Who is an MBA for? Arguably, anyone. We often hear the phrase, “I’m not a traditional MBA student,” meaning that the prospective applicant does not come from a finance or marketing background.
Coming from an early career as a professional ballet dancer with American Ballet Theatre, current Full-Time MBA student Katie Williams (Class of 2026) knows what it is like to pivot. Learn about her Darden MBA journey below!
Name: Katie Williams (she/her/hers)
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Pre-Darden background: Ballet dancer with American Ballet Theatre
Post-Darden Goals/Plans
I have always been passionate about health care, and if I hadn’t fallen in love with ballet I would have gone to medical school. I am interning with DaVita this summer and am thrilled to have the chance to work for an inspiring organization that makes a tangible difference in the lives of kidney patients. Their mission of being the provider, partner and employer of choice has really shown through in all my interactions with the company so far, and they have a strong pipeline for leadership development in a collaborative and compassionate environment.
What section are you in? What section traditions are your favorite?
I am a proud member of Section E (Go Eels!) and we have a wonderful tradition of giving out a Dundee award to a different person each week for their special contributions to the class. I was also really impressed with how our section handled some difficult and controversial cases last quarter by assuming positive intent and approaching disagreements with curiosity instead of judgment.
Favorite Darden experience and/or class so far?
Our marketing class was extraordinarily difficult for me, but Kim Whitler was an absolute rockstar professor (truly every professor is!) and went above and beyond to help us make it applicable to our future careers. Seeing everyone’s competitive sides (including my own) come out in Darden Cup has also been very entertaining. Here’s hoping E takes the win this year!
What attracted you to serving as a gender equity rep and can you describe the scope of your role?
My career as a ballet dancer really opened my eyes to how outdated norms and traditional gender roles can be stifling. My experiences have taught me the value of leadership in promoting inclusivity and equity, and I aim to be a resource and support system to help women at Darden feel more empowered to challenge the barriers that limit opportunities based on gender.
