Owl Have You Know: Recent Episodes
Rice Business Alumni
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business Alumni to share stories of alumni, faculty, students and the business community. Owl Have You Know strives to exhibit the global, diverse and inclusive Rice Business community, provide a platform for faculty or the school to publicize research or news, share examples of the Rice Business experience for prospective students and support the greater Houston start-up community.
Born and raised in Mexico, Daniel Gutierrez knew from an early age he wanted to build a career in economics.
In 2009, Daniel and his wife moved to San Antonio to join the North American Development Bank as a senior analysis and structuring specialist. North American Development Bank is a binational financial institution, established by the governments of the U.S. and Mexico, that supports the development of infrastructure in the areas of potable water, wastewater treatment and solid waste, as well as projects aimed at improving air quality, conserving water, reducing energy consumption and developing renewable energy sources for communities located in the U.S.- Mexico border region.
While in this role, Daniel decided to pursue his MBA and joined the Professional MBA program at Rice Business in 2012. Since graduating, Daniel has remained with North American Development Bank, and is currently the associate director of asset management.
He joins host Maya Pomroy this episode to discuss growing up in Mexico in the 80s during inflation, NAFTA, how going to Rice Business’ Diversity Preview Weekend changes his life's path, receiving an Owl Award for best Capstone project for Ovarcome, a Houston-based ovarian cancer nonprofit founded by another Rice Business alum, and the lessons he learned during his time at Rice.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
How Mexican leaders can prepare for the future
13:16 - To build the next generation of leaders in Mexico, they have to think about where they want to develop their MBA studies or studies of where they can learn leadership, all the skills the MBA program grants, and critical thinking ability. All those skills will be needed in the next years—in the next 20, 30 years, the border region between Mexico and the US is going to become very dynamic. It's probably going to be one of the greatest times to be involved in an MBA program and to use those knowledge to make great things happen in Mexican businesses.15:40 - The importance of teamwork definitely was something that I recognized from what was taught to me at Rice. And I still consider teamwork as one of the important elements of my daily working life. On his evolving interest on artificial intelligence
21:41 - I'm excited about all that kind of wave of artificial intelligence coming up and bringing every debate.
Copyright issues, schools that are worried that students will use that technology to present their essays, stuff like that. But the real discussion is how are we going to train the next generation to use or leverage this technology. For the betterment of human beings, for the betterment of humanity. Show Links:
- North American Development Bank
- Ovarcome
- Transcript
Guest Profile:
- Daniel’s LinkedIn
Climate change is on the news and in our faces every day, from wildfires to record-breaking heat waves. And today, we are talking to a Rice grad who’s working to combat these developments, through clean energy, carbon management and venture capital investments.
Phoebe Wang is a cleantech venture capitalist who serves as an investment partner at the Amazon Climate Pledge Fund. Previously, she was an investment director at Shell Ventures where she led investments in early- and late-stage startups working on technologies to accelerate the energy transition, including in the areas of hydrogen, carbon management, energy storage, mobility, and power.
During her 10-year tenure as a venture capital investor, Phoebe has invested more than $150 million in frontier technology startups such as Antora, Celadyne, ZeroAvia, and many, many more.
In another episode from our 2023 Alumni Reunion series, host Maya Pomroy ’22 and Phoebe chat about her passion for fighting climate change for the future generations, her work with Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, and winning a C3E business award.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
Paving the way for a sustainable future in clean energy and climate control
11:33 [Maya]: So you were very optimistic about clean energy and climate control, so we can shift it back to having clean air for everyone. So, what progress do you hope to see over the next few years? What are you most excited about?11:49 [Phoebe Wang]: So right now, whenever we are looking at technology, we have a lens of whether, when at the mature stage, the technology can sequest or can abate gigaton equivalent of CO2 because we need to have that level, so that we can move towards, a future that is livable for our next generations. So that's something not very easy to do. But fortunately, we have a ton of innovation, a ton of entrepreneurs, and a ton of venture capital coming into this industry. Nurturing unicorns, jobs, and sustainability through strategic investments
04:13 - So far, I’ve invested in over 30 companies out of those, three are unicorns and have created tremendous job opportunities in local markets. And then also have had a big impact on the carbon markets. We're now looking at a lot of different areas with the CO2 lens. And, in addition to that, we’re looking at how to preserve biodiversity because we don't want to have unintended consequences if we only apply the carbon lens when we make investments.On the roots of her interest in clean tech
01:35 - My interest in cleantech, or what we call climate tech, stems early on – like when I was very little. I grew up in Asia, and then, if you see over there, pollution is such an important issue. And it is actually a global issue now. So, back then, I almost did environmental engineering, but the job market was not very good that decade ago. So, I actually switched over to material science engineering. Now, it's kind of coming full circle that I'm looking at investments in climate tech. Show Links:
- Transcript
Guest Profile:
- Phoebe Wang on LinkedIn
- Phoebe Wang - C3E
It’s not everyday you talk to a reporter with an MBA.
Kalyn Norwood is Hearst Television’s White House Correspondent. She joined the company’s Washington Bureau in July 2022, right after earning her MBA at Rice Business. An Emmy award-winning journalist, Kalyn landed in Washington D.C. after a stint in Albuquerque, where she worked as an anchor/reporter at KOAT, covering the state of New Mexico. She helped lead the station’s election coverage, as well as President Biden’s visit to the state.
Host Maya Pomroy turns the tables on Kalyn and asks her a few questions about her unique and unconventional flight path from being in front of the camera to hitting the books at Rice. Kalyn shares a day in the life of a Washington D.C. correspondent and how her Rice education has strengthened her ability and understanding of her craft.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
Despite being different, you must pursue your goals
23:32 - Don't be intimidated by how things are right now and close yourself off to a certain career path or position because you haven't seen anyone that looks like you doing the job. You could be that first. So prepare as if you're able to do the job, and hopefully, by the time you get there, you can be someone that other young girls look up to. Navigating the role of journalism with the rise of social media
26:09 - The role of local journalists and those that air on local TV stations, like the work we do here at Hearst TV, is to provide that value and background. So we did the digging, we did the research. We talked to both sides, Republicans and Democrats, on this issue. You saw the headline, but here's the full story, as much as we can give. Like, here's the rest of the story. Here's what both of your interested lawmakers are saying on this. And if you continue to do a great job to provide value to people, they'll watch your stuff. Diversity is an asset
22:22 - To me, diversity is only an asset. Not a liability because you're representing a community that's part of America's society. It should only be seen as an asset because there's more that connects us all.Why do we have different views genetically modified food
27:50 - I'm so grateful that I decided to go back and get my MBA because I feel I have a better understanding of how the world works. I said at the beginning that everything's a business, but it is true. I think you'll understand your bosses better and the decisions that they make, and hopefully, you can provide value to whatever organization you're in a better way. Show Links:
- Transcript
Guest Profile:
- Kalyn Norwood | LinkedIn
- Kalyn Norwood on Twitter
- Kalyn Norwood on Instagram
We’re so excited to bring you another conversation from this year’s alumni reunion!
