Latin America | UVA Darden School of Business

Global Recruitment

Latin America

Latin American Student Association Our Latin American Reach

Business today thrives on global connectivity, and Latin America stands as a vibrant testament to this interconnected world. With countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico driving progress in industries such as energy, agriculture, fintech and renewable resources, the region is a hub of opportunity and innovation. However, professionals in Latin America must successfully navigate a unique blend of challenges, where deep-rooted cultural traditions meet rapid modernization and evolving global demands. This requires not only exceptional leadership skills but also the ability to foster collaboration and drive impact across diverse networks. At UVA Darden, we prepare students to lead with purpose in these intricate environments, combining global insights with actionable strategies tailored to dynamic markets. Unlike regionally focused MBA programs, a Darden MBA delivers the global perspective and critical thinking needed to excel in a world where economic decisions transcend borders and create lasting value for communities and stakeholders alike.

Global Public Business School, Financial Times

U.S. Public MBA Program, Bloomberg Businessweek

Education Experience in the U.S., The Economist

Empowering Latin American Graduates for Global Leadership

Recent graduates from Darden’s Full-Time MBA program have been placed at companies around the globe, including top U.S.-based multinational corporations and private firms. Additionally, each year several graduates return to their pre-MBA employers, who sponsor their MBA programs in part or in full.

Empowering Latin American Leaders for Global Success

Top Companies that Hired International Graduates

Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

At its core, Darden is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. An MBA isn’t just about curriculum; it’s about connections. From admissions to graduation, international students receive unwavering support — be it through visa guidance, cultural transition programs, or career placement tailored to their goals. Darden creates a highly inclusive environment where diversity thrives. Pre-program initiatives, mentorship opportunities, and student organizations like the Latin American Student Association help you settle in seamlessly.

Club & Community Story

Latin American Student Association Fosters Community and Celebrates Culture

The Latin American Student Association (LASA) aims to not only create a safe and collaborative space for its members, but also increase diversity and inclusion by promoting and celebrating Latin American culture at Darden.

MBA Student Story

The Strength of the Darden Community Across International Borders

Ines de Estrada (MBA ’24), a recent graduate of Darden and a member of Amazon Web Services’ HR Leadership Development Program, on her journey, the impact of that life-changing scholarship and why she’s committed to giving back.

MBA Student Story

Thriving as His True Self: Renato Mejia’s Darden MBA Story

Renato Mejia (Class of 2025) is a 2023 Reaching Out MBA Fellow and VP Career of the student club Pride at Darden. His success in the business world and pride as a member LBGTQ community is a testament to what can happen when we bring our true selves to the table.

Community, Clubs and Strategic Partnerships

Darden’s MBA program isn’t about rote learning from textbooks, and the community extends beyond the classroom. Darden's experiential approach and hands-on problem-solving while building relationships and creating a culture of trust is key. Your career evolution demands the ability to lead in ambiguity — to make decisions fast, strategically, and confidently in high-pressure situations.

Experiential Opportunities

Collaboration and teamwork are hallmarks of the Darden experience. Below are just a few examples of how experiential learning translates into meaningful opportunities to collaborate in teams with impact.

Case methodology of instruction
Area focus elective courses
Industry focus elective courses
Consulting Darden Business Projects
Global Experiential Opportunities include Darden Worldwide Courses, Global Client Projects and Exchange Programs

Clubs and Activities

Latin American Student Association (LASA)

LASA is a club that provides students interested in Latin American cultures with a forum to pursue cultural, professional and social opportunities. We want to foster an environment that encourages an integration between the Latin American students and the rest of the Darden Community. Also, we will support career development opportunities in the US and in Latin America by maintaining and strengthening ties with Latin American alumni.

Darden Student Association

The Darden Student Association (DSA) seeks to strengthen the fabric of the Darden Community; working to ensure that each student can realize their fullest Darden experience. The DSA represents Darden on the University Honor Committee, the University Judiciary Committee, the University Student Council, and the Graduate and Professional Council, and supports student groups including career clubs, affinity groups, and intramural sports. DSA seeks to represent all students of the residential MBA program.

Advisory Groups

Darden has several advisory groups which provide a forum for dialogue, feedback and proactive initiative throughout the year in effort to continuously improve the student experience through collaboration between faculty, staff and students.

Conferences and Events

Emerging Markets Conference

The Emerging Markets Conference is an annual entirely student-run event, co-hosted by multiple student organizations, including the Latin American Student Association, the Darden African Business Organization, the Asia Business Club @ Darden, the Darden South Asia Society, and the Adam Smith Society, among other groups. In 2024, the theme of the conference was "Social Pioneers Among Global Challengers: The ESG Agenda in Emerging Markets" and Darden welcomed speakers including, Krishnamurthy Subramanian, an executive director of the International Monetary Fund and former chief economic adviser to the prime minister of India and Manoj Sinha (MBA ’09), the cofounder and CEO of Husk Power Systems.

Strategic Partnerships

Partner Institutions

Darden has partnerships with other top business schools around the world to foster exchange opportunities, collaborative academic programs, faculty engagement and research, and other activities. Schools based in Latin America that partner with Darden include IAE (Universidad Austral Escuela De Dirección y Negocios) and (IPADE) El Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresa.

MBA Tour

Darden is regularly represented at MBA Tour events around the world, including in Latin American metropolitan cities like Lima, Mexico City, Santiago and Sao Paolo. Meeting with prospective students in-person and online is a key way to get to know more about the Darden School at a distance.

Scholarships and Financial Support

Darden School Foundation

The Darden School Foundation, an independent and nonprofit organization established in 1952, offers merit-based scholarships. These scholarships support students from around the world, enabling them to excel at Darden as students and beyond.

Merit Scholarships

Darden has a robust portfolio of merit scholarships. Consideration for merit scholarships takes place during the admissions process after your complete application has been submitted. No additional application is required. A variety of metrics and factors including academic ability, professional and personal achievements and potential to contribute to the community are considered.

Company Sponsorship

Darden welcomes employer-sponsored students from all industries and backgrounds. When a company sponsors a student, it acknowledges the student’s leadership, the time commitment the program requires and — most importantly — the significant value that the MBA provides for student and employer alike. Many companies, from East Asia in particular, have sponsorship programs to send students abroad for a degree.

Alumni Continuously Paving the Path Forward

Darden boasts a powerful, engaged alumni network with global reach, with many Latin American graduates serving as role models and mentors for prospective and current students.

Hugo Rodriguez (MBA '92)

Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Paraguay

Pablo Garcia Barnetche (MBA '95)

Director, Agrositio

Jose Maria Zertuche (MBA '00)

Managing Director, Head Latin America Infrastructure at BlackRock

Valentina Ibarra (MBA '12)

Partner at McKinsey & Company

Daniel Oelsner Lopes (MBA '12)

Partner, Fisher Venture Builder | Co-Founder of Octa, Co-Founder of TaOn

Diego Gamba (MBA '16)

Country Manager at Mercado Libre

Thaís Fontes Drumond (MBA '22)

Technology Investment Banking Associate at Morgan Stanley

Jessica Arenas (MBA '23)

Senior Associate at PwC

Daniela Fernandez (MBA '23)

Consultant at Boston Consulting Group

Learn How Darden Transforms Challenges into Opportunities

For ambitious professionals from Latin America, Darden does not offer yet another "business as usual" management degree. The Darden MBA experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn the skills and build relationships to lead with confidence across cultures, industries, and borders. Doors don’t simply open for Darden graduates. They swing wide, inviting you to explore and utilized the guaranteed resources within and command the opportunities to grow and be a catalyst for change. It’s time to take the next step.