By Lauren Wallace
“I realized the importance of social network, social power, and how to associate work with a story. All the professors were excellent, I [learned] so much [from] all of them.” (Luis Felipe, Executive MBA student from PAD)
This past week a new story unfolded in Charlottesville: the first ever International Partner Program with the University of Peru took place on Darden grounds! The partnership between Escuela de Direccion (PAD) and UVA’s Darden Center for Global Initiatives (DCGI) successfully commenced last week with a week-long program on “Networks, Narratives, and Innovation in the United States”. Forty-four executive MBA students and two faculty members from PAD arrived at Darden on Monday 3 October for five days full of seminars led by Darden faculty and guest speakers on topics such as innovation, design technology, social networking, and entrepreneurship.
“Innovation can and should happen everywhere.” (anonymous Executive MBA student from PAD)
Between class sessions and guest speakers, the students’ schedule included trips to local businesses and cultural spots, like WillowTree, Bold Rock Cider, and—of course—Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. One trip outside of the classroom was to another classroom across UVa grounds: a panel discussion session in Jordan Hall, where UVa’s School of Medicine is housed. The panelists formed an eclectic group—a physician-scientist, a research intern, an entrepreneur, and a professor—yet shared a common interest: the integration of business and medicine through innovation, human-centered technology, and entrepreneurship. Their diverse work and life experiences made for great discussion and greater awareness of the intersection of business and medical innovation among the visiting Executive students.
“Because of the discussion of the cases, especially networking and negotiation, [I have] been very inspired.” (Catherine Pacheco, Executive MBA student from PAD)
One participant left the week with a new goal in mind: to start his own business. Sharing aloud in the group’s debriefing session, he told of how he had decided to pursue his MBA because it was the next step in his career—to get a promotion, to be paid a higher salary. After a week of class sessions, company visits, and guest speakers all centered on innovation, entrepreneurship, and networking, he now has a new motivation for his degree—to perhaps start his own business someday.
Though the week-long seminar ended last Friday, it was only the beginning of the PAD-DCGI story to come.
