Darden Student and Alumni Networks
The collaborative nature of Darden begins at orientation and extends well beyond graduation. You will not only build strong relationships among your classmates, but you will also gain access to over 14,000 alumni from 90 countries from all of Darden’s programs, including the Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA and PhD programs.
If you would like to learn more about the Darden School of Business from an alumnus/na, we recommend that you contact one of our alumni ambassadors by clicking on the " Alumni Ambassadors" link at the top of the page.
Alumni Chapters
Darden has 45 alumni chapters based around the world, which provide lifelong learning, networking and career opportunities.
DardenCommunity Online
DardenCommunity is an online resource designed to give current students and alumni an easy way to find and connect with one another. It is an excellent resource for networking with fellow students and alumni during the job search process.
UVA Alumni Network
You can connect with more than 23,000 University of Virginia alumni who have volunteered to serve as a career resource.
Darden's Global Network
In addition to the United States, Darden’s alumni network of over 14,000 people is spread around the world in the 90 countries listed below:
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Bolivia
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Bulgaria
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Egypt
El Salvador
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Latvia
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Myanmar
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Republic of Panama
Republic of Seychelles
Romania
Russia
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia and Montenegro
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Alumni Ambassadors
Our alumni ambassadors welcome your questions! Feel free to e-mail them about their experiences at Darden and beyond. Please keep in mind that they are not able to assess your chances of being admitted to Darden.
Sample questions include:
- How did you make the decision to attend Darden?
- What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Darden?
- Do you believe Darden prepared you for your career? If so, in what ways?
- What was the most valuable aspect of Darden, in your opinion?
- Do you still keep in touch with other Darden alumni?
Amit Chowdhary (MBA '07)
Amit Chowdhary (MBA '07)
Undergraduate education: Delhi University
Undergraduate major: Engineering
Company: HP
Role: Senior Consultant
Location: Palo Alto, CA
"My education at Darden has helped me grow both professionally and personally. It has equipped me with the skill set and tools to achieve my career goals as well as become a better human being. Coming from a large city, I think I most enjoyed the 'pace' of Charlottesville. I went from having a 45 min commute to a 5 min walk, which from a lifestyle standpoint was a huge improvement. I spent 2 years in Charlottesville and I will be trying to figure out how to get back in the future."
Michelle Clymer (MBA '07)
Michelle Flott Clymer (MBA '07)
Undergraduate Education: American University
Undergraduate Major: Public Communications
Company: Pfizer
Role: Product Manager – Vaccines
Location: Collegeville, PA
"My time at Darden was one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of my life. The rigorous program made me challenge what I thought I was capable of — and helped to show me what my true potential is. Professionally, the curriculum prepared me for a role in brand management and opened networking opportunities that have led me to where I am today. Personally, I made friendships that will last a lifetime."
Michael Crome (MBA '06)
Michael Crome (MBA '06)
Undergraduate education: University of Akron
Undergraduate major: Accounting
Company: Caesars Entertainment
Role: Regional Director, Strategic Planning & Financial Analysis
Location: Las Vegas, NV
"I have always said to friends and colleagues that Darden alums are the best. While I was a student, whenever I reached out to an alum, they were always willing to take my call. Even today as an alum I still reach out to alums and the camaraderie is still there. Great alumni base. My Darden education helped me develop a broader knowledge and approach to business issues. In my position, I am expected to look at our business on an enterprise level, understanding the stakeholders both internally and externally. The experience helped me to refine that skill set."
Ilan Danieli (MBA '00)
Ilan Danieli (MBA '00)
Israeli Alumni Chapter President
Undergraduate education: Bar Ilan University
Undergraduate major: Economics
Company: Osiris Corp
Role: COO
Location: New Jersey
"I think what makes Darden special is the people. A small school located in a small town, Darden has a unique student-driven learning, social and community environment. Alongside an admissions process that requires a personal interview as a critical part of the evaluation process, Darden creates a self-selecting environment that attracts people who wish to participate and contribute, whether in the classroom or in any other activity."
Ryan Davis (MBA '07)
Ryan Davis (MBA '07)
Undergraduate education: Northwestern University
Undergraduate major: Journalism
Company: Realtime Media
Role: President
Location: Philadelphia, PA
"Darden opened me to a world of opportunities. I went from being a newspaper reporter to a McKinsey & Co. consultant. When I look back in 20 years, I'm certain that my time at Darden will be the critical turning point in my career."
