Amanda Golden

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

“Former journalist, aspiring investor, passionate about media and community.”

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Fun fact about yourself: I learned to ride a unicycle in my elementary school’s P.E. program (haven’t tried in a while though)

Undergraduate School and Degree: Colgate University, Bachelor of Arts – Major: Honors in Political Science, Minor in English Creative Writing. Graduated Cum Laude.

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Google, News Communications Manager

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? Sands Capital, Global Ventures Associate in Rosslyn, VA

Where will you be working after graduation? Sands Capital, Senior Associate in Rosslyn, VA

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Community Work:

• Darden Prisoner Education Reentry Program Instructor
• Second Year Coach
• CAV Angels Venture Associate

Leadership Roles:

• President of the Media, Entertainment and Sports Club
• President of the Darden Jewish Student Association
• Section Outreach Representative

School Awards and Honors:

• Awarded Forté Foundation Fellowship
• Darden School Foundation merit scholarship recipient
• Named Darden Venture Fellow

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m proud of planning and moderating a panel on the 2024 presidential election and its impact on the business world through the Media, Entertainment, and Sports Club this year. Bringing together notable political journalists from different outlets – who are former colleagues and friends – allowed me to create a meaningful discussion on the intersection of politics, media and business. Organizing this event reinforced my ability to leverage my journalism background and facilitate insightful conversations that benefited my peers at Darden and our broader community.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m proud of my time as a political reporter for NBC News during the 2020 presidential campaign, covering one of the most challenging and transformative election cycles in recent history. Living out of a suitcase for two years, I reported across all of NBC News and MSNBC’s platforms covering every candidate who ran for president, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and racial and social justice movements. The experience pushed me to adapt quickly, navigate complex stories, and maintain journalistic integrity under immense pressure. It was an honor to cover pivotal moments in history, and this experience deepened my ability to analyze and communicate multifaceted issues that shape our world today.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Darden for its case method and core curriculum, which was crucial for my transition from journalism to business and strategy. I wanted to build a strong foundation in business fundamentals while pushing myself to think strategically and analytically. Additionally, having experienced UVA and Charlottesville through my husband, a double Hoo, I fell in love with the community and the vibrant, supportive environment that Darden offers. It felt like the perfect place to grow both personally and professionally.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? One of my favorite professors at Darden is Yael Grushka-Cockayne, who has been an incredible mentor to me. Not only has she made herself available for guidance on coursework and career transitions, but she also plays a significant role in supporting our Jewish community at Darden. Her hospitality extends beyond the classroom, as she generously opens her home for Shabbat dinners, creating a space for connection and tradition. Yael’s support and warmth have truly enriched my experience at Darden and made me feel more at home during my transition.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? There’s never enough time to do everything you’d like to do, but I do wish I had participated in more competitions, particularly those focused on building out a venture or competing against other schools in case competitions. I did one through UCLA’s Anderson School of Business on AI applications in the media industry and really enjoyed the challenge of thinking through real-world implications in an industry I care about. However, I would have loved more opportunities to further develop and refine ideas, pushing myself to think creatively and strategically in a competitive setting. Business school is a fleeting amount of time to experiment and push yourself!

What is the biggest myth about your school? A big myth about Darden is that it’s solely focused on recruiting for banking and consulting. While those industries definitely receive a lot of attention, I’ve found that Darden is incredibly supportive of diverse career paths, both through their career services and especially through alumni. If you’re strategic in how you network and approach your goals, you can focus on what truly matters for your next career step – whether that’s venture capital, media or entrepreneurship. The community and resources here are flexible enough to help you shape your own path, no matter what industry you’re targeting, though it does take a lot of self-determination and accountability.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Charlottesville perfectly blends natural beauty with a vibrant community. There’s so much to enjoy – great food, local vineyards and breweries, stunning hiking trails and walking paths. It’s a place that feels both accessible and special, with the convenience of being close to a major city but still remote enough to maintain a unique, small-town charm. I’m definitely biased since I even got married here, but it’s truly a wonderful place to live during school.

What movie or television show (e.g. The Big Short, The Founder, Mad Men, House of Lies) best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? I think a show that reflects the realities of business is Succession – I also just loved it and recently rewatched it. It provides a raw, often brutal look at corporate power dynamics, family-run businesses and complexities of leadership. The show highlights how political maneuvering and ambition often drives decision-making at the highest levels. What I learned from it is the importance of balancing strategy with emotional intelligence in leadership roles, and how crucial it is to navigate organizational politics and maintain a clear sense of values even in a world driven by power and personal interests.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Several of my elective courses during my second year have incorporated and encouraged the use of AI tools for work. There is also a working committee of faculty and students to explore how to better incorporate AI into the curriculum moving forward. It’s been wonderful to explore how to leverage AI for data analysis and strategy development. What I gained from using AI is a deeper understanding of how it can enhance efficiency and data-driven insights. It has shown me how AI can be a powerful tool not just for technical fields, but for virtually every area of business, from marketing to operations and beyond.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire Betsy Brandon, a dear friend and classmate at Darden, for always going above-and-beyond to care for the community. She has shown me how to give back to both Darden and the broader Charlottesville community through her leadership roles and dedication to community service. Betsy’s selflessness and commitment to balance academic and extracurricular responsibilities inspires me to be a more engaged and thoughtful member of the Darden community. We have had the opportunity to collaborate on a few initiatives at school, including bringing our faith clubs together, and it’s been a wonderful experience.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

– I’d love to live and work abroad – I’ve travelled extensively but would love to at some point have the opportunity to live and work in a different country.

– One day I would like to run my own media company (we need better platforms and business models for news!).

What made Amanda such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Amanda is simply pure gold (no pun intended) and an incredible member of the class of 2025. Amanda is smart, honest, hardworking, sensitive to many stakeholders’ needs, and a natural leader. She takes initiative and is always willing to step up and organize events and activities that she believes would enhance the community and the learning for herself and her peers. It is clear that Amanda values not only the in-class academic experience, but also all the many ways in which the community members can learn and grow together outside the classroom. Amanda does not shy away from engaging in difficult conversations and she has been integral to making spaces for many in the community to come together to engage in these conversations as well.

From organizing sessions with notable national journalists covering the 2024 presidential election to discuss the current political landscape and its implications on the business world, to planning interfaith events to foster authentic connection and dialogue, Amanda has a vision and she sure does makes things happen. In addition to all of her hard work and efforts, all while being an excellent and dedicated student, Amanda is always positive, willing to listen, and help others when in need. She is a dear friend to all and never anything but 100% herself. She offers so much support to so many and inspires those around her to do as much good as they can do. Amanda makes me want to be a better version of me.”

Professor Yael Grushka-Cockayne
Vice Dean and Senior Associate Dean for Professional Degree Programs

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