Tracy Dennis (00) and John Dennis (93) met the first week of freshman year as undergrads at Harvard and have been together ever since, even both eventually coming to Rice Business for their MBAs!
Tracy is a lecturer of management at Rice Business, teaching Principles of Survey Design. She started two research and insight agencies and is currently a lead UX researcher for Globalization Partners. John has been a principal, managing director, and managing partner of WoodRock & Co. since he founded the firm in 1998.
Tracy and John join host Maya Pomroy to talk about their lives together, what brought them to Houston and to Rice, post-Partio Lamaze classes, and why they continue to give back to the Rice community.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
How an MBA transforms lives and inspires people to give back
8:54: [Tracy Dennis] I see the benefits of my MBA in everything that I do every single day. I see it at work, I see it at home, I see it with our daughters, who are in their early careers. You know, I feel like I have benefited immensely from my MBA, and I'm grateful. I really want to give back because of it, and I want to just continue to be a part of it just because it played such a big role in my life, and it's an exciting place to be right now. There's lots of great things going on.On giving back to the Rice community
14:00: [Tracy Dennis] I don't think of what I do with Rice Business as volunteering. I do it because I feel strongly about Rice Business, and I personally get so much out of it, and I want to give back to the school because it's given me so much.On what made John choose Houston
04:47: [John Dennis] While I enjoyed growing up here, I never thought I would come back. But I think seeing Houston through Tracy's eyes gave me the opportunity to kind of look at it with an open mind, and it's been very, very good to us.
Learning more through business school
02:13: [Tracy Dennis] I had a short career as a bond trader but had always wanted to go to business school to connect a bunch of dots. You know, there were a lot of things that I was exposed to that I wanted to learn more about but just never had the time to do. And so, for me, business school was the opportunity to do that. Show Links:
- Globalization Partners
- WoodRock & Co.
- Transcript
Guest Profile:
- Tracy Dennis | LinkedIn
- John Dennis | LinkedIn
Turner Hoff grew up in a family of real estate entrepreneurs. When he was young, his goal was to work in construction like his father. After undergrad, he spent two years working with his father, redeveloping and flipping single-family homes in Houston, and joined Rice Business’ Full-Time MBA program in 2011, seeking a deeper understanding of real estate finance and professional experience in the field.
Shortly after leaving Rice and moving to D.C., Turner met Ariane Valle – his girlfriend and the co-founder of their food delivery service Vegetable and Butcher. They shared an interest in health and wellness, and a “food as medicine” philosophy. Vegetable and Butcher is celebrating their sixth year anniversary this year.
Turner joins host Maya Pomroy to talk about creating a company to solve his own frustrations in the food delivery space, vertical integration, and how the food tech space has developed over the years and through the pandemic.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
Connecting and immersing yourself in community
25:32 - If you have some idea for the industry you want to be involved in, do everything you can to immerse yourself in that community. I've found that people are generally open to and genuinely enjoy being helpful to others. So just finding opportunities to connect and immerse yourself in a particular community. Rice and the business school do a great job teaching you what it means to network and different ways to go about it.Being able to grow efficiently as a company
16:33 - The efficiency component came from raising very little capital, and it's forced us to be a very resourceful, scrappy team. And there are advantages and disadvantages to that. But it put us in a position of strength ultimately in the end because we've had to be exceptionally resourceful to get to where we are today.Putting heavy emphasis on the product and experience
05:55 - In this market, it's not about being first to market but about getting the product and experience right, which is why we've placed such a heavy emphasis on it. Show Links:
- Transcript
Guest Profile:
- Turner Hoff LinkedIn
- Vegetable & Butcher
- Vegetable & Butcher Instagram
- Netcito
- Lilie Lab | Rice University
We took this summer’s reunion to catch up with some alumni right on campus, but before the partio festivities really got underway. One of those alumni was Daniel Barvin ‘18.
Daniel has held many different roles, in both financial advising and oil and gas sectors, and eventually earned an MBA from Rice Business in 2018. But it was in December of that same year that he tested positive for the C9orf72 gene expansion, which means he will develop ALS later in life. Daniel’s father, aunt, and uncle all have ALS.
In 2020, he began volunteering at I AM ALS, and also joined Coya Therapeutics, a clinical-stage cell therapy platform company developing first-in-class therapeutics for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, where he is currently VP of operations and patient advocacy.
He chats with Host Maya Pomroy in this episode recorded at ______ about his journey, his passion for ALS research, and building community and support online with others affected by this disease.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
Changing the future of what it means to have ALS through Coya
27:20 - We are in this age where we all know someone who's dealt with a neurodegenerative disease… [27:32] And Coya is looking to change what that experience is, change what it means to be diagnosed with these diseases, and show that through Houston's effort, through Rice's effort, through all of our efforts, we can change the future of what it means to have this disease and have it not be a death sentence. How I AM ALS helped launch the movement
18:01 - I AM ALS has the beauty of being patient-led, letting anyone who comes say, "We'll let you start a team. We'll provide resources in terms of team management." And that was just the perfect place for us to start this ferocious movement.Empowering ALS patients with his story
11:34 - The silver lining was after we came back from vacation, I was asked to do a talk for a high school, helping explain my story after an ALS documentary was shown. And I went and spoke at Carnegie Vanguard High School in front of the entire student body—800 students—and told them the story of my life. And the connection was palpable. And I said, "This is it. This is what I need to be doing."
