Download pdf - MBA DNA - The MBA Full Time Program

NADISCOVER YOURS

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WHAT IS MBA DNA?INNOVATION? CURIOSITY? TENACITY?

PASSION WITH EVERY FIBER OF YOUR BEING?

THE DRIVE TO DO MORE, INSTEAD OF DOING JUST

ENOUGH? MBA DNA IS ALL OF THIS AND MORE.

IT MAKES YOU WHO YOU ARE. DISCOVER YOURS.

hat drives a person to earn an MBA? And what is the starting point? Within each of us lies the urge to excel, to

accomplish and to succeed. Where will it lead? If MBA DNA is different for everyone how do you find a match?

The same qualities that define you define the Rice MBA experience because the Rice MBA is about people: students, faculty, alumni, staff — people who care about learning, leading, communicating, connecting, transforming and taking charge.

Get a glimpse of the MBA DNA that makes up the Jones Graduate School of Business. Discover what influenced the decisions of our students, our alumni, our faculty and learn how the transformative experience of becoming a principled, innovative leader helps define them today.

Discover yours at: mbadna.com.

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As aspiring leaders, we join the Jones School to develop ourselves through academic pursuit and contributions to our community. To demonstrate our commitment, we will:

¥ Act with integrity,

¥ Value the differences in individuals, and

¥ Strive for excellence.

In accordance with this commitment, we hold ourselves accountable to be prepared, respect the wisdom of our faculty and peers, and practice intellectual curiosity. We will also hold our instructors accountable to help us develop the skills and intuition necessary to distinguish Jones School graduates as

superlative leaders. Upon graduation, we will demonstrate principled leadership in our communities and uphold strong ethical values while guarding the reputation of our peers, school, and profession.

HONOR CODERice has a high trust culture that obligates individuals to preserve our legacy of honor. Developing principled leaders starts on day one. Academic integrity in the form of the Rice Honor Code is presented as soon as a student begins the Rice MBA program. Violations of the Rice Honor Code are handled by the Rice Honor Council which handles any abuses reported. “On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this exam or paper.” – Student Signature

MAKE DECISIONS AND ACT WITH HONOR. MY TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF THE JONES STUDENT ASSOCIATION PROVIDED VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADING WITH TRUST AND RESPECT. WITH THE HELP OF AN OUTSTANDING BOARD, ALWAYS WILLING TO TAKE ON NEW TASKS AND EXPAND THE ROLES FOR WHICH WE WERE ELECTED, I LEARNED HOW POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE A TEAM CAN BECOME WHEN WORK IS PROPERLY DELEGATED AND MANAGED.

As aspiring leaders, we join the Jones School to develop ourselves through academic pursuit and contributions to our community.

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STUDENT MISSION STATEMENT

MUST BE FLEXIBLE, LISTEN CAREFULLY,

LEADERS

PROFILE

CHRIS WALLACEPERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Jones Citizen Award Recipient

¥¥ Rice University, MBA ’13

¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Private Wealth Advisor, Goldman Sachs

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hris Wallace came to Rice wanting to step outside of his comfort zone and make the most out of the two years in

the program. “While on the international trip in South America, classmates approached me about running for class president. I was humbled by their encouragement to serve in this leadership role. It was a honor to be elected president of the Jones Student Association.”

Crediting an outstanding Jones Student Association board, Chris learned from his team and noted “reaching out and forging relationships with other programs” as an exciting accomplishment. “Differing schedules makes it challenging for full-time, professional and executive students to interact. In an effort to unify the school, we achieved a new attendance record for the gala, which resulted in getting to know classmates from other programs.”