Adam Duggins (MBA '08)
Adam Duggins (MBA '08)
Undergraduate education: College of William & Mary
Undergraduate major: Finance
Company: Bain & Company
Role: Case Team Leader
Location: Atlanta, GA
"My education at Darden was a turning point in terms of how I thought about my career. Instead of being singularly focused in one area, I realized that there is so much potential for me to learn in several different functions and industries. I came in with a finance focus, but soon found interest in areas such as marketing and operations. As a Darden alumnus, I am confident in my abilities to take on opportunities in many different functions and fields."
Tanesha Duncan
Tanesha Duncan (MBA '10)
Undergraduate education: University of Pennsylvania
Undergraduate major: Business
Company: Johnson & Johnson
Role: Sr. Financial Analyst, MBA LDP Program
Location: Raritan, NJ
“Attending Darden was the best investment I’ve made in myself and my career to date. I’ve built lifelong relationships with my classmates, staff, faculty and alumni, and that sense of community is one of Darden’s differentiating features. The classroom experience and the case-based teaching method will stretch you regardless of your prior knowledge and prepared me for the high expectations of my current position.”
Darren Fultz (MBA '06)
Undergraduate education: University of California, Berkeley
Undergraduate major: Industrial Engineering, Operations Research
Company: Dorilton Capital
Role: Vice President
Location: New York, NY
"I fell in love with Charlottesville during my time at Darden. I most enjoyed being part of the small, tight-knit community at Darden that enabled me to forge solid relationships with my classmates that I will have for the rest of my life."
Oracio Gonzalez
Oracio Gonzalez (MBA '10)
Undergraduate education: University of California, Irvine
Undergraduate major: Political Science
Company: Craton Equity Partners, cleantech private equity
Role: Associate
Location: Brentwood, CA
"It's the difference between learning how the world should work and how it actually works. Darden's emphasis on real-world business training gave me the confidence and tools to hit the ground running on day one and as a career switcher (I had previously worked as a legislative analyst) this was paramount."
Kevin Kosefeski (MBA '08)
Kevin Kosefeski (MBA '08)
Undergraduate education: U.S. Air Force Academy
Undergraduate major: Business Administration
Company: Danaher
Role: Product Manager, Marketing
Location: Ft. Collins, CO
"My Darden education allowed me to bridge the gap between my military career and the civilian business world. The case method, combined with the variety and depth of talent demonstrated by my classmates, introduced me to diverse perspectives which made me a better leader. The rigor of the course work gave me the tools I needed to have immediate, significant impact in my first role after graduation. The small class size and cooperative atmosphere allowed me to form lasting friendships with both classmates and professors. The time I spent at Darden was some of the most rewarding I have experienced."
Mandy Lozano (MBA '09)
Mandy Lozano (MBA '09)
Undergraduate education: University of Puget Sound
Undergraduate major: Studio Art
Company: Frito Lay
Role: Brand Management
Location: Dallas, TX
"Darden gave me a rigorous run through the fundamentals of brand management. That, in conjunction with the excellent Career Development Center coaches with brand management backgrounds, prepared me splendidly for interviews not only in brand management, but also a bit of consulting. I really appreciate the way that the students, faculty, administration, and alumni band together to prepare MBA candidates for a fruitful career!"
Tawana Murphy Burnett, MBA '04
Tawana Murphy Burnett (MBA '04)
Undergraduate education: Rutgers University
Undergraduate major: English
Company: Intuit
Role: Senior Marketing Manager
Location: Mountain View, CA
Tanya Perez (MBA '02)
Undergraduate major: Chemical Engineering
Company: BNP Paribas Fortis Bank
Role: Senior Credit Training Officer
Location: Brussels, Belgium
"I went to Darden intending to become an Operations manager, and I came out a Global Relationship Banker for Citibank NY! Finding a job was no major issue, even as an international student with no previous finance experience. Darden prepared me in ways that exceeded any expectations I had: The case method and the learning team reflects the way the real world is: here, this is our problem, here is the team, now just solve it. Charlottesville is a wonderful place, and the Darden faculty and staff are so open and available. Two years out of Darden, I quit my NY job and came to Belgium, and within a couple of months started my first job here, thanks to all the support and help from the Career Development Center. It's great to know you still have access to these resources even after you have finished your degree."
