
Professional Degree Programs - Clubs and Organizations
Clubs & Organizations
Gain and share valuable insights while developing invaluable relationships.
Make an Impact
Students play an active role in shaping extracurricular life in our Executive MBA Program. As an executive format student, you will join a dynamic learning community in which relationships matter and learning stretches beyond the four walls of the classroom. Our student clubs are a compelling example of our students' investment in their educational experience.
Student Organizations
There are several student organizations at Darden that are organized and led by Executive MBA students. These student groups are targeted to meet the needs of the working professional and are designed to enhance a students' academic, social, cultural and professional lives.
Below are a listing of the current Executive MBA student organizations.
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Black Executive MBAs (BEMBA)
- Linda Hartman
- Mike Shipp
- Contact BEMBA: [email protected]
The Black Executive MBAs (BEMBA), chartered in 2017, is dedicated to the recruitment of Black business students and the professional and academic advancement of its membership. In addition to its professional and academic goals, BEMBA hosts social outings throughout the year to foster relationships within the groups' membership and the Darden community at-large.
Mission Statement:
We support the advancement of prospective and current Black students in their endeavors to become intentional and transformational leaders through academic and professional initiatives. We bring diversity in thought to forge equity and inclusion within the Darden community and beyond.
Recent News and Articles:
https://blogs.darden.virginia.edu/admissions/2021/02/24/black-executive-mbas-insights/
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Darden Executive Fund (DEF) and Investment Club
- Amelia DeSorrento
- Carter Whitelow
- Liza Ketcham
- Viral Brahambatt
The Darden Executive Fund (DEF) is an independent study providing Executive MBA students with hands-on experience researching, pitching, and directly managing a portfolio of active investments in publicly traded assets. General membership is known as the Investment Club.
Students in the course research, prepare and pitch a stock to the fund's leadership team for investment consideration. Other students are also welcome to pitch stocks to the team, participate in all stock pitch sessions, and attend all DEF-sponsored events.
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Executive MBA Consulting Club
- Aman Dar, Co-President
- Naveen Vinta, Co-President
The Darden EMBA Consulting Club at UVA is established for the expressed purpose of:
- Bringing fellow students interested in careers in consulting together to provide a peer-enabled, transformational learning experience in preparing EMBA students in preparing for the management consulting interview process and successful careers in this industry.
- Collaborating with other CIOs and departments to host career-focused events on grounds.
- Providing opportunities for recruiting and networking with key industry stakeholders, experts, and target firms.
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Entrepreneurship Club (EMBEC)
- Matt Doetsch-Kidder, Co-President
- William(Bill) Hevener, Co-President
We will foster an inclusive culture that supports established and aspiring entrepreneurs across executive MBA classes, facilitate communication and relationships with Charlottesville and D.C. entrepreneurial ecosystem, and provide a platform for Darden entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, and best practices and connect resources in Charlottesville and D.C.
EMBEC aims to support Darden students in growing or developing new business endeavors by providing a supportive and inclusive platform from which Darden entrepreneurs can exchange ideas, learn best practices, and connect with resources to begin or continue their business journeys. Through cooperation with Darden students, faculty, and alumni in Charlottesville, DC, and beyond, EMBEC intends to facilitate the expansion of professional networks in order to best serve its members’ entrepreneurial goals.
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Executive Healthcare Alliance
- Abigail Hamilton
- April Fitzgerald
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Network of Executive Women (NEW)
- Sarah Sowden, President
- Jennifer Chaquette, Executive Vice President
- Katie Housel, VP, Finance
- Stephanie Kehl, VP Admissions and New Member Engagement
- Contact NEW
The Network for Executive Women (NEW) is an organization dedicated to the professional development and advancement of females in Darden's Executive MBA Program. NEW empowers women to reach their full career potential whether that is a C-suite position or another leadership position; we aim to see more women leaders. According to a 2019 McKinsey & Company Report “Women in the Workplace,” only 21% of C-Suite Executives are women. Together we can change this statistic one “rung” at a time.
NEW’s goals include:
- Connecting female students and alumni through professional development, career support, and networking opportunities;
- Creating an inclusive community and a sense of belonging among women in the Darden EMBA program;
- Advocating for an understanding of issues of gender equality specifically related to women executives;
- Expanding the pipeline of female applicants into the Darden EMBA program; and,
- Inspiring females to reach their fullest potential as leaders in business.
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Darden Executive Veterans (DEV)
- Bret Leach, Co-President
- Kevin O'Neill, Co-President
- Contact DEV Leadership
The Darden Executive Veterans (DEV) serves the Executive MBA community as an affinity group by leveraging former and current military experiences to enhance career opportunities and foster camaraderie within the entire Darden Community.
In addition to supporting veterans in the Executive MBA Program, the organization's programming touches upon a variety of veteran-related topics, including advising others on what it means to hire and work with a vet.
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Emerging Interest Groups
Though not yet official and formally organized, there are a number of groups that are in the process including:
- Tech Club
- Pride at Darden
- Jefferson Spirits Society
Executive MBA Student Association
The Executive MBA Student Association (ESA) serves as the leadership board for all Executive MBA students. The mission of ESA is to foster a sense of community and culture within the student body and serve as a liaison between the students, faculty, and program.
- President: Anthony Ranghelli
- Executive Vice President: Eboni Brown
- VP, Career: Salah Al-Chanati
- VP, Clubs: Angus Jackson
- VP, Communications: Alex Grimm
- VP, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Troy Yoho
- VP, Networking and Engagement: Carter Whitelow
- VP, Resilience: Liza Ketcham
- VP, Outreach: Pam Peace
- VP, Social: Paul Blair
To contact the ESA Board, please email [email protected]