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THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, B.A. ECONOMICS ’06

PRESIDENT JONES STUDENT ASSOCIATION

PRE-MBA JOB: PROJECT MANAGER CHAMP INVESTMENT GROUP

ACG SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

INTERNSHIP: SUMMER ASSOCIATE GOLDMAN SACHS

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H E L L Om y n a m e i s

Jennifer Richards

As the leading business school in Houston, the Jones School must reflect the city’s diverse business community, and it is imperative to have students from all backgrounds who enhance the diversity of thought necessary during a time that calls for global thought leaders. Diversity Preview Weekend and Women’s Preview Weekend are two-day events that offer prospective students from all over the world a detailed look

at the Rice MBA programs. Activities for preview weekend programs may include an alumni and student panel, a case simulation and networking workshop led by Jones School faculty, presentations by the school’s Career Management Center and Admissions department as well as time allotments for socializing, networking and interviewing.

THERE ARE OVER 25 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT THE JONES SCHOOL. WE CELEBRATE THIS DIVERSITY DURING THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL PARTIO (PARTY ON THE PATIO). THE FESTIVITIES

INCLUDE EATING FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND WATCHING

PERFORMANCES OF A MARIACHI BAND, INDIAN BOLLYWOOD DANCERS,

AND CHINESE DANCERS AND DRUMMERS. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE

JONES SCHOOL VALUES DIVERSITY.

PREVIEW WEEKENDS

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ennifer Richards’ valuable experience at the World Bank helped inform her decision to continue her education. “Working

at a large international development organization introduced me to the idea of social entrepreneurship. I felt that business school could give me the skills to make a real impact in the world. I also have a dream of opening an African art gallery in Houston. I knew that Rice’s incredible entrepreneurship program could help me start and grow a business.”

It was her visit during Women’s Preview Weekend that solidified her decision. Preview Weekend was the perfect opportunity to travel back to her hometown to see the school and attend an admissions interview. “If I had to choose my favorite moment of the weekend, it would be the keynote speech by Emily Armenta ’04, who spoke about her luxury jewelry company, Armenta, which she started as a Rice MBA. I was amazed by how much Rice supported Emily in her endeavors during and after her MBA.”

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PROFILE

JENNIFER RICHARDSPERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Speaks French and Swahili

¥¥ Played NCAA Lacrosse in College

¥¥ Plays Violin in an Indie Band


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VASSAR COLLEGE, B.A. INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ’10

PRE-MBA JOB: SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST NORTH AFRICA

THE WORLD BANK

INTERNSHIP: ENERGY COVERAGE DEPARTMENT, CREDIT AGRICOLE

MBA WOMEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTJGSB SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

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VP OF EVENTS FOR MBAWI VP FOR THE WINE CLUB JONES BOARD FELLOW FOR CITY ARTWORKS

PERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Hometown: San Salvador, El Salvador

¥¥ Texas A&M University , B.S. Marketing ’03


¥¥ Pre-MBA Job: Marketing Operations & Pricing Dell Inc.

¥¥ Internship: Brand Marketing - Beauty Care Procter & Gamble

¥¥ Co-Founder of Chicken Kitchen

¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Sr. Director, Sales Strategy & Planning, The Dannon Company (Danone)

ederico acknowledged that an MBA prepares you for many things, not one function in particular, but that it’s up to you

to take advantage of that.

“Exploring your biggest strengths can be a good thing. Always be open to the possibilities. Don’t limit your view of the Jones School as a place for professionals interested in pursuing a specific career, but as a place that will make you a well-rounded professional. It will give you all the tools and open up many doors...then it’s up to each individual to make it happen.”

After two years at Dell, Federico started to see the difference between the people with an MBA and those without. He also noticed the way their careers were panning out, as well as their respective leadership skills. “I understood that to hone my overall professional skills an MBA was going to take me to the next level professionally and convert me from a “doer” to a leader. I knew deep down that I wanted to go into consumer products eventually, and an MBA was also that viable avenue that would take my career in that direction.”

