Davide Guarino, UVA Darden MBA Class of 2028
Age: 31
Hometown: Cassino, Italy
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Università della Campania – “Luigi Vanvitelli” – Bachelor and Master of Science in Biology
Pre-MBA Work Experience: Demand Planning Manager, Consumer Health/CPG, Haleon, 6 years
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
An MBA has been in the back of my mind since I started my career. My background is not commercial in any way, I’m a biologist by training, so I wanted to build real knowledge in business administration. At the same time, I always believed I should have a few solid years of experience behind me before applying, so I could actually get something out of the classroom rather than just absorb theory. Six years into my career at Haleon, working across three countries, that moment arrived. So here I am.
Why did you choose UVA Darden? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
Picking Darden was the easiest decision I’ve ever made. The moment the offer letter arrived, I knew I would accept. For three main reasons.
First, the case method. Simulating a real business context every single class is a genuinely different way of learning, and it prepares you for how decisions actually get made at work.
Second, the community and Charlottesville itself. There is so much history here, the role of Virginia and the Founding Fathers in creating the United States is my favorite historical period, and the Enlightenment ideas that shaped this country still feel present in the place. This is Thomas Jefferson’s university. That means something to me.
Third, teaching quality and employment outcomes. Darden is consistently ranked at the very top in the U.S. for its faculty and classroom experience, and its placement numbers are among the strongest anywhere. After speaking with students, I understood why the two go together.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2028?
Breadth of perspective. I’ve worked in three different countries before moving to the U.S., which means I’ve had to make decisions inside very different business cultures and adapt fast every time.
My scientific background also shapes how I think: as a biologist, I was trained to form a hypothesis, test it against data, and change my mind when the evidence says so which turns out to be extremely useful in a case discussion.
And finally, my technical expertise: demand planning and forecasting has been my bread and butter for six years. Whenever a case touches supply chain, operations, or how a company actually gets product to a shelf, I can bring the practitioner’s view to the room.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have never lived in the same city for more than two years. Ten cities so far, and the U.S. is the fifth country I’ve called home. At this point I’ve moved so many times that I could probably consult on relocations as a side business.
Post-MBA career interests:
Consumer goods, retail, and tech. What I’m really looking for is a role where I can use my brain fully, solving complex problems that cut across functions, or across companies entirely. Consulting and general management are my two target paths.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Take the time to really understand yourself. Be honest about your strengths and your weaknesses and ask colleagues for feedback, you’d be surprised how many things you don’t know about yourself (yet). That self-knowledge gives you confidence in the application, and it keeps paying off once you’re here: in class, in recruiting, in every conversation. Self-awareness is an incredibly underrated enabler.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would network far more, and far earlier. Networking is a foundation of U.S. professional culture, and at Darden you’re doing it every second of the day. I wish I had started learning that craft before I arrived rather than after. The opportunities are endless once you know how to approach them.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The sheer volume of writing. The essays felt endless, and I resented them at the time. But somewhere in the middle of it, I realized the writing wasn’t the problem. I was struggling because I didn’t know myself as well as I thought I did. I couldn’t articulate my story because I hadn’t actually done the work of understanding it. Once I figured out who I was and how I wanted to present myself, the essays came far more easily. What I would have skipped turned out to be the most useful part of the whole process.
What is your initial impression of the Darden students/culture/community?
Darden does everything in its power to make you feel at home. It started with the international student orientation in July, where we were taken care of on absolutely every front, we were even given a “Football 101” session and a tour of Scott Stadium. My first live game, against NC State, is one of the sweetest memories of these first few months. And learning the Good Old Song is a must. Go Hoos!
What student organizations have you joined/are you hoping to join and why?
I’ve joined the Consulting Club, the General Management Club, and the Retail Club. I was also nominated International Student Representative for my section, and I intend to run for VP of International Students Affairs within the Darden Student Association. As an international student myself, I understand the complicated logistics of studying abroad and the uncertainty that comes with it. I’d like to make that path easier for the classmates coming behind me.
What is one thing you have learned about Darden that has surprised you?
That Darden and Charlottesville are genuinely tight-knit. I knew this on paper, but I did not grasp how true it was until I arrived. Residents are extremely happy to have students here. They’re excited that you’ve come to be part of the city, not just to pass through it. You end up joining a much larger family than you expected, one connected to a wonderful community and a remarkable historical heritage.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
Learning. I’m eager to learn from my faculty, from my classmates, and from every employer I meet. Learning is my core motivator, and it’s the whole reason I’m at Darden today.
