 Apr 2021, 05:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Unintended Consequences, Financial Recovery, Shadow Banking: An ‘Office Hours’ Conversation With Finance Professor Kinda Hachem |
Global Economies and Markets Professor Kinda Hachem joined Darden Admissions for the latest installment of “Office Hours”, presented by Darden Ideas to Action. View the recording or check out an audio version by streaming the conversation on the Experience Darden or ExecMBA podcasts. Learn more about SPACs, GameStop and Bitcoin, in addition to what it’s like to learn finance through the case method in the March 2021 “Office Hours” session with Professor Rich Evans. Senior Director of Admissions Brett Twitty spoke with Hachem about her early start working with a central bank in Canada, how Darden Professor Frank Warnock inspired Hachem to join the Darden faculty and move to Charlottesville and her take on the current economic environment and Covid-related financial implications. Hachem focuses on the macro side of economics, looking at connections between macroeconomics and banking, financial stability risks and how central banks respond to them. When asked how she decides on topics for her elective course, The Economics of Money and Banking, a course on financial stability and central banking, Hachem shared “Fundamentally, all spectacular collapses have a few things in common. I look for crises or major events in banking systems that on the surface seem very different — it’s a different country with a different set of institutions with different dependencies on the global economy, different financial products that are at the center of the problem. But when you boil it down, it all comes down to a similar formula where they lend long term and they borrow short term; people don’t internalize the risks and then you get a massive run. If you think about it, Iceland is one of the biggest banking collapses that occurred — it was country-wide and what made it a bit more stark was how quickly the banking sector grew. We’re talking a matter of a couple of years where they had a massive run-up in the banking system and then two years later it’s completely gone. So (in class) we look for episodes of volatility and things that seem like they’re different. The course is not about studying one specific crisis or one specific policy episode — it’s going through these different cases and teasing out the commonalities.” Hachem came to Darden from a school where her course was a traditional lecture-based approach. She acknowledged some apprehension about transitioning to Darden where the case-based approach is quite different and student-centric. Hachem said, “It’s a lot of fun because the students come prepared. They know that the onus is on them to push the discussion forward. My role is simply to be the ‘Econ police’ and tie things back to a structure that lets us walk through from shock to outcome and make sure that people aren’t making implicit assumptions along the way. You hear so many different perspectives and people are hashing out ideas with each other. The class really takes on a life of its own and then coalesces around a fundamental point. That a-ha moment comes for people at different points throughout our 85-minute class. Different people will connect with different ideas and then bring that into the classroom and you eventually sift through the details and settle on the fundamental issue.” During the session, Hachem also discussed the need for an exit strategy on monetary policy now that COVID-19 financial instability is starting to level out, why cryptocurrency can be considered an investment instrument more than a monetary instrument, the principles of a global tax rate, why cybersecurity-related risks are the next biggest threats to financial systems and the importance of all countries being able to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested in more faculty thought leadership discussions? Sign up for more “Office Hours” events below! 7 May | Professor Dennie Kim: Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship 4 June | Professor Greg Fairchild: Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Business Ethics, Leadership 9 July | Lili Powell: Leadership, Management, Mindfulness and Corporate Communication Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Unintended Consequences, Financial Recovery, Shadow Banking: An 'Office Hours' Conversation With Finance Professor Kinda Hachem first appeared on Discover Darden. |
26 Apr 2021, 05:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Unintended Consequences, Financial Recovery, Shadow Banking: An ‘Office Hours’ Conversation With Finance Professor Kinda Hachem |
|
Global Economies and Markets Professor Kinda Hachem joined Darden Admissions for the latest installment of “Office Hours”, presented by Darden Ideas to Action. View the recording or check out an audio version by streaming the conversation on the Experience Darden or ExecMBA podcasts. Learn more about SPACs, GameStop and Bitcoin, in addition to what it’s like to learn finance through the case method in the March 2021 “Office Hours” session with Professor Rich Evans. Senior Director of Admissions Brett Twitty spoke with Hachem about her early start working with a central bank in Canada, how Darden Professor Frank Warnock inspired Hachem to join the Darden faculty and move to Charlottesville and her take on the current economic environment and Covid-related financial implications. Hachem focuses on the macro side of economics, looking at connections between macroeconomics and banking, financial stability risks and how central banks respond to them. When asked how she decides on topics for her elective course, The Economics of Money and Banking, a course on financial stability and central banking, Hachem shared “Fundamentally, all spectacular collapses have a few things in common. I look for crises or major events in banking systems that on the surface seem very different — it’s a different country with a different set of institutions with different dependencies on the global economy, different financial products that are at the center of the problem. But when you boil it down, it all comes down to a similar formula where they lend long term and they borrow short term; people don’t internalize the risks and then you get a massive run. If you think about it, Iceland is one of the biggest banking collapses that occurred — it was country-wide and what made it a bit more stark was how quickly the banking sector grew. We’re talking a matter of a couple of years where they had a massive run-up in the banking system and then two years later it’s completely gone. So (in class) we look for episodes of volatility and things that seem like they’re different. The course is not about studying one specific crisis or one specific policy episode — it’s going through these different cases and teasing out the commonalities.” Hachem came to Darden from a school where her course was a traditional lecture-based approach. She acknowledged some apprehension about transitioning to Darden where the case-based approach is quite different and student-centric. Hachem said, “It’s a lot of fun because the students come prepared. They know that the onus is on them to push the discussion forward. My role is simply to be the ‘Econ police’ and tie things back to a structure that lets us walk through from shock to outcome and make sure that people aren’t making implicit assumptions along the way. You hear so many different perspectives and people are hashing out ideas with each other. The class really takes on a life of its own and then coalesces around a fundamental point. That a-ha moment comes for people at different points throughout our 85-minute class. Different people will connect with different ideas and then bring that into the classroom and you eventually sift through the details and settle on the fundamental issue.” During the session, Hachem also discussed the need for an exit strategy on monetary policy now that COVID-19 financial instability is starting to level out, why cryptocurrency can be considered an investment instrument more than a monetary instrument, the principles of a global tax rate, why cybersecurity-related risks are the next biggest threats to financial systems and the importance of all countries being able to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested in more faculty thought leadership discussions? Sign up for more “Office Hours” events below! 7 May | Professor Dennie Kim: Strategy, Ethics and Entrepreneurship 4 June | Professor Greg Fairchild: Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Business Ethics, Leadership 9 July | Lili Powell: Leadership, Management, Mindfulness and Corporate Communication Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Unintended Consequences, Financial Recovery, Shadow Banking: An 'Office Hours' Conversation With Finance Professor Kinda Hachem first appeared on Discover Darden. |
30 Apr 2021, 08:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Student Founders Discuss Resources, Represent Darden in Annual E-Cup |