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PROFILE

FEDERICO MUYSHONDTNA

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AFTER MY MBA

I STARTED DOING THE TRADITIONAL BRAND MARKETING ROLE FOR FRITO-LAY (PEPSICO). I HAD ROTATIONS IN INNOVATION AND SHOPPER MARKETING, BEYOND TRADITIONAL BRAND MANAGEMENT. WHEN I MOVED TO DANNON I CAME HERE IN MORE OF A HYBRID ROLE — MARKETING, SALES AND FINANCE — ON THE STRATEGY TEAM, WHERE KNOWING THE BASICS OF MARKETING IS NECESSARY BUT UNDERSTANDING THE INS AND OUTS OF TRADE AND PROFIT AND LOSS MANAGEMENT IS A HUGE PART OF IT. THE RICE MBA PREPARED ME WITH THE ALL-AROUND KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT MY TEAM TOUCHES WITHOUT HAVING TO BE NECESSARILY AN EXPERT IN EVERY FIELD.

When looking for an MBA program, Federico knew he wanted a more intimate setting where he could have a one-on-one connection with professors and peers. As he drilled down in his search, the Jones School rose to the top. “Rice University carries a lot of weight around the world. When it came to comparing the programs I was considering, it was obvious to me that Rice offered the best value, especially Houston from a cost of living standpoint as well the financial aid options available. All of this made the price/value equation of the program very good.”

Earning an MBA was a transformative experience for Federico, both personally and professionally. “I can honestly say that the Jones School changed my life dramatically. My business school experience at Rice was as much an academic experience as it was a social and personal learning experience. Learning how to speak in public, mastering my interview skills, learning how to make small talk with recruiters at Partio every Thursday... there are countless things I learned that together with the academic content, made my experience an incredible one.”

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TULANE UNIVERSITY, B.A. ENGLISH LITERATURE ’03

PRE-MBA JOB: U.S. ARMY, GREEN BERET

PRESIDENT, VETERANS IN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

INTERNSHIP: PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT DIVISION CITY OF HOUSTON

GRADUATE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, JAMES A. BAKER III INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC POLICY

hen Mike left the military, he knew graduate school could serve as a next step in successfully transitioning into civilian

life. “The more research I did, the more I discovered how much the Jones School valued both military experience and how many unique benefits there were to attending graduate school at Rice University and in the city of Houston. Rice’s Veterans in Business Association (VIBA) embodied aspects of all three: veterans, Rice, and Houston.”

Founded in 2011 by Naval Reserve Officer Jimmy Battista ’13, VIBA has rapidly helped transform the Jones School into one of the most veteran-friendly business schools in the country. In 2012, the Jones School and VIBA partnered up with several charities including the local chapter of the Fisher House to raise thousands of dollars in support of wounded veterans. “It really helps to have institutions like the Jones School that are truly making it a priority to embrace returning veterans.”

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PERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Speaks Arabic

¥¥ Author: “School Board,” an upcoming novel about Enron


PROFILE

MIKE FREEDMANNA

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VIBA WAS THE MAIN REASON I CHOSE THE JONES SCHOOL. I SAW A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER BUILD UPON THE MOMENTUM VIBA HAD INITIATED IN GETTING THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED. WE ACHIEVED THIS BY INCREASING RICE’S YELLOW RIBBON CONTRIBUTION TO THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED, FOUNDING THE LANDMARK RICE VETERANS LEADERSHIP SERIES IN WHICH FAMOUS VETERANS COME TO CAMPUS TO SPEAK TO THE HOUSTON COMMUNITY, AND BY CREATING AND ENDOWING THE MILITARY SCHOLARS PROGRAM TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL VETERAN SCHOLARSHIPS THAT COVER TUITION AND LIVING EXPENSES. AS A RESULT, WORD ABOUT VIBA AND ITS NETWORK OF VETERANS HAS SPREAD NATIONALLY.

