UVA’s Darden School of Business

Inside Darden’s New Program: The MBA Experience…Before The MBA

What does it actually feel like to walk into a real MBA classroom where there are no simple answers? How do you prepare for an environment where every discussion challenges the way you think about leadership, risk, and the future you want to build?

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to think like an MBA student without actually being one, this is your chance to find out.

A new program from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business will soon welcome a new group of undergraduates to test that out right there at the business school.

INSIDE THE SUMMER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

The experience is run through the UVA Darden Summer Leadership Program – a week-long immersive program running in early June this year on UVA’s Fairfax campus.

It’s designed for undergraduates who’ve completed at least one year of college and are curious about leadership, strategy, or business careers.

From the moment students arrive, they’re pulled into Darden’s signature case method, where real companies, real dilemmas, and real-time debate replace traditional lectures.

Instead of memorizing concepts, students will be dropped into business situations and asked questions like, What would you do?

Students will navigate tough decisions that they’ll likely see in the real world, like deciding whether a company should enter a risky market, or figuring out how to fix a failing product launch. They’ll present and defend their solutions, learning from experiences in a safe environment to make mistakes.

Throughout the week, students will dig into topics like strategic problem-solving, financial decision-making, marketing strategy, and leadership communication. This is all about gaining confidence under pressure.

Guiding that experience is a lineup of All-Star Darden faculty, including Luca Cian, Tim Laseter, Anna McKean, Meghan Murray, and Chris Parker. Each brings a different angle like strategy, leadership, marketing, decision-making. All-in-all, they’ll push students to think, speak, and decide like business leaders.

This program will be a great experience for those looking to preview the intensity, collaboration, and uncertainty of a real business program. It offers a chance to explore these dynamics before making their next move toward industry or further education.

© Copyright 2026 Poets & Quants. All rights reserved. This article may not be republished, rewritten or otherwise distributed without written permission. To reprint or license this article or any content from Poets & Quants, please submit your request HERE.