On being intentional about relationships
16:33 - What I said when I was doing the advocacy part, I said I'm going to make less ALS patients. I'm going to make better ALS patients because I think that if I eventually get this disease, The fact that I'm able to plan, prepare, connect, comprehend, you know, this entire life of advocacy, and then I eventually get it, my mindset will most likely be far different than someone who just has to live with it. Show Links:
- Coya Therapeutics
- End The Legacy
- I AM ALS
- Transcript
Guest Profile:
In another installment of Owl Have You Know’s Flight Path Series, where guests share their career journeys and Rice insights, we speak to three innovators connected to the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The Liu Idea Lab is a hub for entrepreneurship and innovation at Rice University. Its director of strategic innovations is Hesam Panahi, who has a Ph.D. in management information systems but found a passion for startups and making entrepreneurship more accessible to people.
Hesam is joined by two of his former students, who are running their own business ventures now. Taylor Anne Adams ‘23 got her B.A. in communications and film studies but soon realized her passion for venture capital. She ended up at Rice Business and took Hesam’s course, New Enterprise, which she says was the most valuable class she took because of his hands-on teaching approach. Taylor recently co-founded a venture capital fund that invests in sports tech and entertainment, with a focus on female founders.
Delaney Berman ‘22, CEO and co-founder of Berman Foods, left her job as a paralegal to pursue her passion for plant-based food, specifically cheese. At Rice, she was able to hone her idea and get the skills she needed to launch her company.
Host Maya Pomroy talks to the trio about their career journeys, how ideas get shaped at the Liu Idea Lab Lab, and what makes Houston’s startup culture unique.
The Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
The Lilie Lab is not just a hub it’s a space for entrepreneurs
[Hesam Panahi] 8:21 - I always say, especially to the undergrads, that when you walk down these sidewalks, someone might be wearing a Brown College shirt, or a Wiess College shirt, or whatever sort of residential college they're a part of, or you might recognize them from one of your classes, but it's really hard to know who is an entrepreneur, who's interested in entrepreneurship. And so, what this physical space is designed to do is be that hub for that as well, right? So, it's not just the class; it's not just the co-curricular; it's all of that infrastructure that gives people the time and space to explore this. An important lesson from Hesam
[Taylor Anne Adams] 42:08 - The biggest lesson I've learned and what I continue to use every day, and what I say to founders all the time, is to just test it. Test it and see what happens. And you aren't going to know unless you do that. So not letting perfect be the enemy of good. On being a tool to help entrepreneurs
[Taylor Anne Adams] 11:45 - I'm very bullish about entrepreneurship and about entrepreneurs in general. I believe they have the capacity to change the world, given the right tools and resources. They can and will. So I want to be one of those tools and resources. Show Links:
- Liu Idea Lab
- The Collectiv
- Berman Foods
- Transcript
Guests Profiles:
- Hesam Panahi
- Taylor Anne Adams
- Delaney Berman
In another installment of our live Owl Have You Know recording series, we invited Ben Clemenceau ‘21 back to McNair Hall to discuss his career in market research, and how earning his MBA at Rice catapulted his pivot into consulting.
In December of 2022, Ben received an accelerated promotion from senior strategy consultant to business strategy manager at Accenture.
When he reflects on his time at Rice, the standout classes for him were Professor Haiyang Li’s strategy courses. Those courses inspired him to join Accenture post-MBA and prepared him to make an impact. Since joining Accenture, he has worked on several projects, including digital transformation, growth strategy, commercial strategy, and mergers and acquisitions projects. He also mentors Rice MBAs and students from his high school and alma mater, Millsaps College.
Ben joins host Maya Pomroy to discuss their shared love of racing cars, what makes Rice different from other MBA programs, his family connection to France (he's a dual citizen), why giving back to Houston is so important to him and the work of finding and being a mentor.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
On the importance of mentorship
26:18 - I find mentors everywhere. I look for mentors everywhere, and I think that, in the pursuit of a well-rounded life, you have to find mentors to help you in each of those different areas. And sometimes you find mentors that are so impressive and incredible that they will impact multiple areas of your life. And in other cases, they really do specialize, and they show you the path to walk for some specific thing. The value of community
16:33 - Community is everything, and the community is only as strong as the effort that its members put into it. And so it's very valuable to get involved in those organizations in whatever capacity you can.On pivoting career path and going to Rice for MBA
18:39 - It was great to be able to join the program and think to myself. I'm free to make mistakes. This is a space in which I can experiment with new career paths and new curricula. When is the right time to go to Rice?
39:53 - Are you seeking meaningful, disruptive change to where you are? Whether that's a measurable jump in, the subject area knowledge that you've got to be better at what you're doing, or whether you're looking at recruiting into something completely new, whatever that is, it's a very positive shock to whatever you've got going on. The status quo does not survive the MBA. And if that resonates with you, then you're at that spot. You're at that right moment where it's right. Show Links:
- Transcript
Guest Profile:
- Ben’s LinkedIn
- Accenture
Other Links:
- Professor Jung Youn Lee
- The Menil Collection
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Professor Vikas Mittal
When Natalie Smith first came to Rice as a full-time MBA student, she was under the impression that she would end up being an investment banker. But through her time in the program, and learning from different perspectives, she found a new calling in mergers & acquisitions.
After graduating in 2017, Natalie joined EY as a senior consultant for transaction advisory services, progressing to director, before becoming the senior director of mergers and acquisitions strategy and operations for EY-Parthenon.
She sits down with host Scott Gale ‘19 to discuss her early years working offshore with bp, her dreams of reaching the C-suite in the oil industry, working and living in China, and starting her own clothing business, Sisterly Village.
