From the Slopes to Startups: How Madelyn Merchant is Carving Her Path in Fintech
“Pizza! French fries! Pizza! French fries!” Madelyn Merchant (Class of 2025) yelled, coaxing a group of preschoolers down a beginner ski slope in Sun Valley, Idaho. It was 2018, and Merchant, fresh out of undergrad, had traded the office grind for the fresh air of the mountains. She had always wanted to be a ski instructor, and here she was, guiding her students through the basics, teaching them how to steer their skis with simple shapes. But there was something else she was learning in those moments on the mountain — something that had little to do with skiing.
Will the Innovation Economy Thrive or Suffer Under a Second Trump Presidency?
What might the new administration mean for the innovation economy, including artificial intelligence and sustainability? The Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology at the Darden School of Business took a closer look.
How Taking Calculated Risks Helped Warren Thompson Grow a $1 Billion Business
When Warren Thompson visits new managers and leaders of the restaurants owned by his company, he often asks: Do you describe yourself as a corporate person or an entrepreneur? It isn’t a trick question. No real right or wrong. But Thompson (MBA ’83) clearly favors one answer.
Top 10 and Rising, UVA Darden’s Commitment to Entrepreneurship Gains Momentum
The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business has vaulted nine spots in Poets & Quants’ 2025 World’s Best MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship, securing its place at No. 10. It isn’t the only recognition for entrepreneurship at Darden. The School also ranks No. 8 on a recent list of top MBA programs for entrepreneurship compiled by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine.
Sharing business knowledge—research, analysis and commentary—from faculty of the UVA Darden School of Business
Press Releases
2024-25 Employment Report Shows Strong Career Outcomes
UVA Darden’s Dawna Clarke Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
In the Media
Joe Rogan Takes Center Stage in an Election Season Dominated by Podcasts