The mission of the Rice Veterans in Business Association (VIBA) is two-fold: to provide assistance to veterans transitioning from military service to student life at Rice University, and to uphold a commitment to service by partnering with other student organizations, Rice Alumni, and the Houston business community to participate in and sponsor philanthropic events that benefit charitable veteran and military organizations.

As part of this greater initiative to recruit and support military veterans, the Jones School launched the Military Scholars Program. This program is the result of a group of generous alumni and community members who wanted to acknowledge, honor, and support those who proudly serve this country. The Military Scholars Program provides a scholarship and additional funding to cover tuition, fees and expected living expenses for selected applicants who wish to pursue a Rice MBA.

VETERANS IN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MILITARY SCHOLARS PROGRAM

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ith research that weighs in on the place of ethics in business education and the business world, Dr. Zhang

believes that “sometimes, especially in emerging markets where institutional frameworks are not established and laws are not rigorously enforced, firms are tempted to use unethical approaches such as bribery as a shortcut to build their market presence quickly. It can turn out to be a disaster and hurt the firms’ competitive advantage.”

As for CEO succession, another research focus, Dr. Zhang observes that “executive leadership and corporate governance are vital to the success or even the survival of any organization, particularly the publicly-listed companies. Senior executives, especially CEOs, are the symbols of the firms that they lead — e.g., Steve Jobs for Apple and Mark Zuckerberg for Facebook. External constituents link their characters to strategy and actions of their firms.”

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PERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Professor of Strategic Management

¥¥ Nanjing University, China, B.A. ’92 and M.A. in Economics ’95

¥¥ City University of Hong Kong, China, Master of Philosophy in International Business ’97

¥¥ University of Southern California, Ph.D. in Strategic Management ’01

¥¥ Mother of two children

¥¥ Married to Haiyang Li, Associate Professor of Strategic Management, Jones Graduate School of Business

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PROFILE

ANTHEA ZHANGNA

ACHIEVEMENTS

¥¥ Recipient of the 2010 Strategic Management Society (SMS) Emerging Scholar Award ¥¥ Associate editor of the Academy of Management Journal¥¥ Consulting editor of Management and Organization Review¥¥ Editorial review board of Strategic Management Journal¥¥ Representative-at-large of the Corporate Strategy and Corporate Governance Interest Group of Strategic Management Society (SMS)

RESEARCH INTEREST

¥¥ CEO succession and dismissal, executive leadership, and corporate governance ¥¥ Technology innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging economies ¥¥ Foreign direct investment in emerging economies

WITHOUT THE RIGHT STRATEGY FIRMS IN MARKET COMPETITION ARE LIKE SHIPS AT SEA WITHOUT A COMPASS. THUS, IT IS CRUCIAL TO CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE CEO AND REPLACE A CEO WHEN NECESSARY. APPOINTING AN APPROPRIATE CEO, DESIGNING INCENTIVES THAT CAN ALIGN THE CEO’S SELF-INTEREST WITH THE FIRM’S INTEREST, AND MONITORING THE CEO ARE ULTIMATELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

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fter medical school and residency, Shelley entered business school with no business background. She reflects on the

influence the Rice MBA had not only on the skills to succeed in the business world but on her career and thinking about the big picture. “It definitely provided me with the knowledge and analytical tools to do well. But more importantly, it helped me think through what I want out of a career and how I want to balance all the elements of life and work.”

As a consultant working in Geneva, Switzerland, Shelley recognizes the value of her MBA experience. “The class and discussion on change management was really valuable. As a consultant, one is constantly entering new organizations, trying to understand the critical issues and introducing change to improve the current situation. It’s relatively simple to come up with the recommendations, but much more difficult to convince others that it is the right path and to have them actually change their behavior.”

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PROFILE

SHELLEY CAOPERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Hometown: Troy, Michigan

¥¥ University of Michigan, B.S. Computer Science Cell & Molecular Biology ’02 MD, Medicine ’06


¥¥ Pre-MBA Job: Surgery resident, Baylor College of Medicine

¥¥ Internship: Summer Associate, McKinsey & Co.

¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Relationship Manager, McKinsey & Co.

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MEDICAL SCHOOL WAS GREAT IN TEACHING US

THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS AND DISEASE. HOWEVER, MODERN MEDICINE IS A MUCH MORE COMPLICATED SYSTEM OF PROVIDERS, PAYORS, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURERS, REGULATORS, AND PATIENTS. I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THAT SYSTEM FUNCTIONS AND WHAT I CAN DO TO MAKE THE ENTIRE NETWORK BETTER.

1. Do your homework — research the companies and think through why each may be appealing to you.

2. Practice cases — it’s the only way to get good at cases; practicing with other people is particularly helpful.

3. Practice telling your own story for the behavioral part of the interview — it’s as important as the cases; practice telling the story clearly and think through what quality about you that you want the interviewer to walk away with from each story.

4. Network — reach out to alumni from the companies that you are interested in to learn more about their experience; but make sure to do your homework about the company first so you ask good questions (and not the ones you easily could have Googled the answers to).

5. Keep an open mind — there are many consulting companies and experiences, not just the big few. Think about what is important to you and what you are interested in (industry, function, etc.).

SHELLEY’S TIPS FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CONSULTING

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ACTION LEARNING PROJECTDuring the first year’s Action Learning Project (ALP), students join a team of four to six in consulting for a dynamic host company over the entire second semester, with several intensive weeks on-site. With guidance from faculty and a corporate liaison, students study the scope of improvements needed and examine the company’s processes, then provide written recommendations and present findings to senior management. Project focuses have included brand image, financial modeling, new product development, product launch and strategy identification among many others.

BUSINESS RESUSCITATION – Inc. MagazineChloe Dao’s Houston boutique faced major financial obstacles. She needed a new perspective on her business and a blueprint for what to do next. Hiring a professional consultant was too costly, so the 2005 winner of Project Runway took a chance on a team of Rice MBAs and their Action Learning Project. Putting their skills into practice over one semester, the MBAs pored over Dao’s financial statements, interviewed her staff, studied the designer-boutique market, and surveyed customers to come up with recommendations to improve the business. Of their final presentation Dao said, “They performed CPR on my company, and it really was a lifesaver.”

THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW – Jones JournalAfter the ALP team, including Lacey Fluor Gossen, Mallory Engler, LaMecia Butler, John Levine and Jimmy Moffett (all class of 2012), suggested fresh ways to bring in revenue and cut costs, Dao continues to implement their ideas in her business model. “We are always working to reach the goals they set for us,” she says. The store’s name was changed from Lot 8 to Dao Chloe Dao to capitalize on Dao’s national name recognition. Last year, the store’s interior was remodeled to reflect the new brand, as was the website. “We updated our online shop and are working to make more product available there,” Dao says. As for the future, Dao hopes to see her line in stores throughout Texas and internationally in the next ten years. In the meantime, Dao recently signed on to become a judge and co-executive producer on Project Runway Vietnam, a spinoff of Lifetime Network’s competition reality show for aspiring fashion designers. Her Kirby Drive storefront is a top destination for Houston fashion lovers and she’s also a face of The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau’s “Houston Is” campaign featuring the hippest Houstonites.

For an update in the Jones Journal (above) or to read the full article in Inc. magazine (left), featuring Rice MBAs working on their ALP with Chloe Dao, visit the link below.

I WORKED WITH CHLOE DAO, THE PROJECT RUNWAY WINNER AND OWNER/DESIGNER OF LOT 8 BOUTIQUE IN HOUSTON, TO REVITALIZE AND STREAMLINE HER BUSINESS.

WHILE THE PROJECT WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK, IT WAS THE PERFECT

WAY TO CULMINATE THE FIRST YEAR CLASS EXPERIENCE AND PUT MY

MBA SKILLS TO WORK IN A VALUABLE WAY. IT WAS ALSO A GREAT

EXPERIENCE FOR MY TEAM TO PROVIDE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS TO A

LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS.

