Alumni Career Services Darden Council

What Are We Solving For?

Darden alumni are motivated, curious, thoughtful and driven individuals who want to create an impact. As leaders, the landscape you’re navigating is more complex than ever. Time is scarce. Many of you are asking:

• Who can I turn to for perspective and support?
• How do I stay sharp—and stay true to what matters most?
• How do I stay current, creative and connected while managing complexity?
• What’s next? Is there something better out there? Is there a portfolio career option I should be building now?
• Am I making decisions with the long view in mind—or just staying afloat?
• How do I balance competing personal and professional demands?

The answers to these questions have no playbook. But there are people—other Darden alumni—who are wrestling with similar challenges or have experience navigating those challenges. This pilot creates a structured space for you to do that thinking together. It addresses the real challenge of creating meaningful connections with peers as an adult—a set of peers that share Darden connective tissue.

This complimentary program creates space to reflect and engage with people you can trust - a set of peers with objective perspectives not filtered by what they want or need.

The rhythm of meetings keeps you focused on the long view—even while you navigate the day-to-day and keeps you regularly grounded, focused and invigorated.

What Is Darden Council—and How Does It Help?

Darden Council is small, curated groups of alumni (six to eight people) who meet regularly for deep, honest and practical conversations. Think of it as your advisory board—part sounding board, part support system, part strategy team.

What makes it work:

• Unique perspectives, shared values: Councils are curated to ensure a range of experiences with enough shared experience to build trust quickly.
• Intentional structure: Meetings are facilitated and follow a curated structure to balance reflection, action and accountability.
• Real relationships: This isn’t networking—it’s about deep connection, mutual support and being in it with people who get it.
• Confidential and judgment-free: Everyone comes to the table with both something to give and something to figure out.

Whether you're managing more complexity, craving meaningful connection or contemplating a career shift, you don’t have to do it alone.

The Pilot Structure

This year’s pilot is launching exclusively in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Council will leverage a facilitated structure, tailored to meet the unique needs of our alumni.

What to expect:

• Small councils (six to eight people) matched for maximum learning and support. The initial council matching depends on the needs of the pilot participants outlined in the application process.
• Monthly facilitated meetings, with flexibility for each council to navigate the balance of in-person and virtual meetings. We recommend that, at a minimum, the initial two meetings be held in person.
• A year-long commitment of monthly meetings beginning in September with local alumni. Each meeting is 2 hours. This commitment cannot be stressed enough as it is paramount to a group’s cohesion and success.
• A leadership opportunity for those who want it. Each council will be co-led by two volunteer facilitators who will partner with an experienced facilitator to develop their own facilitation skills.

You'll be part of shaping what this becomes—offering input, giving feedback and helping us refine the model for the broader alumni community.

We handle logistics. You bring your curiosity, generosity and desire to grow.

What This Is Not

This experience is not for everyone, and that’s by design.

To help you decide if it’s a fit, here’s what it isn’t:

• It’s not just networking.
  This is not a forum for self-promotion, soliciting business or getting your next position. Members are welcome to discuss professional endeavors, challenges and opportunities, but need to be mindful of this distinction.
• It’s not a drop-in space.
  Council relies on consistency and commitment. If you’re not able to prioritize regular and meaningful participation, this is likely not the right time.
• It’s not coaching or therapy.
  You won’t be led through personal or professional development by an expert. Instead, you’ll be in a peer-led conversation supported by facilitation. Growth comes from each other.
• It’s not competitive.
  This isn’t about proving yourself or comparing trajectories. It’s about listening, learning, and helping one another move forward with clarity and confidence.
• It’s not for people who want to stay surface-level.
  This space is for alumni willing to be thoughtful, generous and real. If you're craving small talk, this won’t feel right.

Ready to Pilot This Together?

This is a pilot. That means you’ll help us shape what works. In return, you’ll get early access to something new—and something that will change the way you think about your career, your connections and your leadership.

Leadership

Council Leaders

Each council needs one to two volunteer facilitators who help coordinate meeting logistics, guide the discussion and create a productive space for the members to connect.

• Facilitators receive training from Darden Alumni Career Services in partnership with an experienced facilitator on confidentiality, conflict resolution and group dynamics. Facilitators are invited to connect with other facilitators periodically to discuss issues and share ideas.
• Facilitators are fully engaged members of their council and, aside from their special responsibilities, engage in the conversation as peers and not leaders.
• Facilitators are guides for discussion, time management and council agreements to ensure meaningful outcomes from council participation.

Host

Each council will include one or more hosts for council meetings at either their homes or office spaces. These hosts will be responsible for providing the space to meet and all necessary logistics. The hosts could also be Council leaders.