Matt McNicoll stepped into his role as Associate Director, Client and Learning Solutions at Darden Executive Education & Lifelong Learning in the summer of 2024. With a background that spans startups, private equity and digital marketing, Matt brings a fresh, dynamic lens to executive education — one that’s all about forging meaningful partnerships and sparking growth. We caught up with him to reflect on his first year and the journey that brought him here.
Can you walk us through your career journey?
Of course. I like to think of my career in three chapters.
The first was my startup phase. I kicked things off in DC, working at a data analytics startup focused on political campaigns. Then I moved to Charlottesville and joined a private investment fund founded by a few Darden alums as a private equity analyst. I really loved that role and looking back it’s fun to see how it introduced me to the Darden approach. One of my mentors, Matt Rose (GEMBA ’13), would share concepts from his coursework, and we’d apply them to real companies and potential investments. I also spent time at a pharmaceutical startup (working to raise capital for clinical trials), which added another dimension to my startup experience.
Next came my digital marketing phase. I worked largely with FinTech and retail clients, often juggling multiple roles. It was fast-paced and gave me a broad view of how multiple different industries operate and think about marketing strategy.
Now I’ve entered a new phase working in a role at Darden that pulls together things I’ve loved from past positions—strategy, relationship-building and learning. It’s been energizing to help figure what problems we can help companies solve and how to connect with organizations in meaningful ways.
What’s been your favorite part of the role so far?
Honestly, it’s the freedom to explore. I get to ask plenty questions — of myself, of our team — and then try to dig deeper with even better questions. There’s a lot of room to experiment, especially when it comes to building partnerships and shaping new relationships.
And the people — huge highlight. I’ve met folks from all kinds of backgrounds from all over the world at Darden. It’s one of the most fun and interesting benefits of working here.
I think lifelong learning is an invitation to change. Whether it’s personal or professional, continuous learning helps us shift into the people we want to become.
Any standout moments from your first year?
One that comes to mind came early on as I was chatting with Lisa Cannell and Allison Sellman — who I refer to as “Boss One” and “Boss Two” — and we shared a good laugh. That made me think, ‘I’m really going to enjoy working here’. That sense of warmth or camaraderie makes Darden a good spot to be.
What do you think sets Darden apart from other executive education providers?
Three things: the case method, the caliber of teaching and the level of care.
The case method is incredibly effective, as it pushes people to think critically. I also think it forces great engagement which helps teams retain what they’re learning. Speaking of, you’re getting to learn from peers you wouldn’t have otherwise – who can also become friends.
Our faculty are masters at delivering the case method in a way that’s both rigorous and relevant. I don’t know how the ratings groups decide we have the best faculty, but, I believe it.
Then there’s the care. When someone expresses interest in Darden, our program directors and operations team are all in and quick to look out for ways to ensure a program is a success for each person. They’re intentional about details, which makes the experience smoother, more focused and ultimately more impactful.
What does lifelong learning mean to you?
I think lifelong learning is an invitation to change. And while changes can sometimes be thrilling, they’re usually intimidating, too. Whether it’s personal or professional, continuous learning helps us shift into the people we want to become. Darden is a great place to pursue that kind of growth, partly because concepts are not just taught but practiced.