Episode Quotes:
Why she chose Rice
07:50 - In order to study for my MBA, I knew that it would need to be local. And so, Rice, to me, is the top school here. It was a no brainer for me. They're phenomenal when it comes to finance and entrepreneurship. They have a wonderful department. They have a strong network not only here in Texas, but nationally. And, that's what I wanted to be able to walk away with.Favorite things about Houston
26:24 - Houston is a very busy place. I like the Southern hospitality aspect, the ability to meet so many different people. The pivot from investment banking to consultant
10:42 - I didn't foresee myself ever becoming a consultant. And it's amazing that I've pivoted to consulting and made a full career out of it.Challenges working in M&A
17:55 - I'd say the critical challenge is the fact that this is a people business. And so there are multiple personalities, and there are multiple agendas when it comes to transactions and ensuring that our clients win You want your client to win. You want them to know that the advice that we're providing them is trustworthy as well as credible.More great things about Rice
27:55 - We're known for small cohorts. So the relationships that you build are a lot stronger. You know everybody and everybody knows you very well, and you’re family. Many of my classmates, they've looked after my children and we still hang out to this very day, and help each other with our careers as well. Show Links:
- Episode Transcript
Guest Profile:
- Natalie Smith on LinkedIn
It was Jackie’s kids who finally got her to pursue her MBA. She realized she was at a loss for how to explain what she did for a living to her kids, when their friends could easily describe how their parents were teachers, or worked at Target. It was time for her to pursue something different in her career.
Jackie earned her MBA from Rice Business, graduating in 2021. But tragically, during her time in the program, she lost her three children and mother in a house fire during the Houston freeze in February of 2021.
But resilience is deep in Jackie’s bones, having been raised by Vietnamese immigrants who fled Vietnam in 1979. Jackie was born in a refugee camp in Malaysia, where her parents were rescued after being found adrift in the South China Sea.
In this episode, Jackie dives deep with host Maya Pomroy (‘21) talking about her career path, carrying on the memory of her 3 children Collette, Edison and Olivia, and transforming the lowest points of her story into hope and action through the CEO Foundation, which supports initiatives that closely align with her core values of education, arts, health, wellness, and environmental and social impact for the children of Sugar Land, TX and beyond.
Episode Quotes:
Promoting positive environmental & social impact through the CEO Foundation
20:41: I came to the realization that why not continue to double down on things like education, right? And why not promote positive environmental and social impacts, especially among kids? Certainly, in my upbringing, I didn't learn enough about that kind of stuff. And so, I think the more we're able to expose kids to some of these things at a younger age, it'll help shape them as tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and change-makers.The MBA program as a shared experience
25:53 - The MBA experience was as much mine as it was my kids because I needed them to be flexible about certain things. When it came to every other weekend when I had to be in class, they were genuinely excited for me. And that fueled me as well.Inspiration for pursuing MBA
07:48 - At one point I realized, I was kind of at a loss for words when it came to telling my kids what I did for a living. The concept of payments and financial services is just way too abstract and really lame to kids. And I envied, honestly, the parents who could easily convey the value of their contribution as like police officers or teachers, or even like, so-and-so's mom, who's a director at Target. Why she started the CEO Foundation
22:57 - Is it really, am I really being responsible with those funds? And, I kind of just wanted to do right by everyone's kindness. But eventually I think I realized, I came to the realization that, why not continue to double down on things like education.Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Jackie Pham on LinkedIn
- CEO Foundation Website
During the pandemic, the hybrid MBA model wasn’t considered hybrid anymore, it became the normal way to work and learn. While Jeffrey Moseley ‘21 was in Rice Business’ online MBA program, he was also living in Santiago, Chile, balancing a full-time job, two kids with cabin fever and coursework.
Jeff took on his current role of strategy and operations manager for the U.S. Department of Defense in Santiago, Chile in March of 2020.
Jeffrey obtained his MBA from Rice Business in 2021 through the online MBA program, with a focus on corporate strategy, marketing and brand strategy. He is a Young Alumni Ambassador and is helping design a Global Field Experience (GFE) for Rice Business.
He chats with host Scott Gale ‘19 about joining the Army, what he gained there that he couldn’t find from the traditional undergrad experience, being stationed in Russia and his passion for international work and travel.
Episode Quotes:
Building community through cohorts
[38:37]: That's kind of one of the things that I think Rice carries forward is when that Rice alumni or that Rice student calls, you answer. And you don't get that in other programs, those relationships are built, that network transcends your cohort in your class, into cohorts past and present. The beauty of the Rice program
30:53 - The beauty of the Rice program is that it's intentionally small. And I love that about it. You can't have a cohort of 200 people or 300 people and develop those relationships in an online format that you can get at Rice.On living abroad
12:13 - There's only so much of a culture that you can really understand through tourism. You can spend a week or two, you can see some things and it's eye opening and everyone should travel. Everyone should travel the world, but living there takes it to a different level. You see more of the underbelly, you see more of the good and the bad. You start to see the people for who they really are.On being in the military
05:19 - That's kind of the goal is to break you down and build you back up and make you comfortable being uncomfortable and comfortable with those things that you never would've considered yourself capable of doing in a previous life. Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Jeffrey Moseley on LinkedIn
Lauren Miller started her first business as a student at Rice, and she hasn't slown down since! While getting her MBA at Rice Business, Lauren started and led a venture-funded company named A-76 Technologies (later relaunched as Aidant Brands) with a teammate (Tim Aramil) from a Technology Entrepreneurship course. After developing a business and commercialization plan for A-76, the company came in second at the Rice Business Plan Competition in 2014 and traveled to top competitions around the world.
Lauren was also listed on the 2015 Forbes “30 Under 30” in the energy category and has been featured in numerous local, national and international media.
She talks in this episode with host Maya Pomroy about growing up in a family of entrepreneurs & Texas ranchers, sustaining long term Rice connections, her latest venture as a new mom, and some of the roughest lessons she learn in her early days of starting a company.
Episode Quotes:
There is a lot of power in crazy ideas
17:34 - Everybody is looking at climate solutions at these huge technology-based solutions. And here we are, going, "You know what? Let's just give cows grass. Let's just move them the way they should be moved." And it's so funny because it sounds insane when you're telling people in the industry, but it's so effective. It improves profitability. It improves biodiversity. It improves the water systems, as I mentioned. And then they can make money off it, too.
On being a female entrepreneur
25:50 - There are so many investors now who recognize the benefits of women entrepreneurs because of how hard working we are and we can really get things done.
How growing up on a ranch influenced her career choices
13:23 - You really see the impacts of the environmental changes and what that means. And when those occur, you see what that impact is on the towns nearby too. So when there are huge droughts, heat waves, et cetera, you're seeing that first hand because you're actually looking at the land every day.
The importance of having a support system as an entrepreneur
20:01- It's so important not to get completely lost in your business and to have people who are still supporting you, so that when you are in a tough time like that, there are others you can rely on. You're not just sitting there, stressed, alone, crying out by yourself, going, you know, what's going on? You have folks you can lean on.