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In addition to the robust lineup of resources available to Darden students through the Batten Institute (Vp(x)2, Startup Academy, a host of speaker series, Batten Venture Internship Program, year-round programming… the list goes on and on), the University of Virginia maintains an entrepreneurship hub which serves to connect the many Entrepreneurship Centers around the University and “catalyze entrepreneurship efforts”. There’s even a map of all the makerspaces at UVA on their website. Need access to metalworking, 3D printing or virtual reality? MakerGrounds might be able to help. Another University-wide platform available to student founders is the annual Entrepreneurship Cup, or E-Cup, competition. Open to all UVA undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, the competition is made of three stages which each have its own competition and come with its own prize money. Darden students were named finalists and award winners in 11 unique ventures in Discovery and Launch phases of the E-Cup. Some of the finalists may even look familiar — we recently shared a story about the KPI Club, featuring a group of female founders who teamed up to motivate each other and hold each other accountable. Stage I: Concept The purpose of the Concept stage of the competition is to surface and seed ideas from all parts of the university at every stage of development. Students are encouraged to come up with out-of-the-box ideas that could be translated into compelling projects. Stage II: Discovery The Discovery Competition is based upon the principles of effectuation, a problem solving process that expert entrepreneurs undertake after they have conceived of their idea (Stage I: Concept), but before they invested significant time and money into the project. This stage of the competition requires students to—and rewards students who—demonstrate that they have taken steps to “de-risk” their idea, perhaps the most crucial step in the startup process. In the 2021 E-Cup Discovery Stage Competition, Darden students founders represented six out of the ten finalists and award winners. Discovery Finalists and Award Winners from Darden: Coton – Elizabeth Blankenship, Darden School of Business, 2022 | The first fully-sustainable luxury fashion brand with a focus on existing textiles. (Discovery Stage award winner) Curate Mental Health – Erik Frost and Marina Peddy, EMBA Darden School of Business, 2022 | Curate Mental Health is an online platform designed for individuals struggling with mental illness. RAYNA – Megan Nash, Darden School of Business, 2022; Katie Burke; Max Berg | RAYNA makes the world’s first and only dedicated female pubic hair trimmer. (Discovery Stage award winner) The Million Word Challenge – Daniel Dickey, Darden School of Business, 2021 | The Million Word Challenge is a classroom tested program that encourages students to read via a friendly competition. Specifically, the initiative uses students’ intrinsic competitive nature as a way to motivate them to read one million words before the end of the school year. (Discover Stage award winner and Launch stage finalist) Touchpoint – Jeremy Perdue, Darden School of Business, 2021 | Touchpoint is a relationship management tool for students that improves the job search experience. Zalence – Alex Zorychta, Darden School of Business, 2021 Zalence is a platform where connectors curate pools of people they think should meet one another one-on-one. Connectors invite connectees into their pool(s) of endorsed people they would stake their reputation behind, and connectees can accept or request into these pool(s). (Discovery Stage award winner) Stage III: Launch! The Launch! Competition is the third and final stage of the UVA Entrepreneurship Cup, and its goal is to showcase and provide seed capital to the most compelling student ventures. In past years, upwards of $50,000 in total prize and in-kind resources have been awarded. In this year’s E-Cup, Darden student founders showed up in force, representing a wide variety of ventures, from fully sustainable luxury fashion (Coton) to an online platform for those struggling with mental health (Curate Mental Health) to a friendly reading competition for classrooms (The Million Word Challenge). In the 2021 E-Cup Launch! Stage Competition, Darden students founders represented six out of the ten finalists and award winners. For all the plant parents out there who have collected a jungle of houseplants during the pandemic (not that we know anything about that…), Second Year Amanda Wiggans (Class of 2021) may have just the solution for your post-pandemic travels. Winner of the Launch stage (a $20,000 prize), Wiggans developed Grome, the first device of its kind that keeps houseplants alive while their plant parents are away. Launch Finalists and Award Winners from Darden: Device Manufacturers of Virginia – Andrew Kohler and Korosh Yazdanpanah (Darden School of Business, 2022); Krista Kohler; Daniel Bounds | A physician-owned, patient-centered medical device R&D company providing a non-invasive solution to obstructive sleep apnea. Fantasy4, LLC – John Palmer and Ethan Silverman, Darden School of Business, 2021 | Fantasy4 (“f4”) is a best-in-class dues management service for fantasy sports competitions that empowers participants to support their favorite charities through fantasy. Grome – Amanda Wiggans, Darden School of Business, 2021 | Grome is the first device of it’s kind that keeps houseplants alive while their plant parents are away. (First Place, $20,000) HUMMINGBYRD – Coco Woeltz and Isabelle Kayal Madison, Darden School of Business, 2021; Masloff, College of Arts and Science, 2021 | The first-ever invisible, front-zipper, horizontal pocket sports bra that fits smartphone, credit cards, keys and other essentials. Joie de Sans – Cecilia Rios Murrieta, Darden School of Business, 2022 | Joie de SANS is an alluring alcohol-free cocktail company that is inclusive, empowering and sophisticated. Hear from a few of our founders in their podcast episodes featured on Experience Darden, including a bonus episode from Grome founder Amanda Wiggans from August 2020 when Grome was but a seedling idea. Header image: Cecilia Rios Murrieta (Class of 2022) presents her video pitch for the UVA E-Cup Launch! final competition. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Student Founders Discuss Resources, Represent Darden in Annual E-Cup first appeared on Discover Darden. |
30 Apr 2021, 08:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Student Founders Discuss Resources, Represent Darden in Annual E-Cup |
|
In addition to the robust lineup of resources available to Darden students through the Batten Institute (Vp(x)2, Startup Academy, a host of speaker series, Batten Venture Internship Program, year-round programming… the list goes on and on), the University of Virginia maintains an entrepreneurship hub which serves to connect the many Entrepreneurship Centers around the University and “catalyze entrepreneurship efforts”. There’s even a map of all the makerspaces at UVA on their website. Need access to metalworking, 3D printing or virtual reality? MakerGrounds might be able to help. Another University-wide platform available to student founders is the annual Entrepreneurship Cup, or E-Cup, competition. Open to all UVA undergraduates, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, the competition is made of three stages which each have its own competition and come with its own prize money. Darden students were named finalists and award winners in 11 unique ventures in Discovery and Launch phases of the E-Cup. Some of the finalists may even look familiar — we recently shared a story about the KPI Club, featuring a group of female founders who teamed up to motivate each other and hold each other accountable. Stage I: Concept The purpose of the Concept stage of the competition is to surface and seed ideas from all parts of the university at every stage of development. Students are encouraged to come up with out-of-the-box ideas that could be translated into compelling projects. Stage II: Discovery The Discovery Competition is based upon the principles of effectuation, a problem solving process that expert entrepreneurs undertake after they have conceived of their idea (Stage I: Concept), but before they invested significant time and money into the project. This stage of the competition requires students to—and rewards students who—demonstrate that they have taken steps to “de-risk” their idea, perhaps the most crucial step in the startup process. In the 2021 E-Cup Discovery Stage Competition, Darden students founders represented six out of the ten finalists and award winners. Discovery Finalists and Award Winners from Darden: Coton – Elizabeth Blankenship, Darden School of Business, 2022 | The first fully-sustainable luxury fashion brand with a focus on existing textiles. (Discovery Stage award winner) Curate Mental Health – Erik Frost and Marina Peddy, EMBA Darden School of Business, 2022 | Curate Mental Health is an online platform designed for individuals struggling with mental illness. RAYNA – Megan Nash, Darden School of Business, 2022; Katie Burke; Max Berg | RAYNA makes the world’s first and only dedicated female pubic hair trimmer. (Discovery Stage award winner) The Million Word Challenge – Daniel Dickey, Darden School of Business, 2021 | The Million Word Challenge is a classroom tested program that encourages students to read via a friendly competition. Specifically, the initiative uses students’ intrinsic competitive nature as a way to motivate them to read one million words before the end of the school year. (Discover Stage award winner and Launch stage finalist) Touchpoint – Jeremy Perdue, Darden School of Business, 2021 | Touchpoint is a relationship management tool for students that improves the job search experience. Zalence – Alex Zorychta, Darden School of Business, 2021 Zalence is a platform where connectors curate pools of people they think should meet one another one-on-one. Connectors invite connectees into their pool(s) of endorsed people they would stake their reputation behind, and connectees can accept or request into these pool(s). (Discovery Stage award winner) Stage III: Launch! The Launch! Competition is the third and final stage of the UVA Entrepreneurship Cup, and its goal is to showcase and provide seed capital to the most compelling student ventures. In past years, upwards of $50,000 in total prize and in-kind resources have been awarded. In this year’s E-Cup, Darden student founders showed up in force, representing a wide variety of ventures, from fully sustainable luxury fashion (Coton) to an online platform for those struggling with mental health (Curate Mental Health) to a friendly reading competition for classrooms (The Million Word Challenge). In the 2021 E-Cup Launch! Stage Competition, Darden students founders represented six out of the ten finalists and award winners. For all the plant parents out there who have collected a jungle of houseplants during the pandemic (not that we know anything about that…), Second Year Amanda Wiggans (Class of 2021) may have just the solution for your post-pandemic travels. Winner of the Launch stage (a $20,000 prize), Wiggans developed Grome, the first device of its kind that keeps houseplants alive while their plant parents are away. Launch Finalists and Award Winners from Darden: Device Manufacturers of Virginia – Andrew Kohler and Korosh Yazdanpanah (Darden School of Business, 2022); Krista Kohler; Daniel Bounds | A physician-owned, patient-centered medical device R&D company providing a non-invasive solution to obstructive sleep apnea. Fantasy4, LLC – John Palmer and Ethan Silverman, Darden School of Business, 2021 | Fantasy4 (“f4”) is a best-in-class dues management service for fantasy sports competitions that empowers participants to support their favorite charities through fantasy. Grome – Amanda Wiggans, Darden School of Business, 2021 | Grome is the first device of it’s kind that keeps houseplants alive while their plant parents are away. (First Place, $20,000) HUMMINGBYRD – Coco Woeltz and Isabelle Kayal Madison, Darden School of Business, 2021; Masloff, College of Arts and Science, 2021 | The first-ever invisible, front-zipper, horizontal pocket sports bra that fits smartphone, credit cards, keys and other essentials. Joie de Sans – Cecilia Rios Murrieta, Darden School of Business, 2022 | Joie de SANS is an alluring alcohol-free cocktail company that is inclusive, empowering and sophisticated. Hear from a few of our founders in their podcast episodes featured on Experience Darden, including a bonus episode from Grome founder Amanda Wiggans from August 2020 when Grome was but a seedling idea. Header image: Cecilia Rios Murrieta (Class of 2022) presents her video pitch for the UVA E-Cup Launch! final competition. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Student Founders Discuss Resources, Represent Darden in Annual E-Cup first appeared on Discover Darden. |
