Nora Allen is a Second Year student in our Class of 2019, and, after graduation, she will be joining Wayfair as a Senior Category Manager. We recently caught up with Nora to talk about her Darden experience. Check out Nora’s answers below!
What was your background before coming to Darden?
Prior to Darden, I worked in a few different marketing roles, first at J.P. Morgan Asset Management on the Insights team, and then at Merkle, a digital marketing agency. At J.P. Morgan my team produced all of the firm’s research and thought leadership papers, and at Merkle I managed digital media planning and buying for brands like Warner Brothers and Express.
Why did you choose Darden?
I think that Darden looks for strong leaders who are generous with their time and invested in their learning experience as well as the Darden community. My husband also went to Darden so I knew what I was getting into, and I felt like the school was a natural fit for me.
Darden offered a challenging academic environment and an incredible community. I knew the case method would challenge me to develop my critical thinking skills and prepare me for my post-MBA career. Darden has a very active learning culture and I wanted to be a part of it.
How has your experience been?
It’s been exactly what I’d hoped it would be. For me, getting an MBA wasn’t just about getting a different role—I really wanted to challenge myself and develop as a leader. Darden’s case method and core curriculum gave me the tools I needed to pivot into a general management role and land my dream job at Wayfair.
How do you think Darden prepared you for the role you accepted?
The Darden classroom helped me hone my critical thinking skills, but it also gave me the confidence to speak up and have a perspective or challenge different ideas. Wayfair is a fast-growing, dynamic tech company, and Darden helped prepare me to tackle big challenges that are constantly shifting.
What advice would you give prospective students considering Darden?
Come visit Grounds, sit in on a class and see what we’re all about! Darden and the greater UVA and Charlottesville communities have infectious energy—I guarantee you’ll fall in love with it!
