The Darden Report’s Most Read Stories of 2017

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business is wrapping up an eventful year highlighted by the arrival of its most diverse class of students ever, the announcement of a new head of admissions and a state-of-the art new facility in the Washington, D.C., area, visits from some of the most influential executives in business, and much more. Even in the wake of the events of 11-12 August, the Darden community showed its strength by rallying together in support of each other, the University and Charlottesville, Virginia.

Look back at some of the most important moments of the year with the seven most read stories of 2017 on The Darden Report.

No. 1: The 10 Critical Job Skills of the Future, According to McKinsey’s Global Chief Learning Officer

According to Nick van Dam, global chief learning officer at McKinsey & Co., the rapid advancement of disruptive technology will lead to massive job losses, as entire industries and companies and the workers they employ cease to exist. Van Dam’s research suggested seven million jobs will disappear between 2015 and 2020, with two million new positions created from the disruption. Highly predictive work, in particular, will be vulnerable, with positions such as telemarketing likely to be completely displaced.

No. 2: UVA Darden Community Embraces ‘Moment of Truth’ After Weekend’s Violence

The Darden community came together on Monday, 14 August to discuss the racism, hatred and violence that took place after white supremacists descended on the city of Charlottesville the previous weekend — and to plot a path forward.

“We are a global, diverse community that welcomes people from all walks of life, bound together by common values,” Dean Scott Beardsley said. “Here, we seek to understand and respect all points of view and train global, responsible leaders who have to lead in this really complicated context we have in the world.”

No. 3: UVA Darden Announces New Facilities in Washington DC Area

The Darden School, which over the past two years has steadily built its presence in the global gateway of Washington, D.C., will occupy the 30th and 31st floors of the modern high-rise at 1100 Wilson Boulevard in the Rosslyn district of Arlington, Virginia. The new 40,000-square-foot space, which will open in spring 2018, was made possible by a gift from Sands Capital Management Founder and Chairman Frank Sands Sr. (MBA ’63) and CEO and Chief Investment Officer Frank Sands Jr. (MBA ’94). The 31st floor will be named the Sands Family Grounds in their honor.

No. 4: UVA Darden Names Dawna Clarke New Head of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid

Darden selected Dawna Clarke as executive director of admissions and financial aid. Clarke assumed the role on 15 October.

Clarke joins Darden from mbaMission, the MBA consultancy founded by Darden graduate Jeremy Shinewald (MBA ‘03), where she has served as chief MBA strategist and senior consultant. Previously, Clarke served as director of admissions at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College for 11 years. Prior to Tuck, from 1990 to 2005, Clarke served in various leadership roles at the Darden School, including five years as admissions director and as director of alumni relations.

No. 5: UVA Darden Rises to No. 11 in 2017 Forbes MBA Ranking

Darden rose to No. 11 from No. 16 in Forbes’ 2017 Best Business Schools ranking of the top MBA programs in the United States. Darden notched the second largest jump in the rankings among the Top 25 programs.

Darden offered increased affordability to its Class of 2012 as well as increased salary potential, according to Forbes’ data. Tuition increased from the Class of 2010, which was the previous class surveyed for Forbes’ 2015 MBA rankings, but increases in scholarship support more than offset tuition growth.

No. 6: Darden’s Class of 2017 Takes More Tech Jobs, Reports Higher Salaries

According to data from Darden’s Career Development Center (CDC), the Class of 2017 reported an average base salary of $124,684, with an average signing bonus of $31,966. The figures represent rises from the average base salary and signing bonus of $122,806 and $31,370, respectively, reported by the Class of 2016.

Darden graduates went into a wide variety of fields and continued a growing trend toward technology jobs. Consulting was again the top industry draw for new graduates, followed by financial services positions and technology. Collectively, more than three-quarters of Darden’s 2017 graduates went into those three fields.

No. 7: UVA Darden Professor Offers Three Life Lessons in ‘Last Lecture’ for Students

As Darden students live through the First Year core experience with a section of about 60 other classmates, tight bonds form quickly. That much was apparent in early May when Class of 2017 Section A students, just weeks from graduation and more than a year past their classroom experience together, lobbied their First Year Marketing Professor Luca Cian to join them in class one last time.

Cian offered a lecture — a rarity at Darden where the case method prevails in the classroom — formed around three pieces of advice, based on his own experience, that the professor invited his former students to consider as they advance in their professional careers.