04 May 2021, 09:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Getting Excited About ‘the Process’, Importance of Building Relationships: Seyi Oyenekan on First Year Lessons Learned |
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Oluwaseyi “Seyi” Oyenekan hit the ground running as a member of the Class of 2022’s “Section J”, a special one-time January-start section created last summer in response to the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic. In her First Year, she was an active member of the Finance Club, the African Business Organization, a First Year liaison for the Energy Club and was elected President of the Black Business Student Association for the 2021-22 academic year. Oyenekan knew she wanted to pursue a long-term career in energy, and with a background in accounting and quantitative economics, found that Investment Banking was a natural fit. Oyenekan recently shared more about her First Year Darden experience, advice for prospective students interested in Investment Banking, and considerations for African prospective students (Oyenekan hails from Nigeria by way of England, Minneapolis and Houston). This summer, Oyenekan plans to intern with Goldman Sachs Natural Resources Group. Q: What did you do before Darden? A: My pre-Darden background is in Accounting and Quantitative Economics. Most of my career before Darden has been in transfer pricing/economics consulting where I focused primarily on valuing and pricing global transactions of multinational companies. Q: Why did you decide to pursue Investment Banking?  Seyi Oyenekan, Class of 2022 A: I spent the last few years advising clients on pricing and valuing internal transactions within their companies. I started my career in Minneapolis working on clients like Hallmark, General Mills, Sprint and H&R Block. However, a few years ago, I moved to Houston to be more exposed to clients in the energy sector. My prior work gave me the opportunity to learn more about companies in the industry and also gave me the chance to work directly with clients in trying to navigate the volatile nature of the industry. While I really enjoyed some of the work in did in transfer pricing and my direct exposure to international tax, I knew I was only dealing with a small piece of some of the issues companies were dealing with in the industry. Unlike banking, I could only advice on internal transactions within the company and had little to no experience advising companies on external transactions with other companies. I always knew that I wanted to pursue a long-term career in energy and knew that the only way to truly be exposed to the entirety of the business was by transitioning to Investment Banking. I was mostly attracted to being able to work on deals that could define the future of the industry while working with other talented and hard-working people after my MBA. I loved the idea of not just getting to work on M&A transactions but also helping companies raise capital either by raising debt or issuing stocks through IPOs/SPACs. I also knew IB was going to be the best training ground to get the skills I needed to succeed in any career path. Q: What has been your favorite Darden experience and/or class so far? A: With things being virtual, Darden has done an amazing job in still ensuring that the Class of 2022 has a comparable experience to prior years. One of my favorite experiences so far has been the case study method and the diversity in the classes. I have had the chance to learn from others, value their experience and also share my experience with them. Despite having a mix of hybrid and virtual classes, the professors have gone out of their way to get to know me personally and really taken a keen interest in learning more about my goals. It is amazing how the professors really care about their students. It really speaks volumes about the community here at Darden.  Q: What is your advice for prospective African students? A: My advice to prospective African students would be to take the time to get to learn about Darden and the application process. Also, I would highly recommend reaching out to the student ambassadors in the industry you are interested in to try to figure out if Darden would be a great fit for you. They will be your first contact in navigating the Darden community and will be great in connecting you with other Darden students to learn from. For a lot of African students, Darden will become your first community in the U.S. After living in a country where your race is the majority and most people look like you, it can take some time to adjust to an environment where race is now being factored into your identity. Darden has a lot of resources to help you navigate these, from the office of global diversity, equity and inclusion to the affinity student groups, there are people within the community to help you immerse into not just Darden but also into the United States. My advice would be to start leveraging these resources the moment you pay your deposit. Connect with members of the Black Business Student Association and the Darden African Business Organization and see them as a huge resource as you navigate your new life in a new country. Despite having lived in the U.S. for some time, both groups were extremely instrumental in ensuring my move to Charlottesville, my recruiting experience and my immersion in the Darden community went very smoothly. Q: What about your advice for candidates interested in pursuing Investment Banking? A: While technical skills and prior experience can be a plus, your ability to network tends to play a larger role. My advice would be to not underestimate the networking process. Take the time to be prepared for the networking calls, ask insightful questions that focuses on not how smart you are but how great of a fit you would be. Approach the networking process like you are really getting to know the bankers and always remember details you talked about with them such as their kids, their last vacation etc. Take the time to brush up on your “Why Investment Banking’ story. You will be surprised by how many bankers might relate to your story. As much as you are looking for a job, you are also looking for a company that would be the best cultural fit for you. The investment banking process starts earlier than other recruiting processes, so you get the chance to start connecting with bankers very early on. Embrace the process and value the relationships you are building. I would also highly advice leveraging the Darden network at these banks. A huge benefit of coming to Darden, is getting the chance to network and build relationships with Darden alumni. Focus on ensuring that you build a strong relationship with them. Before heading into this process, make sure you have a supportive system both in and out of Darden. This is an intense process with a lot of highs and lows. Head into this process knowing that you have people to rely on even when it gets extremely hard or when you start to doubt yourself. Most of all, be excited about the process. Whether you have a finance background or not, Darden will do a great job getting you ready for the technical. For now, focus on your networking skills and ensuring that you are bringing the best version of yourself to the table. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Getting Excited About 'the Process', Importance of Building Relationships: Seyi Oyenekan on First Year Lessons Learned first appeared on Discover Darden. |
04 May 2021, 09:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Getting Excited About ‘the Process’, Importance of Building Relationships: Seyi Oyenekan on First Year Lessons Learned |