Show Links:
- Professional Profile at Sharks In Heels
- Lauren Miller on LinkedIn
Caroline Goodner is truly the intersection of her parents. Growing up, her father was a geneticist and her mother was an entrepreneur. Now, Caroline is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and led multiple companies in the healthcare space.
She is the co-founder and CEO of OrganiCare, a startup company that provides highly effective, all-natural, over-the-counter healthcare products to consumers, including a range of first aid, oral care and feminine care products.
Before founding OrganiCare, she was the CEO of UpSpring Baby, a growth-stage consumer products company that focuses on the health, safety and wellness of mothers and babies. In 2005, Caroline also founded MendelWorks, a mouse genotyping laboratory that served the scientific research community.
Caroline joins one of our new Owl Have You Know hosts Maya Pomroy in this episode, and takes us through the genesis of her companies, the importance of a network when launching your business, pivoting to women centric products, and their shared appreciation for Rice Business professor & mentor Al Danto.
Episode Quotes:
Advice for early entrepreneurs
18:13 - Get a peer group. Find some other entrepreneurs, women or men, to surround yourself with, to share stories, to talk through problems.
How modern women's healthcare has grown
21:02 - There's amazing statistics out there on how clinical studies didn't include women until the seventies. All the kind of studies that were ever done were, were really male focused. And so now we're hopefully getting more and more attention on women's health. And so companies like ours that are trying to help women in that way, it feels good.
On working in women & vaginal centered products
24:17 - I would say, if you can find a technology that you think can make a real difference, not just like a tweak of a difference, but a real fundamental difference in the way a consumer handles their healthcare, that’s something to really pay attention to.
Guest Profile:
- Professional Profile at Beyond Batten Disease Foundation
- Caroline Goodner on LinkedIn
- Caroline Goodner on Twitter
- OrganiCare
Starting an MBA program in the middle of a global pandemic is difficult already. But when Pierre Aristide was diagnosed with cancer during his program, the flexibility and remote options offered to him made it possible to graduate on time with the rest of his cohort and beat the disease. In fact, Pierre says if it weren't for his cohort, he may have had a totally different health outcome.
Pierre earned his Executive MBA from Rice Business in 2022, concentrating in entrepreneurship and healthcare. He is the co-founder and CEO of Impireum Psychiatric Group, an adult, child and adolescent psychiatric practice with locations in Katy, Spring, Richmond and Sugar Land. He is also the co-founder of Index Medical Billing Solutions.
Fresh off of graduation, Pierre joins host Christine Dobbyn to discuss resiliency, his path before Rice including almost 30 years as a U.S. Air Force Reserve officer, coping with PTSD and making improvements to mental health treatment centers.
Episode Quotes:
Advice for future EMBA students
23:12 - My advice to anybody going to business school, go in there with a purpose. Don't go in there and try to follow what everybody else is doing. Don’t go in there to fit in. Don't go in there to be known because you went to Rice, as a Rice alumni, do it because you have a purpose. And that purpose will be your guiding light. Before and after Rice
04:27 - If you ask me who I was prior to Rice, I would describe to you a whole different person.
On finding his purpose at Rice
22:36 - My purpose was to be able to do the same thing that I was doing in the military, in the business world. And Rice has taught me that. It made me a little bit more dedicated to what I'm doing now, because now I feel like I know what I'm doing, and there's no room for failure because I have all the tools.Going to Rice saved Pierre’s life, he says
03:30 - I tell my family, if it wasn't for Rice, I wouldn't be here today. Rice actually saved my life. Accepting me into the program and the support that I got. It looks like it was meant to happen the way it did, but it was all a coincidence. What he's most proud of in his current work in mental health
15:08 - When I talk to patients, one of the things they tell me that sticks with me is that I don't have to worry about the stigma anymore. I'm very comfortable coming here and talking my issues out and I don't feel judged. Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Pierre Aristide on LinkedIn
- Impireum Psychiatric Group
Growing up in New York City, Brandy Hays Morrison (‘05) had never heard of Rice Business School. But in the mid 90s, when there was a push for more women and minorities to enter the field of engineering, someone told Brandy she should check it out, and it was off to Houston she went. In her words, Brandy says she “took a leap of faith, and it all worked out.”
Brandy is actually a two-time Owl, earning her undergraduate degree from Rice in 2000, double majoring in computer engineering and managerial studies, and returning to earn her MBA from Rice Business in 2005. She has since served on the Board of Directors for multiple entities, including the Association of Rice University Black Alumni (ARUBA) and the Posse Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to bring more diversity and leadership to college campuses.
In her professional role, Brandy is currently the Vice President of Strategic Growth for Pluribus Digital, a technology firm based in Washington, D.C., where she leads business development efforts in the federal government contracting space.
Brandy sits down with host Christine Dobbyn to chat about her years at Rice, learning to advocate for herself, starting the Black Business Student Assocation at the Jones School, and the importance of being knowledgeable in global customs.
Episode Quotes:
Changes Brandy has seen in engineering over the course of her career
13:52 - So I've gone from being the only minority female in a room to now coming across other minority females. I say for women, there have been a lot more strides in terms of making sure that the pipeline is strengthened. And what I mean by that, is that there are more little girls who can see themselves as engineers. There are more little girls who can see themselves as software developers.
How The Jones School got Brandy out of her shell
03:25 - [Rice MBA] really transformed me from someone who was very much an introverted technical software engineer to someone who was more comfortable speaking in public and taking a leadership role and not being afraid to speak up.
How the Rice Alumni network kept Brandy going
19:43 - So I came from a New York city public school. And while I had phenomenal grades, I was very involved in school, it did not prepare me for the rigors of Rice undergrad. And so I struggled a bit. And so the biggest push that I needed was to keep going. And I mentioned the rice alum by the name of Russell Ross. He was absolutely someone who had a similar path as me as a student. And so being able to meet with an alum who had a similar story, I'm thinking, okay, I can do this too.
Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Brandy Hays Morrison on LinkedIn
- Brandy Hays Morrison on Twitter
Robert Lesnik got his MBA from Rice Business in 2000, where he was part of the school’s first Executive MBA cohort and was honored as a Jones Scholar. At this point in time, the program was mostly from the energy sector but from roles all over the industry.
