Annelise “Annie” Espinosa 

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

“ENFJ, Kindle addict, avid horseback rider, and sometimes knitter.”

Hometown: Greenwich, CT

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was a certified EMT in college and part of the campus squad, responding to student emergencies.

Undergraduate School and Major: Clara University, Public Health

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: OpenTable, Sr. Manager of Engagement Marketing

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I’m proud of how I have built my career in marketing despite having no formal marketing education. I realized during my senior year in undergrad that medical school wasn’t the right path for me, so I found myself in the post-graduation “real world” with no business background or experience. I parlayed my Public Health major into Jill-of-all-trades roles in health tech start-ups who appreciated my pre-med background. Eventually, I stumbled into marketing and realized my passion for it. From there, I moved from entry-level marketing roles onto OpenTable’s Marketing team and almost five years later, I was leading OpenTable’s consumer email program for North America.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Intentional. Every classmate I’ve met so far is leading their life with intention — whether it’s the type of career they want to grow into, the impact they want to create, or the people they want to surround themselves with. I’ve found that my Darden classmates are deeply thoughtful about their direction, and they set a course to achieve it.

What makes the case method so attractive as a means to learn and become a better manager? The case method was attractive to me because I was (am?) terrified of it! Needing to speak publicly and defend my ideas and positions, all while learning something new, is way out of my comfort zone. I figure you can only grow from being out of your comfort zone, and it’s a skill set that I know I can lean on throughout the rest of my career.

Aside from your classmates and cases, 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? Honestly, it was the quality of education. During the application process, I heard time and time again that Darden had the best professors and learning style and was consistently ranked #1 for MBA education. Since I never had a formal business background – everything I learned was on the job, through my own research, or from my various (and truly wonderful) mentors – I didn’t just want the degree. I wanted the solid foundation and expertise that comes with the Darden degree so that I can make a meaningful impact wherever I go.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m especially excited to join the Women in Business Club!

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? It’s a bit of a blur now, but I’m pretty sure that I was only asked one question during my interview – “Tell me about yourself.” Everything else in our conversation was based around that.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I reached a point in my career where I was selling through my marketing strategies at a higher and higher level and I needed to concretely understand how they would impact every function of a business. Enter an MBA.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? A handful of other top business school programs — Darden was just the perfect fit!

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I prioritized school culture and quality of education. I wanted a school that was tight-knit with a family feel where I could gain different perspectives: no sharp elbows, just a supportive environment. I did a lot of research online and spoke with a bunch of current students and alumni from different schools and programs.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? Probably moving from Connecticut to California for college. At the time, I didn’t realize how big of a move it was and how it would shape my world. This includes the community of friends I would surround myself with, the industry (tech) I’d become a part of, and the fact that I’d stay in the San Francisco Bay Area for so long.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Big question. I think the answer keeps changing as I chase different ideas and passions. Hopefully tackling a really hard problem to solve and never settling.