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Oluwaseyi “Seyi” Oyenekan hit the ground running as a member of the Class of 2022’s “Section J”, a special one-time January-start section created last summer in response to the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic. In her First Year, she was an active member of the Finance Club, the African Business Organization, a First Year liaison for the Energy Club and was elected President of the Black Business Student Association for the 2021-22 academic year. Oyenekan knew she wanted to pursue a long-term career in energy, and with a background in accounting and quantitative economics, found that Investment Banking was a natural fit. Oyenekan recently shared more about her First Year Darden experience, advice for prospective students interested in Investment Banking, and considerations for African prospective students (Oyenekan hails from Nigeria by way of England, Minneapolis and Houston). This summer, Oyenekan plans to intern with Goldman Sachs Natural Resources Group. Q: What did you do before Darden? A: My pre-Darden background is in Accounting and Quantitative Economics. Most of my career before Darden has been in transfer pricing/economics consulting where I focused primarily on valuing and pricing global transactions of multinational companies. Q: Why did you decide to pursue Investment Banking? Seyi Oyenekan, Class of 2022 A: I spent the last few years advising clients on pricing and valuing internal transactions within their companies. I started my career in Minneapolis working on clients like Hallmark, General Mills, Sprint and H&R Block. However, a few years ago, I moved to Houston to be more exposed to clients in the energy sector. My prior work gave me the opportunity to learn more about companies in the industry and also gave me the chance to work directly with clients in trying to navigate the volatile nature of the industry. While I really enjoyed some of the work in did in transfer pricing and my direct exposure to international tax, I knew I was only dealing with a small piece of some of the issues companies were dealing with in the industry. Unlike banking, I could only advice on internal transactions within the company and had little to no experience advising companies on external transactions with other companies. I always knew that I wanted to pursue a long-term career in energy and knew that the only way to truly be exposed to the entirety of the business was by transitioning to Investment Banking. I was mostly attracted to being able to work on deals that could define the future of the industry while working with other talented and hard-working people after my MBA. I loved the idea of not just getting to work on M&A transactions but also helping companies raise capital either by raising debt or issuing stocks through IPOs/SPACs. I also knew IB was going to be the best training ground to get the skills I needed to succeed in any career path. Q: What has been your favorite Darden experience and/or class so far? A: With things being virtual, Darden has done an amazing job in still ensuring that the Class of 2022 has a comparable experience to prior years. One of my favorite experiences so far has been the case study method and the diversity in the classes. I have had the chance to learn from others, value their experience and also share my experience with them. Despite having a mix of hybrid and virtual classes, the professors have gone out of their way to get to know me personally and really taken a keen interest in learning more about my goals. It is amazing how the professors really care about their students. It really speaks volumes about the community here at Darden. Q: What is your advice for prospective African students? A: My advice to prospective African students would be to take the time to get to learn about Darden and the application process. Also, I would highly recommend reaching out to the student ambassadors in the industry you are interested in to try to figure out if Darden would be a great fit for you. They will be your first contact in navigating the Darden community and will be great in connecting you with other Darden students to learn from. For a lot of African students, Darden will become your first community in the U.S. After living in a country where your race is the majority and most people look like you, it can take some time to adjust to an environment where race is now being factored into your identity. Darden has a lot of resources to help you navigate these, from the office of global diversity, equity and inclusion to the affinity student groups, there are people within the community to help you immerse into not just Darden but also into the United States. My advice would be to start leveraging these resources the moment you pay your deposit. Connect with members of the Black Business Student Association and the Darden African Business Organization and see them as a huge resource as you navigate your new life in a new country. Despite having lived in the U.S. for some time, both groups were extremely instrumental in ensuring my move to Charlottesville, my recruiting experience and my immersion in the Darden community went very smoothly. Q: What about your advice for candidates interested in pursuing Investment Banking? A: While technical skills and prior experience can be a plus, your ability to network tends to play a larger role. My advice would be to not underestimate the networking process. Take the time to be prepared for the networking calls, ask insightful questions that focuses on not how smart you are but how great of a fit you would be. Approach the networking process like you are really getting to know the bankers and always remember details you talked about with them such as their kids, their last vacation etc. Take the time to brush up on your “Why Investment Banking’ story. You will be surprised by how many bankers might relate to your story. As much as you are looking for a job, you are also looking for a company that would be the best cultural fit for you. The investment banking process starts earlier than other recruiting processes, so you get the chance to start connecting with bankers very early on. Embrace the process and value the relationships you are building. I would also highly advice leveraging the Darden network at these banks. A huge benefit of coming to Darden, is getting the chance to network and build relationships with Darden alumni. Focus on ensuring that you build a strong relationship with them. Before heading into this process, make sure you have a supportive system both in and out of Darden. This is an intense process with a lot of highs and lows. Head into this process knowing that you have people to rely on even when it gets extremely hard or when you start to doubt yourself. Most of all, be excited about the process. Whether you have a finance background or not, Darden will do a great job getting you ready for the technical. For now, focus on your networking skills and ensuring that you are bringing the best version of yourself to the table. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Getting Excited About 'the Process', Importance of Building Relationships: Seyi Oyenekan on First Year Lessons Learned first appeared on Discover Darden. |
06 May 2021, 07:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Program Celebrates Decade Anniversary |
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Second Year students Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) and Samantha Firstenberg (Class of 2021) are MBA/MEd students in the final weeks of their dual degree program. As part of their final practicum project, the two are highlighting the real world impact of the MBA/MEd on the 35+ graduates of the program since its inception a decade ago. McDermott and Firstenberg will introduce MBA/MEd alumni in a featured series over the next several weeks, showcasing the variety of paths available to graduates of the program – and the opportunities for impact at the unique intersection of business and education. View McDermott and Firstenberg’s Q&A from earlier this year to learn more about their journeys through the MBA/MEd program. By Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) and Samantha Firstenberg (Class of 2021): In 2011, the Darden School of Business and the School of Education and Human Development announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to train “a new generation of education leaders for whom business skills are invaluable, and for business leaders who have a special interest in education.” The aim of UVA’s MBA/M.Ed dual degree program is to prepare leaders who create impactful innovations in education.  Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) Ten years later, the program is showing clear signs of success. More than forty leaders have been trained in the Darden MBA/M.Ed program, many of whom are actively working at the intersection of business and education. Program graduates have entered a variety of impactful careers after Darden, including public school systems and charter management organizations, technology companies like Microsoft, Thinkful, and MURAL, public consulting at Bellwether Education and Alvarez & Marsal, management consulting at Bain & Company, McKinsey & Company, and the Boston Consulting Group, and those pursuing higher education management and academia. The challenges facing education systems remain vast, making the MBA/M.Ed program even more important in training leaders in the next decade. 15 percent of high school students fail to graduate each year and only 35 percent of fourth graders are reading proficiently according to 2019 NAEP exams. Students of color and those from low-income families are 25-40% less likely to graduate from college than their peers. What’s more, some 50 million students spent the majority of this past school year learning remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of these preexisting challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic will only exacerbate the existing gaps in students’ academic, social, and emotional support in school buildings and will challenge education leaders for years to come. Between Darden’s rigorous academic program and course offerings at the School of Education and Human Development, UVA is committed to training leaders capable of making an impact in the education sector.  Samantha Firstenberg (Class of 2021) Dean Scott Beardsley has led the expansion of Darden’s commitment to executive education and alumni lifelong learning. On a recent Darden Ideas to Action podcast, Beardsley commented: “I see the importance of education is going up, not going down. More than ever we need great teachers. We need learning. Education has to become an enabler even more in the future, and it has to be able to meet people where they are because it’s going to be more and more necessary to go back to school. As a result, as educators, we have the responsibility to meet people where they are in their lifelong journey.” Dr. Matthew Wheelock, associate professor of education and program director for education innovation, highlighted, “It has been exciting to see the MBA/M.Ed program grow from a forward-looking concept hatched by Dean Pianta and Dean Bruner into a vibrant program with dozens of alumni who are spearheading change around the country through their work in schools, technology companies, consulting firms, and more. The strength of this program has always been its students. They bring the critical ingredients – vision, experience, motivation, and a profound belief in what schools can and should achieve – and my colleagues and I delight in getting to work with them as they grapple with the question of how to create the change they seek. There are no easy answers to these questions, but I am immensely encouraged to know that our alumni are leading the charge.” In the coming weeks, we will profile several exceptional MBA/M.Ed program alums to learn what brought them to Darden, how they are making an impact in education today, and what advice they may have for future business and education leaders. Learn more about Darden’s dual degree programs. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Program Celebrates Decade Anniversary first appeared on Discover Darden. |
