Alumni Career Services
Alumni Career Services Darden Council
Darden Council
Relationships That Last. Conversations That Matter.
A Peer Learning Experience Designed for a Year. Structured to Endure.
Returning to Washington, D.C.; launching in New York, New York, and Charlotte, North Carolina
“I joined Darden Council because Darden taught me to lean into new ideas and experiences, and I wanted to continue growing and staying connected with the Darden community. What I didn’t expect was how quickly our group formed real trust. We were able to dive into meaningful challenges in both our personal and professional lives, and the level of support was immediate and genuine.” — Slav Zapata (EMBA ’23)
What Is Darden Council?
Darden Council is small, carefully curated peer mentoring groups of six to eight alumni who meet regularly for thoughtful, candid and practical conversations. Designed to foster trust, accountability and meaningful connection, each Council serves as a personal advisory board by offering perspective, support and strategic insight as members navigate professional and personal growth together.
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 thoughtfully designed structure to balance reflection, action and accountability.
- Real relationships: This isn’t networking. Council is 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 solving complex problems, seeking accountability partners or managing isolation as a leader, you don’t have to do it alone.
“Our council spans nearly 40 years of Darden experience and no overlapping industries, and what’s surprised me most is how valuable that dynamic is. The mix of experiences and different life stages brings real perspective to the challenges we’re working through…I’d recommend Council to people who are willing to show up consistently, contribute selflessly, and engage with others. The value comes from supporting others, learning from their experiences and offering thoughtful perspective.” — David Black (EMBA ’19)
Why Join Council?
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 other Darden alumni who are wrestling with similar challenges or have experience navigating those challenges. Darden Council creates a structured space for you to do that thinking together. It addresses the real challenge of creating meaningful connections with peers that share Darden connective tissue.
The rhythm of meetings keeps you anchored in the long view while navigating the day-to-day, keeping you regularly grounded, focused and invigorated.
How Does Council Work?
The Structure
Building on a successful pilot in Washington, D.C., this complimentary program will continue in the D.C. metro area while expanding to New York, New York, and Charlotte, North Carolina. We’ll also offer a virtual option to alumni in those areas.
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 participants outlined in the application process.
- Monthly facilitated meetings with the option of joining an in-person or virtual Council.
- A year-long commitment to monthly, two-hour meetings beginning in September. In-person meetings will take place Monday through Thursday evenings.
- A leadership opportunity for those who want it. Each Council will be co-led by two volunteer facilitators who will receive ongoing support from Darden Alumni Career Services.
- Thoughtfully curated agendas provided by Darden Alumni Career Services that directly address relevant topics surfaced in Council. Councils determine the degree to which these are followed. Topics have ranged from navigating uncertainty, evaluating life balance and priorities, patterns of presence and the impacts of AI, among others.
Commitment:
Attending a kickoff event is essential to understanding Council and the commitment required to participate. The exception is if you were active in a Council the previous year.
The integrity, cohesion and success of the Councils rely on unwavering commitment from every participant.
Council is best suited for alumni who are interested in engaging with fellow Darden alumni across classes and programs, have an open mind to others’ perspectives and are keen to contribute to building reciprocal relationships of support.
What Council 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 for alumni anticipating a big transition. Council’s success depends on the full commitment of every member. If you expect major personal or professional changes this year, please thoughtfully evaluate whether you can honor this commitment before applying. If you need support in evaluating the fit, please email Alumni Career Services.
- 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.
“I have an interest in pursuing a coaching or counseling certification to support my current work…I thought learning and practicing new skills through Darden Council would align with my personal goals. I also thought I would enjoy stretching myself to try something new. It was an experiment that was rewarding beyond my expectations.” — Sara McNamara (MBA ’95)
Leadership
Council Facilitators:
Each Council is led by two volunteer facilitators who help create a welcoming, engaging and productive experience for all members. The Facilitators will receive training from ACS in partnership with an experienced facilitator on confidentiality, conflict resolution and group dynamics.
Council facilitators schedule meetings, guide conversations and foster an environment of trust, confidentiality and meaningful connection all the while participating as peers within the Council. ACS provides suggested agendas, and facilitators help shape the flow of each meeting and support the unique goals of their Council.
