Mike Sheerin joined Darden Executive Education & Lifelong Learning (EELL) in December of 2023 as Senior Director of Business Development for military and government organizations. In addition, he supports other managing directors on the EELL team in the corporations and associations spaces. Mike’s work to bring custom learning solutions to military and government clients is empowering them to live out their missions and best serve the American people. Sheerin shared about his time in the role thus far, his favorite part of working at Darden and why lifelong learning is more important now than ever.
Can you share more about your career journey and how you came to Darden?
I was fortunate enough to spend over 26 years total on active duty. I served in the Navy, and then I had an opportunity to pursue some higher education and took my commission in the Marine Corps. Once I retired from active duty, I spent many years in the defense and aerospace domain in primarily business development, program management and integrated logistics support roles.
A friend and undergraduate classmate of mine posted an opportunity for a business development position within Darden EELL. I saw it was primarily focused on the military and government sectors and thought it would be a natural fit given my background. The opportunity also intrigued me because it was in the executive education space, and I truly believe that it’s more important now than ever to focus on lifelong learning across both the public and private sectors.
Since joining Darden, what has been your favorite part of the role?
It’s challenging for me to put my finger on just one aspect of the job, but I would say that it centers around the opportunity to serve on a team of such passionate, dedicated and ultra professionals. It’s been a fantastic and very busy first year and a half. We’ve been able to capture additional business, particularly within the public sector, and that’s due to the level of teamwork and cohesion among the group.
Unit cohesion has always meant a great deal to me, and the level of mutual support from folks at Darden is very impressive. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself with an organization that is truly making an impact in developing responsible leaders of the future.
The need for executive education and lifelong learning has never been greater, especially with the rapid pace of emerging technology, and the uncertainty and continual change present in both the private and public sectors. It’s something that organizations can’t afford to not invest in.
Why would you encourage organizations to partner with Darden over other institutions?
There are a couple of different factors. The first being the depth and breadth of our faculty and professors of practice. They are the best in the world at what they do and provide a world-class educational experience for participants. The second is Darden’s methodology for adult learning – the Socratic case study method, facilitated discussion and the incorporation of experiential learning across programs. Darden also takes a holistic approach that aligns directly with the vision, strategy and objectives of what these government agencies are seeking today.
We also take a great deal of pride in our ability to customize learning solutions. It’s been clearly demonstrated over the years, and I love the fact that our clients, both in the public and private sectors, view Darden as a true business partner and not simply a vendor with long-standing relationships.
Do you have a moment of impact or favorite memory on the job thus far?
I think it boils down to the collaboration and teamwork aspects of the job, not just simply with our faculty, but with the program staff, support personnel and facilities. We’ve been able to accomplish several wins already, creating two programs for a large non-DOD government organization and we’ll be bringing in additional non-DOD governmental agencies for onsite programming in Charlottesville later this year. To witness the impact these customized solutions have on both individuals and their organizations as a whole is truly fulfilling.
Trusted Partner for Mission Critical Development
With over 50 years experience working with U.S. military and government agencies, Darden has the industry expertise to provide leadership development competencies to meet the mission and strategic objectives that drive our partners in the public sector.
Why is lifelong learning important to you?
I learned very early in life the importance of continuous learning and having a mindset to never stop learning. In my earlier days, I didn’t have the strongest academic background, and I was blessed with an opportunity to attend a pre-commissioning program within the Department of the Navy. That year had a tremendous impact on my young life. It reinforced and instilled in me early on the importance of that type of formative education, and it’s served me well throughout my multiple careers.
The need for executive education and lifelong learning has never been greater, especially with the rapid pace of emerging technology, and the uncertainty and continual change present in both the private and public sectors. It’s something that organizations can’t afford to not invest in – not only for increased organizational effectiveness and efficiency, but also in providing viable pathways for continuous learning which support and enable retention, preparation for increased levels of responsibility and leadership, and professional and social-economic advancement for employees. Ongoing learning is necessary for leaders to continue inspiring and empowering others who will lead next. In the case of our military and government clients, lifelong learning is helping them reach their full potential in terms of serving the American people.