06 May 2021, 07:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Program Celebrates Decade Anniversary |
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Second Year students Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) and Samantha Firstenberg (Class of 2021) are MBA/MEd students in the final weeks of their dual degree program. As part of their final practicum project, the two are highlighting the real world impact of the MBA/MEd on the 35+ graduates of the program since its inception a decade ago. McDermott and Firstenberg will introduce MBA/MEd alumni in a featured series over the next several weeks, showcasing the variety of paths available to graduates of the program – and the opportunities for impact at the unique intersection of business and education. View McDermott and Firstenberg’s Q&A from earlier this year to learn more about their journeys through the MBA/MEd program. By Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) and Samantha Firstenberg (Class of 2021): In 2011, the Darden School of Business and the School of Education and Human Development announced a first-of-its-kind partnership to train “a new generation of education leaders for whom business skills are invaluable, and for business leaders who have a special interest in education.” The aim of UVA’s MBA/M.Ed dual degree program is to prepare leaders who create impactful innovations in education. Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) Ten years later, the program is showing clear signs of success. More than forty leaders have been trained in the Darden MBA/M.Ed program, many of whom are actively working at the intersection of business and education. Program graduates have entered a variety of impactful careers after Darden, including public school systems and charter management organizations, technology companies like Microsoft, Thinkful, and MURAL, public consulting at Bellwether Education and Alvarez & Marsal, management consulting at Bain & Company, McKinsey & Company, and the Boston Consulting Group, and those pursuing higher education management and academia. The challenges facing education systems remain vast, making the MBA/M.Ed program even more important in training leaders in the next decade. 15 percent of high school students fail to graduate each year and only 35 percent of fourth graders are reading proficiently according to 2019 NAEP exams. Students of color and those from low-income families are 25-40% less likely to graduate from college than their peers. What’s more, some 50 million students spent the majority of this past school year learning remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of these preexisting challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic will only exacerbate the existing gaps in students’ academic, social, and emotional support in school buildings and will challenge education leaders for years to come. Between Darden’s rigorous academic program and course offerings at the School of Education and Human Development, UVA is committed to training leaders capable of making an impact in the education sector. Samantha Firstenberg (Class of 2021) Dean Scott Beardsley has led the expansion of Darden’s commitment to executive education and alumni lifelong learning. On a recent Darden Ideas to Action podcast, Beardsley commented: “I see the importance of education is going up, not going down. More than ever we need great teachers. We need learning. Education has to become an enabler even more in the future, and it has to be able to meet people where they are because it’s going to be more and more necessary to go back to school. As a result, as educators, we have the responsibility to meet people where they are in their lifelong journey.” Dr. Matthew Wheelock, associate professor of education and program director for education innovation, highlighted, “It has been exciting to see the MBA/M.Ed program grow from a forward-looking concept hatched by Dean Pianta and Dean Bruner into a vibrant program with dozens of alumni who are spearheading change around the country through their work in schools, technology companies, consulting firms, and more. The strength of this program has always been its students. They bring the critical ingredients – vision, experience, motivation, and a profound belief in what schools can and should achieve – and my colleagues and I delight in getting to work with them as they grapple with the question of how to create the change they seek. There are no easy answers to these questions, but I am immensely encouraged to know that our alumni are leading the charge.” In the coming weeks, we will profile several exceptional MBA/M.Ed program alums to learn what brought them to Darden, how they are making an impact in education today, and what advice they may have for future business and education leaders. Learn more about Darden’s dual degree programs. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Program Celebrates Decade Anniversary first appeared on Discover Darden. |
07 May 2021, 09:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Future Year Friday: Amanda Hedgecock on “Beginning a Career Feeling Empowered” |
 Amanda Hedgecock, Class of 2022 Amanda Hedgecock (Class of 2022) enrolled at Darden in Fall 2021, joining her MBA classmates during a highly unique pandemic academic experience. Hedgecock’s journey to business school was quite different than many of the other students — she applied to Darden through the Future Year Scholars Program while still completing her undergraduate degree at Duke University. During her deferral period after graduation, Hedgecock spent several years at PayPal, where she was a Risk Analyst and had the opportunity to internationally launch new products and respond in real time to customer pain points. Hedgecock also put her talents to use this spring when she helped review tax returns for low-income Charlottesville residents as part of a student-run tax program called Creating Assets, Savings & Hope (or CASH) through the University of Virginia’s Madison House, an independent volunteer center for UVA students and the local United Way. Read the full story on UVAToday. “We receive tax documents from local Charlottesville community members making under $57,000 a year,” Hedgecock said. “Then we will prepare the tax forms for them, run them through their refund, make sure it’s checked several times to ensure accuracy and really explain why they are getting a refund or not.” Undergraduate School: Duke University Graduating Year: 2018 Q: Why did you apply to the Future Year Scholars Program? A: I was drawn to the Future Years Scholars Program because I knew that securing a spot at a top business school would give me options. After I was accepted to Darden, I began my career feeling empowered and I was able to focus on absorbing as much knowledge as I could. The Future Year Scholars Program let me explore my interests and be intentional about what I wanted to achieve in the early years of my career. Applying also motivated me to get the GMAT out of the way while I was still in full-time academic mode, something I’m certainly happy about. Q: What did you do between graduating from your undergraduate institution and joining Darden? A: Prior to Darden, I was a Risk Analyst at PayPal where I gained phenomenal experience understanding customer pain points and learning about the product lifecycle. In my role, I launched new products in France and Germany, implemented a Covid payment relief program to meet evolving customer needs, and managed the transition during a $7 billion acquisition with Synchrony Financial. My PayPal experience was jampacked with diverse markets, products, and people, so I knew that after two years, I was prepared to provide valuable perspectives in the Darden classroom and succeed in the MBA job recruiting process. Q: Favorite class/professor? A: This question is too difficult! Throughout the first year core curriculum, my favorite class was Marketing with Professor Tami Kim. I loved learning how to marry data and storytelling to craft a strategy, and Tami challenged us every day. Q: What advice do you have for someone thinking about applying to Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program? A: 100% go for it! Applying to Darden has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Q: What advice do you have for students admitted to Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program? A: I would recommend utilizing the Darden alumni community way before you step foot on Grounds and to especially lean on the Darden alumni. I built a great relationship with someone who was a mentor to me, and turned to her for setting new goals when I got promoted, deciding when to matriculate, and preparing for interviews.  Q: How did you decide when was the right time to start your MBA? A: I gained a great foundation in the payments industry during my time at PayPal. However, after two years I was eager to take on a more strategic role and invest in developing my personal leadership style. I knew that getting an MBA would accelerate both those paths for me, and Darden has completely delivered. Now I’m thrilled to be joining the American Express corporate strategy team this summer for my MBA internship. Q: Did anything happen during your deferral period that reaffirmed your decision to stay on course to matriculate at Darden? A: I attended an admitted students weekend in 2019, one year into my deferral period, and so many things that weekend reaffirmed that Darden was the best place to get my MBA. The mock class I attended featured an engaging case study about the industry I worked in, I hiked Humpback Rocks (a Darden Outdoors Club favorite!), and everyone I talked to was warm and eager to welcome me into the close-knit Darden community. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Future Year Friday: Amanda Hedgecock on "Beginning a Career Feeling Empowered" first appeared on Discover Darden. |