Allan Schrader (MBA '81)
Undergraduate education: Cornell University
Undergraduate major: Civil Engineering
Company: Lightspeed Aviation, Inc.
Role: President and CEO
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
"First Year was the most challenging, stimulating and totally consuming eight months of my life! It was foundational to my personal and business life in the decade that followed."
Eric Thome (MBA '06)
Eric Thome (MBA '06)
Undergraduate education: Clemson University
Undergraduate major: Mechanical Engineering
Company: Longleaf Capital Partners
Role: Partner
Location: Charleston, SC
"During my recent job change the Darden network was very active and supportive — all I could have wanted from alumni and professors."
Ashwani Verma (MBA '12)
Undergraduate education: Indian Institute of Technology
Undergraduate major: Biotechnology
Company: IMS Consulting Group
Role: Consultant
Location: New York, NY
“My Darden experience prepared me for my current role as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry in three key ways: Firstly, the multidisciplinary problem-solving approach learned through the case study method now helps me in solving real-life issues faced by client organizations. Secondly, the knowledge gained at Darden through healthcare specific courses such as "Health Care Management" and "Transactions and Deal-making in Life Sciences" helped me in developing a nuanced view of the industry landscape. Thirdly, the intensive classroom and learning team interactions at Darden now helps me to be more effective in collaborating with client teams.”
Alumni Bloggers
The alumni listed below are either active bloggers today or blogged about Darden while they were students. Their stories provide an interesting account of student and alumni life.
Yumiko Almendras, Class of 2012
Yumiko Almendras
MBA '12
Yumiko's Blog
Brett Brohl, MBA '09
Brett Brohl
MBA '09
Darden Entrepreneurs Blog
Sania Chaudhry, MBA '10
Sania Chaudhry
MBA '10
Sania's MBA Blog
Patrick-Clifton-2010
Patrick Clifton
MBA '12
Patrick's Blog
Sierra Cook, Class of 2011
Sierra Cook
MBA '11
Sierra's Blog
Atish Dipankar, Class of 2011
Atish Dipankar
MBA '11
Atish's Blog
Filipp Gorelik, Class of 2012
Filipp Gorelik
MBA '12
Filipp's Blog
Jackie Grace, MBA '10
Jacqueline Grace
MBA '10
Jackie's MBA Blog
Bill Gray, MBA '10
Bill Gray
MBA '09
Bill's MBA Blog
Jonathan Harris, Class of 2012
Jonathan Harris
MBA '12
Jonathan's Blog
Jonathan's MBA Blog
Stephanie Horvath, Class of 2011
Stephanie Horvath
MBA '11
Stephanie's Blog
Paige Huetteman, MBA '10
Paige Huetteman
MBA '10
Paige's Blog
Peter Kim, MBA '00
Peter Kim
MBA '00
Peter's Blog
Mandy Lozano, MBA '09
Mandy Lozano
MBA '09
Mandy's Blog
Payal Maheshwari, Class of 2012
Payal Maheshwari
MBA '12
Payal's Blog
Angela Manese-Lee, MBA '10
Angela
Manese-Lee
MBA '10
Angela's MBA Blog
Christof Meyer, MBA '09
Christof Meyer
MBA '09
Christof's Blog
David Miller, Class of 2012
David Miller
MBA '12
David's MBA Blog
Mike Murphy, MBA '09
Mike Murphy
MBA '09
Mike's MBA Blog
Luis Obregon, Class of 2012
Luis Obregon
MBA '12
Luis's Blog
Mark Price, MBA '88
Mark Price
MBA '88
Mark's Blog
Sukanya Ragunath, MBA '10
Sukanya Ragunath
MBA '10
Sukanya's Blog
Anand Rao, MBA '09
Anand Rao
MBA '09
Anand's MBA Blog
Zoe Robins, MBA '09
Zoe Robins
MBA '09
Zoe's MBA Blog
Oren Root, MBA '10
Oren Root
MBA '10
Oren's MBA Blog
Sara Sajadi, Class of 2012
Sara Sajadi
MBA '12
Sara's Blog
Sayed Sameer, MBA '10
Sameer Sayed
MBA '10
Sameer's MBA Blog
Brianne Warner, Class of 2011
Brianne Warner
MBA '11
Brianne's Blog
Lily West, Class of 2012
Lily West
MBA '12
Lily's MBA Blog
