Prospective Darden MBA students often connect with current students and alumni, and cite these conversations as having a positive influence on their decision to apply. This through-line of helpfulness is present throughout the Darden community, especially among Gender Equity Representatives (GEPs).
GEPs are dedicated to keeping gender issues at the forefront of discussion and fostering community within their section and across the First Year class. Continue reading to learn about GEP Hope Tierney’s (Class of 2026) Darden journey!
Hope Tierney (she/her/hers)
My name is Hope Tierney and I am from Fairfield, CT. I worked in retail buying for the last five years in New York, first at Bloomingdale’s as a buyer and then at ecommerce corporate gifting startup Snappy Gifts as a Senior Category Manager.
What attracted you to serving as a gender equity rep and can you describe the scope of your role?
During my recruitment journey, I connected with a second-year student who shared that the most valuable lesson she gained from her time at Darden was a newfound self-confidence. She expressed how reserved she was when she first came to Darden, but the case method and the support of her classmates brought her out of her shell. As someone who previously only worked in female-dominated workplaces and planned to pursue a career in a largely male-dominated industry, I initially felt intimidated and self-doubting of my ability to succeed. But her story made me feel encouraged and motivated by the opportunity the Darden curriculum and community fostered to grow my confidence and my skills.
Similarly, I felt so empowered and moved by the alumnae and the representatives from the Graduate Women in Business (GWIB) club who shared their experiences at the Women’s Symposium last year. Because of these incredible women I met during my recruitment process, I knew that when I started school, I wanted to help female candidates and current students feel as welcomed and supported at Darden as I did.
One of the integral elements that attracted me to Darden was its tight-knit community. As a gender equity representative, I aim to contribute to this sense of belonging by fostering a close-knit culture amongst the women in our classroom and ensuring that everyone feels empowered throughout their time here. To bring the women of Section D together, I host bonding activities outside of the classroom like wine nights and lunch-and-learns with our female professors. Additionally, I collaborate with GWIB, the other section gender equity reps, and my fellow Section D international and DE&I reps to ensure that everyone in the class feels well-represented in class discussions and through case materials.
What section are you in? What section traditions are your favorites?
I am a proud member of Section D! I love our class because everyone is so supportive and encouraging of one another. When someone is cold called, we always make sure to cheer them on and give them a round of applause before and after their answer. We also always make sure to have fun, which is critical to keep the energy positive when we’re talking through a tough case or we’re feeling stressed with recruiting. For example, one of my favorite things we do in class is challenge one another to integrate lyrics of a particular song or artist into their case response during class. It turns out Taylor Swift has a lot of applicable lyrics to business scenarios!
Favorite Darden experience and/or class so far?
It’s hard to choose, but the First Year Camping Trip hosted by the Darden Outdoors Club stands out as one of my favorite first experiences at Darden. It was such a great opportunity to bond with our classmates outside of the school setting and enjoy the natural beauty of Virginia. We went on a scenic hike on the Appalachian Trail, floated down the river and made a bonfire. It was a special trip where I met some of my closest friends!