07 May 2021, 09:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Future Year Friday: Amanda Hedgecock on “Beginning a Career Feeling Empowered” |
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Amanda Hedgecock, Class of 2022 Amanda Hedgecock (Class of 2022) enrolled at Darden in Fall 2021, joining her MBA classmates during a highly unique pandemic academic experience. Hedgecock’s journey to business school was quite different than many of the other students — she applied to Darden through the Future Year Scholars Program while still completing her undergraduate degree at Duke University. During her deferral period after graduation, Hedgecock spent several years at PayPal, where she was a Risk Analyst and had the opportunity to internationally launch new products and respond in real time to customer pain points. Hedgecock also put her talents to use this spring when she helped review tax returns for low-income Charlottesville residents as part of a student-run tax program called Creating Assets, Savings & Hope (or CASH) through the University of Virginia’s Madison House, an independent volunteer center for UVA students and the local United Way. Read the full story on UVAToday. “We receive tax documents from local Charlottesville community members making under $57,000 a year,” Hedgecock said. “Then we will prepare the tax forms for them, run them through their refund, make sure it’s checked several times to ensure accuracy and really explain why they are getting a refund or not.” Undergraduate School: Duke University Graduating Year: 2018 Q: Why did you apply to the Future Year Scholars Program? A: I was drawn to the Future Years Scholars Program because I knew that securing a spot at a top business school would give me options. After I was accepted to Darden, I began my career feeling empowered and I was able to focus on absorbing as much knowledge as I could. The Future Year Scholars Program let me explore my interests and be intentional about what I wanted to achieve in the early years of my career. Applying also motivated me to get the GMAT out of the way while I was still in full-time academic mode, something I’m certainly happy about. Q: What did you do between graduating from your undergraduate institution and joining Darden? A: Prior to Darden, I was a Risk Analyst at PayPal where I gained phenomenal experience understanding customer pain points and learning about the product lifecycle. In my role, I launched new products in France and Germany, implemented a Covid payment relief program to meet evolving customer needs, and managed the transition during a $7 billion acquisition with Synchrony Financial. My PayPal experience was jampacked with diverse markets, products, and people, so I knew that after two years, I was prepared to provide valuable perspectives in the Darden classroom and succeed in the MBA job recruiting process. Q: Favorite class/professor? A: This question is too difficult! Throughout the first year core curriculum, my favorite class was Marketing with Professor Tami Kim. I loved learning how to marry data and storytelling to craft a strategy, and Tami challenged us every day. Q: What advice do you have for someone thinking about applying to Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program? A: 100% go for it! Applying to Darden has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Q: What advice do you have for students admitted to Darden’s Future Year Scholars Program? A: I would recommend utilizing the Darden alumni community way before you step foot on Grounds and to especially lean on the Darden alumni. I built a great relationship with someone who was a mentor to me, and turned to her for setting new goals when I got promoted, deciding when to matriculate, and preparing for interviews. Q: How did you decide when was the right time to start your MBA? A: I gained a great foundation in the payments industry during my time at PayPal. However, after two years I was eager to take on a more strategic role and invest in developing my personal leadership style. I knew that getting an MBA would accelerate both those paths for me, and Darden has completely delivered. Now I’m thrilled to be joining the American Express corporate strategy team this summer for my MBA internship. Q: Did anything happen during your deferral period that reaffirmed your decision to stay on course to matriculate at Darden? A: I attended an admitted students weekend in 2019, one year into my deferral period, and so many things that weekend reaffirmed that Darden was the best place to get my MBA. The mock class I attended featured an engaging case study about the industry I worked in, I hiked Humpback Rocks (a Darden Outdoors Club favorite!), and everyone I talked to was warm and eager to welcome me into the close-knit Darden community. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Future Year Friday: Amanda Hedgecock on "Beginning a Career Feeling Empowered" first appeared on Discover Darden. |
11 May 2021, 11:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: Leading in an Ever-Changing Healthcare System: Luq Dad Reflects on ExecMBA Decision |
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Our Executive MBA profile series continues with a Q&A with first year student Luqman “Luq” Dad (Class of 2022). Dad is based in the Washington, D.C. area where he works as a medical leader and oncologist. Like many of our healthcare professionals, Dad decided to pursue an MBA to gain a perspective and skills he feels are essential for leaders seeking to transform the country’s healthcare system. Dad is also the founder of one of our newest Executive MBA student organizations, the Darden Executive Healthcare Alliance. This organization provides co-curricular opportunities – including networking opportunities, speaker series and social events — for Executive MBA students looking to build and grow within today’s healthcare ecosystem. [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/category/student-profile/executive-student-profile/]Catch up on our earlier Executive MBA student profiles.[/url] [b]Q: What is your current role? What is your professional/academic background?[/b] A: I am the Medical Director for the Center for Advanced Radiation Oncology, a joint venture between US Oncology and Adventist Healthcare, in Silver Spring, [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/files/2021/01/DAD-luqman-1-MOH.jpg][img]https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/files/2021/01/DAD-luqman-1-MOH-215x300.jpg[/img][/url] Maryland. I conducted my undergraduate and medical studies in Boston, residency training in Radiation Oncology, and have returned home to where I grew up to help lead a Radiation Oncology department at the hospital where I was born. My passion areas in clinical practice include: treating brain and lung tumors with stereotactic techniques, proton beam therapy, and global outreach to underserved populations of the world. [b]Q: How did you decide to pursue an MBA?[/b] A: During my 8th year in clinical practice, I began to feel that I needed to gain enhanced business acumen to better prepare myself to lead an ever-changing healthcare ecosystem. Additionally, I chose Darden’s Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format because of a desire translate my passion and interest in global outreach to best partner with industry to help transfer innovation and technology to treat cancer in underserved regions of the globe. [b]Q: What led you to Darden? [/b] A: To me, I think the better question is “Why not Darden?” For any physician, particularly in the Washington Metropolitan area, we have within easy reach the nation’s top business school faculty, a truly world-class learning experience and an outstanding and diverse student-body. All of these factors made Darden an easy decision for me, and I felt Darden would allow me to advance my pursuit of life-long learning and leadership skills to help me optimize my career strategies and prepare me to reach my dreams. [b]Q: What has been the impact of your Darden experience so far?[/b] A: Through my learning experiences both within and outside the classroom at Darden, I have been pushed to think about how best to optimize my patients’ experience in my clinical practice. Additionally, the Darden experience is quite unique in that there is greater emphasis on the integration of ethics and social responsibility in business practice, and I believe this is a cornerstone to sustainable success long-term. [b]Q: What is your best piece of advice for prospective students?[/b] A: Invest in yourself. I hope more physicians pursue additional education and training in business so that we may help lead the transformation of our healthcare system, so that the best of interest of our patients, medicine and science are at the forefront. [b]Executive MBA Healthcare Professionals Fun Fact:[/b] In fall 2020, we hosted a webinar about the value of an MBA for healthcare professionals, and Luq was one of the panelists. You can find a recording of this conversation on [url=https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-waq8e-f85638]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url]. Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url] The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/05/11/leading-in-an-ever-changing-healthcare-system-luq-dad-reflects-on-execmba-decision/]Leading in an Ever-Changing Healthcare System: Luq Dad Reflects on ExecMBA Decision[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
11 May 2021, 11:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: Leading in an Ever-Changing Healthcare System: Luq Dad Reflects on ExecMBA Decision |