Robert is now an executive advisor to the highest levels of governments and businesses seeking to develop policy and projects in the energy sector. His resume also includes a successful 30-year career in the private sector before leading the World Bank’s Petroleum Advisory Services Practice until 2013.
In his assignment at the World Bank, he managed the development of the business strategy and allocation of resources of the institution’s Petroleum Policy Advisory Services Unit and provided advice on a variety of energy policy topics to strategic government clients.
Robert joins host Christine to look at the state of energy and oil today, his career path from philosophy to the energy sector, roaming the globe working in international business development, and how Rice prepared him for it all.
Episode Quotes:
How energy affects every aspect of life
2:47 - Energy is built into everything we do. From the moment we wake up, turn on the light, to the stalk of broccoli that has to be shipped. And commercially throughout the world, it's just built into the price of everything.
Advice to future MBA students
23:50 - If someone says should I pursue an MBA, I would say absolutely. And in any way that it would allow you to become more of an international citizen of the world. I would certainly try to leverage that because I really think business success is on the long term, a function of, how you can leverage global markets to your success. What advice would you give a young person considering oil and gas?
21:37 – The media and the political systems have kind of created a false sense of, not only what the energy companies do, but how badly fossil fuels are needed to meet growing energy needs of the world. And so, it's possible for recent graduates to think that the role and the work of energy companies is short-lived, or at least oil and gas companies are short-lived. You know, that's just not true.
What Robert took from Rice
30:26 - I would just say that the homework never stops. Keep on learning and keep on using what you learned to develop your own success.Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Professional Profile at The World Bank
- Robert Lesnick on LinkedIn
A Houston native, Ruy Lozano worked for 25 years in the Houston Fire Department, the third-largest municipal fire department in the country, where he was an assistant fire chief and managed a multi-million dollar budget for transportation, logistics, procurement and infrastructure.
After speaking with the Houston Fire Department’s fire chief and realizing the chief’s progressive and innovative mindset was a result of his MBA journey, Ruy decided to pursue an MBA himself. In March of this year, after a nationwide search, he was appointed as the fire chief for the New Braunfels Fire Department.
Ruy joins host Christine to look back at their time in the MBA program together, the diversity of their class, the business element of public service and some of the toughest times Ruy experienced during his work with the Houston Fire Department.
Episode Quotes:
On balancing school and being an assistant fire chief:
19:33 - Was it tough? Absolutely. But there was also so many, there was so much cross-pollination. There would be times that I'm working and things that we were talking about in class were kind of coming into my workplace. So it was a huge advantage to be able to grow together, you know, I was growing as an assistant chief, I had only been an assistant chief for less than a year when I joined the program. And then growing as an EMBA, you got an opportunity to kind of see the theories being applied in practical use, but then you had that amazing cohort that you could bounce ideas off of.Reflecting on his time at Rice:
01:28 - That's one of the greatest experiences of my life, attending Rice. Not just learning from the instructors, but learning from the conversations where professionals were debating, dialoguing and just having an exchange of ideas. What makes Rice different:
05:05 - You were allowed to be vulnerable. You were allowed to make a mistake. And no one was going to judge you for it because we were all there to learn. I truly attribute my progressing into the position of fire chief to Rice and the amazing cohort we had.
Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Ruy Lozano on LinkedIn
Robyn O’Brien never called herself a foodie. That’s until her son had an allergic reaction one morning, and it sent her down a rabbit hole of uncovering what goes into the food we get off the shelves.
With a 20-year career in food and finance, Robyn has been called “The Erin Brockovich of Food” by the New York Times and Bloomberg. She is recognized as one of the most visionary voices in the food industry.
She’s the co-founder and managing director of rePlant Capital, a financial services firm scaling climate solutions and transitioning farmland to regenerative and organic agriculture by focusing on soil health and farmer profitability. Robyn is also an adjunct professor of strategic management at Rice Business.
Robyn sits down with Christine to talk about her relationship with the real Erin Brockovich, the loneliness of this kind of pioneering work, marrying intuition and analytics, and the importance of women mentoring women.
Episode Quotes:
How to keep doing work in this field when everything seems so dire
06:46 - We have inherited an absolute truckload of a mess. I mean, it is just catastrophic when you start to look at some of these systems and the crises that we're confronting, whether it's agricultural environment, water, you know, these fires, these floods, I mean, what's happening in South Africa right now.It's catastrophic but at the same time, the scope of opportunities in front of us to be part of that solution, to create a solution, to innovate, to drive change, is also enormous. So that's where I tend to put my energy.
Intuition & analysis
09:55 - Intuition is something that I think is such an important skill that is not recognized enough for the value that it brings. Can it be everything? No, you need to do the analysis too. So I try as much as possible to be unbiased in my own approach. I try as much as possible to play the devil's advocate on whatever assumption I take, because I've had to stand on that frontline.Women mentoring women
16:04 - I do a lot of mentoring of younger women because I did not have a female mentor. I now have women that I work with who are like sisters. There's a real sisterhood in the fortitude that's required of women stepping into some of these industries and some of these businesses. I think a lot of reasons women have imposter syndrome is because these systems were not created for us. They were not designed for our leadership. They were not designed for our roles as mothers. And so of course there's imposter syndrome, because guess what, you weren't actually the person they had in mind when they were creating, C-suite executives and the board of directors.
Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Faculty Profile at Jones Graduate School of Business
- Robyn O’Brien Website
- Robyn O’ Brien on LinkedIn
- Robyn O'Brien on Twitter
- Robyn O’Brien on Instagram
- rePlant Capital Website
At the time of this interview, Raisha Smith was set to graduate from the full-time MBA program in less than a month and was celebrating four years as founder and chief visionary of EveryDopeGirl, a platform that highlights the achievements of everyday women.
She’s passionate about helping women of color reach their full potential professionally. And she’s on the brink of seeing her hard work pay off.
Raisha joins host David Droogleever to talk about life in the corporate space, how she shifted her career path, starting and building EveryDopeGirl, and why it's so important to cultivate support and mentorship between women in business.
