Experiential learning lies at the heart of the Darden School of Business’ mission — it affords students many opportunities to enrich and extend their classroom experience. One way Darden accomplishes this mission is through industry-focused career treks in fields such as real estate, technology and most recently, private equity.
During Darden’s fall break, the Mayo Center for Asset Management sponsored and led the inaugural Private Equity Trek to New York City. Against the backdrop of the financial district, 20 Darden MBA students spent an immersive week in the world of private equity through firm visits and alumni-led discussions.
Continue reading to hear about this trek’s impact!
Connecting with Darden Alumni
The trek included a variety of visits to leading private equity firms, where students met with Darden alumni and industry experts who shared career advice and insights on the investing landscape.
Visits included meetings with:
- Tyler Jayroe (MBA ‘05) at J.P Morgan Private Equity Group
- Maria Melchor (MBA ’19) at Apogem Capital
- Tom Decarlo (MBA ’12) at New Mountain Capital
- Kelly Thomson (MBA ’99) at Mubadala Capital
- Jonathan Wright (MBA/JD ’07) at Goldman Sachs
The group also gathered mid-week for a reception where they were able to connect with several more alumni, including:
- Jeff Curtis (MBA ’06) at Kearney
- Grant Moraven (MBA ’19) formerly with PGIM Private Capital
- Maeve McGilloway (MBA ’17) at AEA Investors
- Burgess Powell Cromwell (MBA ’25) at KKR
Advice for Interested Students
For prospective students interested in Darden and private equity, Sam Cancienne (Class of 2026) offers encouragement to participate in the trek, highlighting how much can be gained by participating and engaging with thoughtful questions:
“Absolutely do it. Half the job is just showing up. You are going to get way more out of it than you think if you come prepared, study what the firms do and have good questions ready. Now is the unique time as a student to ask questions that you can’t ask two years into the job.”
Aazum Shaikh (Class of 2027) emphasizes how connecting with alumni not only deepened his understanding of private equity but also revealed how broadly its principles apply across business disciplines:
“You have an opportunity to learn about the private equity industry that is integrated across many areas of business. Even if you don’t end up working directly in private equity, the process often intersects with other roles. In this case, it is helpful to be knowledgeable and connected to the several Darden alumni that you met that are seasoned in leading private equity roles.”
Reflecting on the Trek
Sam also credits the trek with expanding his understanding of private equity, especially after hearing the journey of Kelly Thompson (MBA ’99):
“Coming from my previous experience working in lower market investment banking, I realized on the trek that there are so many different verticals within private equity. It doesn’t have to be just on the buy side; you can also provide services to these firms… Kelly Thompson from Mubadala Capital showed us that you don’t need this typical background to get into PE;, it is accessible to anybody. She was a Russian major, incredibly well-traveled, and had experience living all over the world. Yet she was so genuine with us students and is a true testament that you can mold your own way into the industry.”
Since private equity was one of the fields that interested me when coming to Darden, I joined the trek because I wanted to learn more about the paths within it and the Darden alumni working in this space. The trek brought clarity to these questions and really demystified it for me.
Beyond the Firms
A highlight for Sam and Aazum was the opportunity for First and Second Year students to connect outside of the official schedule, whether at a firm or simply at coffee shop in between sessions. Walking along Park Avenue with other Darden students created a special energy and connection that made the experience even more meaningful.
Continuing the Commitment
Guided by the Mayo Center’s mission to advance asset management education and research, the first private equity trek exemplified Darden’s commitment to real-world learning by connecting students to leading firms and Darden alumni in the private equity sector. Learn more at this link.
This blog post was written by Darden Communication and Shared Services intern Abigail Stephenson.