Facilitator Responsibilities:
- Coordinates scheduling of meetings.
- Attends the Kickoff (unless D.C. pilot participant) and facilitator training.
- Attends all Council meetings.
- Reviews (or prepares) meeting agendas in advance.
- Guides discussions to ensure balanced participation and thoughtful dialogue.
- Upholds confidentiality and manages group dynamics.
- Partners and collaborates with a co-facilitator on roles and responsibilities and possibly connects after meetings to address any concerns.
Hosts:
- Each Council will have a designated volunteer host responsible for securing a private, quiet meeting space either in their home or at an alternative location such as an office or community venue.
- Council’s success depends on your commitment to host every meeting for the year. Please take this responsibility seriously.
- Hosts may also serve as Council facilitators.
Frequently Asked Questions
The idea for Darden Council emerged from conversations with dozens of alumni who expressed a strong interest in sustained, meaningful connections. It's a chance to extend the best parts of the Darden experience — intellectual rigor, purposeful conversation and deep connections into life beyond Grounds.
No. This is about substance, not surface. Council is designed for real talk, not small talk. It's a space where trust is built, challenges are named and ideas are sharpened through perspective, not polished resumes.
If you’re grappling with meaningful decisions in your personal or professional life and are willing to show up with candor and curiosity, you’re ready. This isn’t about your title; it’s about your willingness to engage meaningfully.
This is a complimentary program aligned with Alumni Career Services’ commitment to serving alumni at any stage of their careers.
We use your application data to match you with others. We aim to avoid echo chambers. Your Council will be disparate enough to spark learning. The application includes questions about your current geography, position, industry and life stage. We will do our best to consider your ideal group of peers, but Council formation depends on participation, and we do ask for some flexibility.
Each Council is co-led by two volunteer facilitators trained for their roles and supported throughout the year with dedicated resources. They will guide the structure, spark participation and help the Council develop norms to create confidential engagement by all members.
Yes. Each Council will be co-led by two alumni facilitators who partner with our ACS Darden Council leadership team and an experienced facilitator. That external support team will stay connected to the group throughout the year to support continuity and growth.
Each meeting will include an opportunity for members to check in about what is present for them, a meaningful reflection to create depth, an activity to garner new insights that lead to action and a key takeaway or commitment that threads into the next meeting.
We strongly suggest that Councils schedule the entire year of meetings during the first Council meeting. This allows participants to plan the year with Council commitment included.
Council Members
Council members commit to attending one two-hour meeting a month. We’ve designed Council to be manageable for busy professionals, while meaningful enough to create impact. This commitment is critical to developing deep trust and understanding of one another in the Council.
Facilitators
Beyond the commitment to facilitating two-hour monthly meetings, co-facilitators will have the option to attend a monthly Facilitator meeting to discuss wins, identify challenges and ask questions. Additional planning time with your co-facilitator may be required.
We understand that life happens. That said, regular attendance is vital to building trust and cohesion. We ask all participants to prioritize Council meetings as they would other key commitments and to communicate proactively with their group if an absence is unavoidable. If a member misses the first two meetings, they will be automatically removed from their Council.
The structure and participant selection process are designed to maximize cohesion and commitment from the start, while also fostering the kind of diverse perspectives that lead to meaningful personal and professional growth. Each Council’s facilitation team stays in close conversation with our ACS leadership team throughout the year to monitor dynamics and navigate any roadblocks.
That said, we know that sometimes small groups don’t “click” immediately. You may find yourself in a group with someone whose style or worldview challenges you — and that can be one of the richest growth opportunities. As one master coach put it: the groups that stretch you are often the ones that help you grow the most. In our lives and careers, we don’t always get to choose our colleagues or collaborators. Council offers a chance to stay curious, notice your own reactions and explore your leadership and communication patterns in real time.
If significant issues arise, we’ll work with your Council to find thoughtful solutions. But often, what initially feels like friction becomes the very spark for connection, self-awareness and lasting insight
Each Council will co-create a set of norms that consider and address the concerns of all Council members. Confidentiality is a required norm to support depth of connection and meaningful conversation. It is paramount to a Council’s success.
In the spring, we will begin planning for an annual refresh in the fall. New Councils will form and some existing Councils may opt to stay together.