Episode Quotes:
How attending Rice has grown EveryDopeGirl:
17:51 - Rice is no joke. I'm not going to lie, the entrepreneurship classes –when you are applying something from class to, like, your baby and you're getting graded on it?! Man, like, I mean, goodness gracious. You go in thinking, “Oh yeah, I just got this proclamation from the mayor.” And your professor's like, “Hey, you need a little bit more work on that pitch. You know, you're not pitch-ready.” You know? So having those difficult conversations, getting legitimate feedback from, like, the amazing professors, like, it has really made EveryDopeGirl pivot in a way that – I would've probably still just been posting on social media.The mission of EveryDopeGirl:
11:53 - If EveryDopeGirl can ensure the success of female entrepreneurs, and then be kind of that catalyst and that incubator to get them in front of those corporations and those brands and those businesses, it creates a win-win for everyone. EveryDopeGirl is just literally here to be the cheerleader on the side. On the future of EveryDopeGirl:
23:32 - There are so many budding businesses out in the world that could be successful, they just lack the proper guidance. And so I want to be that brand that is literally linking women entrepreneurs in the pre-seed and ideation phase to VCs and angel investors. I want to get them pitch-ready. I want them to have funding. Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- EveryDopeGirl Website
- Raisha Smith on LinkedIn
- Raisha Smith on Twitter
A Texas native, Casey Sherrod joined the Army ROTC at the University of Houston, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies. A year after graduating, she deployed to Afghanistan as a platoon leader, later becoming an executive officer, then a commander of the largest U.S. Army recruiting company on the West Coast. But she felt a strong desire to return to Houston and decided to pursue her MBA at Rice Business while on active duty.
During the pandemic, Casey and her wife, Amanda, began partnering with animal rescues in Houston and elsewhere to foster animals in need, including dogs, cats, goats, pigs and calves. Casey started a TikTok account (@caseyriveter) to document their animal rescue journey and she now has 1.9 million followers.
Casey and David talk about what drew her to serve in the military, her impressive career with the Army, the parallels between business school and the Army, and how she got into the world of TikTok.
Episode Quotes:
Parallels between business school and the Army
12:54 - Consulting is a huge thing in business school. We constantly are reading case studies. We're constantly saying like, hey, there's this problem, how do we fix it? Or how do we come up with some type of solution to help? And I think as leaders in the military we're constantly faced with problems, we're constantly going into new organizations and trying to fix what might be broken or just to make things better than they were when you got there.One thing you learned at Rice that has helped you become a leader
14:51 - One thing that I learned in business school that has helped me as a leader is having this climate that enforces innovation. And I think that if people that worked for you are afraid to make mistakes and take risks, then you're never going to move forward. And that's something that a lot of startup companies and a lot of just businesses period have to understand as leaders, like there are certain risks that are ok. Because yes, it might set us back, but if you take this risk, you might also get five steps ahead of where you were before.On her new viral TikTok fame
22:24 - I think it's important to use your platform to try to spread awareness and to just share with the world like, hey, this is how great it can be to foster or to volunteer at shelters or to consider adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue before maybe buying one.Show Links:
Guest Profile:
- Casey Sherrod on TikTok
- Casey Sherrod on LinkedIn
- Casey Sherron on Twitter
- Casey Sherrod on Instagram
There has been no shortage of challenges for Rice Business Dean Peter Rodriguez in his six years in the role: Hurricane Harvey, a global pandemic, and a deep freeze. Peter not only led the school through these crises, but managed to foster major growth milestones along the way. He sits down with host Christine Dobbyn to reflect on the last few tumultuous years and discuss the future of the business school, who his mentors are, and a new appointment that will give him a front-row seat to what’s happening in the economy.
In addition to being the dean of the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University, Peter is also an economist and professor of strategic management. He teaches classes on global macroeconomics and economic growth and development.
Show Links:
- Faculty Profile at Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
- Dean Peter Rodriguez on LinkedIn
- Dean Peter Rodriguez on Twitter
In this special episode, get to know Christine Dobbyn’s story. She talks with guest host and Rice Business alum Scott Gale '19 about her passion for storytelling, how most of her work today is from the Rice Business network and her advice for prospective students.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk-behind-2.
In this special episode, get to know David Droogleever's story and why hosting a podcast is an act of building self-trust. Rice Business alum and guest host Scott Gale '19 finds out why joining the Navy was everything David expected and more, and why he starts every day by asking an important question: “Which frog do I eat first?” Check out the episode to find out what that means.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk-behind-1.
Aruna Viswanathan '01 joins host David Droogleever to discuss her pivot from engineering to tech investing and entrepreneurship, provide essential tips for beginner investors and talk about AlphaX Decision Sciences, the energy AI software company she co-founded.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e13
Lynn Lednicky graduated from Rice twice, getting an undergraduate degree in chemistry and then an MBA. He tells host Christine Dobbyn about the breadth of his career and how transferrable job skills can take you to places you might not expect. He also shares advice for startup founders and growth-stage companies.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e12.
Omar Matuk-Villazon, M.D. '18 joins host David Droogleever to discuss the direct primary care model, innovation in healthcare and what it looks like to build a medical school from scratch.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyk2e11.
Host Christine Dobbyn is joined by Jen Paquette '19, who discusses how trauma in her life has influenced her career path, her work with nonprofits and the military, and how it's helped prepare her to work with new business owners.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e10.
Host David Droogleever is joined by Alex Porter '18, the managing owner of Southern Yankee Beer Company. He and David discuss what to do (and what not to do) when launching a business.
A transcript is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e9.
Brad Olsen '06 joins host Christine Dobbyn to talk about how his philosophy background makes him a great investor, how education translates into the real world and where he sees the energy transition fitting into his business.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e8.
Sha Hornsby joins host David Droogleever to discuss her work at Rice Business, how to recruit top job candidates and the impact the Great Resignation has had on the working world.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e7.
Sean Self (Rice BA '93, EMBA '06) joins host Christine Dobbyn to discuss pivoting from being an employee to an entrepreneur, how Rice Business helped him on that journey and advice for budding entrepreneurs.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e6.
Dr. Alan Crane, Associate Professor of Finance at Rice Business, joins host David Droogleever to discuss his teaching experience, how economics and finance go together and the importance of research in the commercial world.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk-s2e5
Cameron Simoneau '05 and owner of Tri-State Running Company, speaks to host Christine Dobbyn about his transition from corporate life into entrepreneurship.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e5.