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Our Executive MBA profile series continues with a Q&A with first year student Luqman “Luq” Dad (Class of 2022). Dad is based in the Washington, D.C. area where he works as a medical leader and oncologist. Like many of our healthcare professionals, Dad decided to pursue an MBA to gain a perspective and skills he feels are essential for leaders seeking to transform the country’s healthcare system. Dad is also the founder of one of our newest Executive MBA student organizations, the Darden Executive Healthcare Alliance. This organization provides co-curricular opportunities – including networking opportunities, speaker series and social events — for Executive MBA students looking to build and grow within today’s healthcare ecosystem. [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/category/student-profile/executive-student-profile/]Catch up on our earlier Executive MBA student profiles.[/url] [b]Q: What is your current role? What is your professional/academic background?[/b] A: I am the Medical Director for the Center for Advanced Radiation Oncology, a joint venture between US Oncology and Adventist Healthcare, in Silver Spring, [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/files/2021/01/DAD-luqman-1-MOH.jpg][img]https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/files/2021/01/DAD-luqman-1-MOH-215x300.jpg[/img][/url] Maryland. I conducted my undergraduate and medical studies in Boston, residency training in Radiation Oncology, and have returned home to where I grew up to help lead a Radiation Oncology department at the hospital where I was born. My passion areas in clinical practice include: treating brain and lung tumors with stereotactic techniques, proton beam therapy, and global outreach to underserved populations of the world. [b]Q: How did you decide to pursue an MBA?[/b] A: During my 8th year in clinical practice, I began to feel that I needed to gain enhanced business acumen to better prepare myself to lead an ever-changing healthcare ecosystem. Additionally, I chose Darden’s Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) format because of a desire translate my passion and interest in global outreach to best partner with industry to help transfer innovation and technology to treat cancer in underserved regions of the globe. [b]Q: What led you to Darden? [/b] A: To me, I think the better question is “Why not Darden?” For any physician, particularly in the Washington Metropolitan area, we have within easy reach the nation’s top business school faculty, a truly world-class learning experience and an outstanding and diverse student-body. All of these factors made Darden an easy decision for me, and I felt Darden would allow me to advance my pursuit of life-long learning and leadership skills to help me optimize my career strategies and prepare me to reach my dreams. [b]Q: What has been the impact of your Darden experience so far?[/b] A: Through my learning experiences both within and outside the classroom at Darden, I have been pushed to think about how best to optimize my patients’ experience in my clinical practice. Additionally, the Darden experience is quite unique in that there is greater emphasis on the integration of ethics and social responsibility in business practice, and I believe this is a cornerstone to sustainable success long-term. [b]Q: What is your best piece of advice for prospective students?[/b] A: Invest in yourself. I hope more physicians pursue additional education and training in business so that we may help lead the transformation of our healthcare system, so that the best of interest of our patients, medicine and science are at the forefront. [b]Executive MBA Healthcare Professionals Fun Fact:[/b] In fall 2020, we hosted a webinar about the value of an MBA for healthcare professionals, and Luq was one of the panelists. You can find a recording of this conversation on [url=https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-waq8e-f85638]The ExecMBA Podcast[/url]. Be sure to consult the [url=https://news.darden.virginia.edu/]Latest News[/url] regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on [url=https://ideas.darden.virginia.edu/]Ideas to Action[/url]. And stay connected with us via social media: [url=https://www.facebook.com/DardenMBA]Facebook[/url], [url=https://www.instagram.com/dardenmba/]Instagram[/url], [url=https://www.linkedin.com/edu/school?id=19605]LinkedIn[/url], [url=https://twitter.com/DardenMBA]Twitter[/url], [url=https://brand.darden.virginia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/qrcode_for_gh_23920314812f_860.jpg]WeChat[/url] The post [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/05/11/leading-in-an-ever-changing-healthcare-system-luq-dad-reflects-on-execmba-decision/]Leading in an Ever-Changing Healthcare System: Luq Dad Reflects on ExecMBA Decision[/url] first appeared on [url=https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/]Discover Darden[/url]. |
12 May 2021, 08:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Alumni Reflect on Skills Learned and Earned |
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Today’s post continues the limited series featuring the decade anniversary of Darden and the School of Education and Human Development’s MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree program. For more information about how this first-of-its-kind partnership got its start and where its headed, check out the previous blog post written by dual degree students Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) and Sam Firstenberg (Class of 2021). With over 35 graduates of the program, we are thrilled to feature just a few of the outstanding alumni who are making an impact in their fields.  Stephanie Spangler – Senior Consultant, Bellwether Education Partners, MBA ’19 “After teaching 4th grade in DC Public Schools, I came to the dual degree program at Darden with an interest in understanding how to operationalize the outcomes we hope to see in educational organizations. I wanted to gain some “hard skills” with the MBA—finance, accounting, operations, strategy—because schools are organizations that can be run more effectively, just like organizations in any sector. Today some of my absolute favorite memories and people at Darden are from my dual degree cohort.”  Julieta Garcia-Vicente – Assistant Principal, Operations at Rocky Mountain Prep, MBA ’16 “My degree from Darden gave me the financial, strategic, and operational skill sets I needed to turn schools around operationally, and to operate efficient schools that maximize the student experience. The leadership skills I developed at Darden allowed me to successfully manage over 100 team members, and [the School of Education and Human Development] pushed me to think innovatively about education and schools which was certainly helpful when leading a school through the pandemic.” Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Alumni Reflect on Skills Learned and Earned first appeared on Discover Darden. |
12 May 2021, 08:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Alumni Reflect on Skills Learned and Earned |
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Today’s post continues the limited series featuring the decade anniversary of Darden and the School of Education and Human Development’s MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree program. For more information about how this first-of-its-kind partnership got its start and where its headed, check out the previous blog post written by dual degree students Jack McDermott (Class of 2021) and Sam Firstenberg (Class of 2021). With over 35 graduates of the program, we are thrilled to feature just a few of the outstanding alumni who are making an impact in their fields. Stephanie Spangler – Senior Consultant, Bellwether Education Partners, MBA ’19 “After teaching 4th grade in DC Public Schools, I came to the dual degree program at Darden with an interest in understanding how to operationalize the outcomes we hope to see in educational organizations. I wanted to gain some “hard skills” with the MBA—finance, accounting, operations, strategy—because schools are organizations that can be run more effectively, just like organizations in any sector. Today some of my absolute favorite memories and people at Darden are from my dual degree cohort.” Julieta Garcia-Vicente – Assistant Principal, Operations at Rocky Mountain Prep, MBA ’16 “My degree from Darden gave me the financial, strategic, and operational skill sets I needed to turn schools around operationally, and to operate efficient schools that maximize the student experience. The leadership skills I developed at Darden allowed me to successfully manage over 100 team members, and [the School of Education and Human Development] pushed me to think innovatively about education and schools which was certainly helpful when leading a school through the pandemic.” Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post MBA/M.Ed Dual Degree Alumni Reflect on Skills Learned and Earned first appeared on Discover Darden. |
14 May 2021, 08:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: $8 Million Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long Term Wins |
