Mike Dinneen

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

“I thrive in a team environment. I’m proud to be an American.”

Hometown: Boston, MA

Fun Fact About Yourself: I make sea salt.

Undergraduate School and Major: Colgate University, English Literature

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: ’47, Sports Marketing Manager

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2012, I quit my job in Boston to move across the country to pursue a job at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, OR. I spent a couple months networking at the company’s campus headquarters to find a position. I worked at Nike in retail, North American Soccer Sales, and ultimately Nike Running Brand Marketing. Taking the leap to move west with no guarantees and having the opportunity to work for the brand for four years was an incredible experience.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Personable. I’m continually impressed by the lives of my classmates and the diversity of their backgrounds. Each and every one of them has interesting stories to tell, and I’m always learning from them inside and outside of the classroom.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The methodology of Darden’s academic process is what attracted me to this school. I wanted to be challenged. There is no comfort zone at Darden. You are constantly learning and pushed to grow through the case method. The community mentality here is deeply meaningful to students, faculty, and the administration. Living in Charlottesville is a significant bonus.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Darden Outdoors Club

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I needed to build a skill set to make strategic decisions in order to contribute in a more meaningful way to an organization.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? My grandfather always said that pursuing education is worth every penny. Having an opportunity to be part of a class of Darden MBA candidates is an honor. I feel lucky to be part of the community here.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Boston College Carroll School of Business and UNC Kenan-Flagler.

How did you determine your fit at various schools?

The most important factor to me was the satisfaction of the students who were attending the programs. Their happiness and the quality of the academics say a lot about the two year experience. Throughout my search, I was specifically looking to join a tight-knit community and participate in a rigorous academic program. To me, the most effective way to understand a school was to talk with as many alumni and faculty as possible. Visiting the school and sitting in on a class was essential to understand the impact that Darden has on the individual student and the community of classmates.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Growing up as the youngest of four brothers has shaped who I am.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I plan to work in brand marketing strategy.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Running a small business and being a positive contributor to my community.