Abbey Donnell '17 joins host Christine Dobbyn to discuss how Rice Business empowered her to start her own company and the women entrepreneurship environment in Houston.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e3
Charley Donaldson '09 joins host David Droogleever to discuss how he used his MBA as a springboard into a new career, how important it is to be creative in a job, and how the pandemic has shaped the trajectory of CaringBand.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e2.
Patra Brannon-Isaac '11 talks about the process of being admitted to Rice Business, the impact her MBA has had on her career trajectory, and her involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the school.
A transcript for this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyks2e1.
This episode is part of a set of short interviews which were recorded during Alumni Reunion Week 2021. Be sure to listen to the other two Alumni Reunion Week episodes. Ian Hernandez '11 joins host Christine Dobbyn in the Owl's Nest.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk15min1
This episode is part of a set of short interviews which were recorded during Alumni Reunion Week 2021. Be sure to listen to the other two Alumni Reunion Week episodes. Matthew Marand '20 joins host David Droogleever in the Owl's Nest.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk15min2
This episode is part of a set of short interviews which were recorded during Alumni Reunion Week 2021. Be sure to listen to the other two Alumni Reunion Week episodes. Tamara Hughes '16 joins host David Droogleever in the Owl's Nest.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk15min3
Ritesh Sheth '04 joins host Christine Dobbyn to discuss his journey from management consulting to product management and financial analyst, and finally to becoming a yoga teacher and focusing on serving others.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk019
Scott Gale '19 joins host Christine Dobbyn to discuss how entrepreneurship is becoming a key part of a successful company and the future of Houston as the energy capital of the world.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk18
Dr. Tom Kolditz, founding director of the Ann and John Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University, joins host David Droogleever to explain why institutions of higher education don't necessarily deliver on their leadership development promises and what the Doerr Institute is doing to change that.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk17
The winners of our Apple Podcast review giveaway are announced in the beginning of this episode.
Pranika Sinha '04, managing director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Organizational Development at Greystone, joins host David Droogleever. She talks about what stops her from hitting the snooze button in the morning, how a sense of belonging factors into diversity and inclusion, and what unconscious bias is and how to recognize it.
A transcript of this episode is available at http://tiny.cc/ohyk16.
Kyle Judah, Executive Director of the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) at Rice University, and Sophie Randolph '22, join host Christine Dobbyn. They discuss programming at Lilie during the pandemic, Houston's startup ecosystem and resources for alumni entrepreneurs.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk15
Apple Podcasts review drawing rules:
- Only one entry per person
- Alumni of the Jones Graduate School of Business only
- US residents only
- Must leave a review on Apple Podcasts listing for Owl Have You Know between March 1 and March 15, 2021, inclusive
Joan Dunlap '02 joins host David Droogleever to discuss her experience as an engineer, the role of team chemistry in entrepreneurship and how problem solving plays a role in career satisfaction.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk14
Apple Podcasts review drawing rules:
- Only one entry per person
- Alumni of the Jones Graduate School of Business only
- US residents only
- Must leave a review on Apple Podcasts listing for Owl Have You Know between March 1 and March 15, 2021, inclusive
Mark Morehouse '01 joins Christine Dobbyn to explain how a chemical engineer ends up in business school, the role that private-public partnerships play in public projects and the effect that COVID has had on the sales practice.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk13
Apple Podcasts review drawing rules:
- Only one entry per person
- Alumni of the Jones Graduate School of Business only
- US residents only
- Must leave a review on Apple Podcasts listing for Owl Have You Know between March 1 and March 15, 2021, inclusive
Jonathan McAdams '01 joins Christine Dobbyn to talk about his career journey and working in finance. Along the way, Jonathan describes his experience in high-net worth and hedge funds and comments on the stock market during the pandemic.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk12
Will Robertson '05, Managing Member of Quintana Infrastructure and Development LLC, talks about investments ranging from energy and natural resources to data and infrastructure industries. Along the way, Will talks about philanthropy and why “if you’re not moving, you’re killing grass.”
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk11
Scott Noel, BS '02 and MBA/MEE '04, Director of Enterprise Solutions at One Acre Fund, talks about how a single donation to a Sudanese refugee inspired him to move to Nairobi. He also discusses his current work, supplying smallholder farmers with the financing and training they need to grow their way out of hunger and poverty.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk10
Rob Gaudette '01, senior vice president of Business Solutions with NRG Energy digs into what it was like transition to the corporate world from the military and what he’s learned about leadership. He ends with what he what he sees for Houston’s future as the energy capital of the world.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk9
Devina Bhojwani '06, president and co-owner of IDEA Lab Kids International, talks about her pivot from working at an international offshore drilling contractor to entrepreneurship within the education space.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk8
Ope Amosu '14, talks to host Christine Dobbyn, about his passion for representing West African culinary cuisine and culture in Houston through his restaurant, ChopnBlok.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk7
Runsi Sen '04 talks about her transition out of the corporate world and the life circumstances that led her to found an ovarian cancer non-profit foundation, Ovarcome.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk6
Sean O. Ferguson '01, former associate dean of Rice Business, catches up with host David Droogleever. Sean covers his career path from electrical engineering to pursuing a doctorate in global education and his current work as the associate dean of the Asia School of Business in Kuala Lumpur.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk5
Julianne Katz '21 talks about her decision to switch from a career in fine arts in NYC to a graduate degree in business. She also discusses what it was like to have to shift from in-person classes to virtual learning during a global pandemic.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk4
Karen Crofton '10 talks about her journey from engineering school to Rice Business to teaching entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado, as well as her role as an investor in data and financial technology startups.
A transcript of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk3
Host Christine Dobbyn talks with Aaron Knape '08, cofounder of sEATz, an in-seat food delivery app for live sports and entertainment events. Aaron discusses the height of the pandemic in the U.S. when most sporting events were cancelled and fans were not allowed in stadiums, as well as developments with sEATz as venues reopen to the public.
A transcription of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk2
Host David Droogleever speaks with Bethany Andell '01 president of Savage Brands and current president of the Rice Business Alumni Board about her passion for helping the corporate world get back to a place where people trust, respect and love business.
A transcription of this episode is available here: http://tiny.cc/ohyk1