Nat Higby (Class of 2025) chose Darden because he felt that the School was serious about nurturing community — now more than halfway through the Full-Time MBA program, he knows this to be true.
Continue reading to learn about Nate’s Darden MBA journey!
Name: Nate Higby
Pronouns: he/him/his
Program/Graduation Year: Full-Time Class of 2025
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Why Darden?
I came to Darden because I felt like Darden was very intentional about creating a community. Other schools rely on being isolated to create that sense of community whereas Darden goes further and has established traditions essential for community building, such as First Coffee and Sections. I also wanted an academic experience that would push me out of my comfort zone and enable me to grow as a critical thinker.
What did you do before coming to Darden?
I did in-house consulting for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Seattle, Washington. I primarily focused on doing operations and process improvement consulting and spent the last two years there leading organizational-wide DEI initiatives.
What are you involved with on the grounds?
I am the Career VP for Darden Disability Alliance (DDA), Events VP for Pride at Darden (PAD), and a Second Year Coach. I’m involved in way too many clubs. I also carry the honor of being one of my class’s Social Reps for Section E.
What is your favorite DDA memory so far?
Our DDA First Coffee! We made SO MANY cookies. A lot of people showed up to support us and our club.
What advice do you have for students embarking on their time at Darden?
My advice for students starting at Darden is to embrace this time as a chance to learn about new cultures and perspectives. As humans, we often default to sticking with what we’re comfortable with and sometimes that translates into who spend time with. Some of my best memories have been having dinners with my international friends and learning about their home countries/cultures.
Where was your summer internship?
I worked in the Health and Life Sciences practice at Oliver Wyman and was based in New York City.
What section are you in? What section traditions are your favorite?
A proud section E. I have too many fond memories but some standouts were the Talent Show, our section wine bus, and our section potlucks with the professors.