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In a response to a Forbes contributor article from one year ago, which questioned the value of an MBA, John Byrne of MBA-focused publication Poets&Quants recently shared a new analysis citing the long-term earning potential of MBA graduates. The analysis seeks to answer the age-old question, “what’s an MBA really worth?” A new analysis done exclusively for Poets&Quants by PayScale, which collects salary data from individuals through online pay comparison tools, shows that the MBA–even from schools that lack global or national caché–delivers hefty seven-figure income over a post-MBA lifetime. MBA graduates from the top 50 business schools in the U.S., in fact, will pull down median cash compensation of $5.7 million after graduating and working for 35 years. That is a premium of $2.3 million over those with just an undergraduate degree. Byrne makes the case that in order to accurately gauge the ROI and long-term value of an MBA degree from top-tier programs, those highly ranked programs must be measured together and not with every MBA degree program offered across the globe. Thanks to Darden’s impressive starting salaries, long-term career support and engaged alumni networks, it’s not just short-term wins that garnered Byrne’s attention. And if you were lucky enough to earn your MBA from one of five schools–Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Dartmouth or Virginia–your estimated median pay would surpass $8 million over a 35-year period, according to Payscale. And yet, as high as those numbers are, they are conservative. They do not include stock-based compensation of any kind, the cash value of retirements benefits, or other non-cash benefits, such as health care. But the estimates show that the MBA degree–despite all the second-guessing over its value–is one of the surest paths to a lucrative career. Dean Scott Beardsley has been an avid advocate of the long-term benefits of the Darden educational experience and MBA opportunities. He shared, “While it’s true that an MBA is a substantial investment, on a strictly dollars and cents metric, the salary data shows a clear and compelling return. For those in pursuit of a lifetime of meaningful, high-impact work, there is no better investment, in my opinion, than an investment in your own future through an MBA, which will open up a world of possibilities.” Read the full article on Forbes.com. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Million Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long Term Wins first appeared on Discover Darden. |
14 May 2021, 08:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: $8 Million Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long Term Wins |
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In a response to a Forbes contributor article from one year ago, which questioned the value of an MBA, John Byrne of MBA-focused publication Poets&Quants recently shared a new analysis citing the long-term earning potential of MBA graduates. The analysis seeks to answer the age-old question, “what’s an MBA really worth?” A new analysis done exclusively for Poets&Quants by PayScale, which collects salary data from individuals through online pay comparison tools, shows that the MBA–even from schools that lack global or national caché–delivers hefty seven-figure income over a post-MBA lifetime. MBA graduates from the top 50 business schools in the U.S., in fact, will pull down median cash compensation of $5.7 million after graduating and working for 35 years. That is a premium of $2.3 million over those with just an undergraduate degree. Byrne makes the case that in order to accurately gauge the ROI and long-term value of an MBA degree from top-tier programs, those highly ranked programs must be measured together and not with every MBA degree program offered across the globe. Thanks to Darden’s impressive starting salaries, long-term career support and engaged alumni networks, it’s not just short-term wins that garnered Byrne’s attention. And if you were lucky enough to earn your MBA from one of five schools–Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Dartmouth or Virginia–your estimated median pay would surpass $8 million over a 35-year period, according to Payscale. And yet, as high as those numbers are, they are conservative. They do not include stock-based compensation of any kind, the cash value of retirements benefits, or other non-cash benefits, such as health care. But the estimates show that the MBA degree–despite all the second-guessing over its value–is one of the surest paths to a lucrative career. Dean Scott Beardsley has been an avid advocate of the long-term benefits of the Darden educational experience and MBA opportunities. He shared, “While it’s true that an MBA is a substantial investment, on a strictly dollars and cents metric, the salary data shows a clear and compelling return. For those in pursuit of a lifetime of meaningful, high-impact work, there is no better investment, in my opinion, than an investment in your own future through an MBA, which will open up a world of possibilities.” Read the full article on Forbes.com. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Million Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long Term Wins first appeared on Discover Darden. |
14 May 2021, 09:00
| FROM Darden Admissions Blog: $8 Million+ Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long-Term Gains |
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In a response to a Forbes contributor article from one year ago, which questioned the value of an MBA, John Byrne of MBA-focused publication Poets & Quants recently shared a new analysis citing the long-term earning potential of MBA graduates. The analysis seeks to answer the age-old question, “what’s an MBA really worth?” A new analysis done exclusively for Poets&Quants by PayScale, which collects salary data from individuals through online pay comparison tools, shows that the MBA–even from schools that lack global or national caché–delivers hefty seven-figure income over a post-MBA lifetime. MBA graduates from the top 50 business schools in the U.S., in fact, will pull down median cash compensation of $5.7 million after graduating and working for 35 years. That is a premium of $2.3 million over those with just an undergraduate degree. Byrne makes the case that in order to accurately gauge the ROI and long-term value of an MBA degree from top-tier programs, those highly ranked programs must be measured together and not with every MBA degree program offered across the globe. Thanks to Darden’s impressive starting salaries, long-term career support and engaged alumni networks, it’s not just short-term wins that garnered Byrne’s attention. And if you were lucky enough to earn your MBA from one of five schools–Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Dartmouth or Virginia–your estimated median pay would surpass $8 million over a 35-year period, according to Payscale. And yet, as high as those numbers are, they are conservative. They do not include stock-based compensation of any kind, the cash value of retirements benefits, or other non-cash benefits, such as health care. But the estimates show that the MBA degree–despite all the second-guessing over its value–is one of the surest paths to a lucrative career. Dean Scott Beardsley has been an avid advocate of the long-term benefits of the Darden educational experience and MBA opportunities. He shared, “While it’s true that an MBA is a substantial investment, on a strictly dollars and cents metric, the salary data shows a clear and compelling return. For those in pursuit of a lifetime of meaningful, high-impact work, there is no better investment, in my opinion, than an investment in your own future through an MBA, which will open up a world of possibilities.” Read the full article on Forbes.com. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Million+ Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long-Term Gains first appeared on Discover Darden. |
14 May 2021, 09:01
| FROM Darden EMBA Blog: $8 Million+ Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long-Term Gains |
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In a response to a Forbes contributor article from one year ago, which questioned the value of an MBA, John Byrne of MBA-focused publication Poets & Quants recently shared a new analysis citing the long-term earning potential of MBA graduates. The analysis seeks to answer the age-old question, “what’s an MBA really worth?” A new analysis done exclusively for Poets&Quants by PayScale, which collects salary data from individuals through online pay comparison tools, shows that the MBA–even from schools that lack global or national caché–delivers hefty seven-figure income over a post-MBA lifetime. MBA graduates from the top 50 business schools in the U.S., in fact, will pull down median cash compensation of $5.7 million after graduating and working for 35 years. That is a premium of $2.3 million over those with just an undergraduate degree. Byrne makes the case that in order to accurately gauge the ROI and long-term value of an MBA degree from top-tier programs, those highly ranked programs must be measured together and not with every MBA degree program offered across the globe. Thanks to Darden’s impressive starting salaries, long-term career support and engaged alumni networks, it’s not just short-term wins that garnered Byrne’s attention. And if you were lucky enough to earn your MBA from one of five schools–Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, Dartmouth or Virginia–your estimated median pay would surpass $8 million over a 35-year period, according to Payscale. And yet, as high as those numbers are, they are conservative. They do not include stock-based compensation of any kind, the cash value of retirements benefits, or other non-cash benefits, such as health care. But the estimates show that the MBA degree–despite all the second-guessing over its value–is one of the surest paths to a lucrative career. Dean Scott Beardsley has been an avid advocate of the long-term benefits of the Darden educational experience and MBA opportunities. He shared, “While it’s true that an MBA is a substantial investment, on a strictly dollars and cents metric, the salary data shows a clear and compelling return. For those in pursuit of a lifetime of meaningful, high-impact work, there is no better investment, in my opinion, than an investment in your own future through an MBA, which will open up a world of possibilities.” Read the full article on Forbes.com. Be sure to consult the Latest News regularly for the most updated news releases and media hits. Check out faculty thought leadership published on Ideas to Action. And stay connected with us via social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat The post Million+ Over a 35-year Period? MBA Earnings Analysis Shows Long-Term Gains first appeared on Discover Darden. |
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Hi Generic [Bot],
Here are updates for you:
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 Wednesday, Apr 24, 2024 11:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai Watch earlier episodes of DI series below EP1: 6 Hardest Two-Part Analysis Questions EP2: 5 Hardest Graphical Interpretation Questions
Tuck at Dartmouth
AGSM at UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
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