M A L L O R Y E N G L E RU n i v e r s i t y o f K a n s a s , B . A . S p a n i s h a n d H u m a n i t i e s a n d We s t e r n C i v i l i z a t i o n ’ 07 R i c e U n i v e r s i t y, M B A ’ 1 2 P r e - M B A J o b : Te x a s Re g i o n a l Re p r e s e n t a t i v e , U n i v e r s i t y o f K a n s a sI n t e r n s h i p : C o m p e t i t i v e I n t e l l i g e n c e I n t e r n , H a l l i b u r t o nP o s t - M B A J o b : S e n i o r C o n s u l t a n t , K a l y p s o

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THE BEST PART OF THE WARREN BUFFETT TRIP WAS GETTING THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO ASK HIM A QUESTION. MY QUERY RELATED TO THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE

THROUGHOUT TIME AND THE CAREER ADVICE HE HAD GIVEN HIS

DAUGHTER SUSAN ALICE BUFFETT. HE WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED

ABOUT THE TOPIC…IT MELTED MY HEART.

E L I Z A B E T H P E R E ZH o m e t o w n : C o r a l S p r i n g s , F l o r i d aF l o r i d a A t l a n t i c U n i v e r s i t y, B . S . F i n a n c e ’ 0 4R i c e U n i v e r s i t y, M B A ’ 13P r e - M B A j o b : C o m m e r c i a l P r o j e c t M a n a g e r, S i e m e n s I n t e r n s h i p : F i n a n c e a n d C o n t r o l I n t e r n , S t a t o i l P o s t - M B A j o b : C o m m e r c i a l A s s o c i a t e , S p e c t r a E n e r g y

AN INTIMATE MEETING WITH WARREN BUFFETT

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Every year billionaire Warren Buffett invites business students to visit him at his Omaha-based conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. He holds informal question-and-answer sessions with the students, which are closed to media and business professionals, along with lunch and personal photo sessions. Rice MBAs traveled to Nebraska for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Impressed by Buffett’s accessible, energetic

manner, students were also inspired by his advice about principled behavior, passion for “what you do,” and selflessness. Buffett said about Jesse H. Jones, “Jesse Jones was a hero of the Great Depression and I not only read his book decades ago about the Reconstruction Finance Corporation but more recently have watched a tape about his life that the Foundation sent me. He is a real American icon.”

Despite a volatile and challenging stock market, the Jones Graduate School of Business’ student-run M.A. Wright Fund continues to generate impressive returns. Comprising students selected through a rigorous application and interview process, the Fund provides them with a hands-on opportunity to learn, develop, and apply effective stock analysis and portfolio management risk and return techniques. This student-run fund was established in 1995 with a generous memorial grant by the M.A. Wright family. The fund’s excess earnings are used to provide endowed scholarships.

The Wright Fund’s home base for investment analysis and performance monitoring is the El Paso Corporation Finance Center located in the Jones School, providing students access to the center’s state-of-the-art research resources and analytical software. Students get hands-on experience using extensive data sources and powerful analytical tools such as Bloomberg, Reuters, @Risk, Research Insight, Crystal Ball, and AFG’s proprietary analytical tools.

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M.A. WRIGHT FUND

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PERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Hometown: Houston, Texas

¥¥ Washington and Lee University, B.A. Romance Languages, French and Spanish ’93


¥¥ Pre-MBA Job: Fulbright grant to teach in Paris, France

¥¥ Internship: Fixed Income analyst, AIM/Invesco

¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Equity analyst, AIM/Invesco; Author, The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick and What We Can Do About It (Random House 2009); Founder, Do Good, a strategic advisory firm and AllergyKids Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non profit.

former food industry analyst, Fulbright grant recipient, author and mother of four, Robyn O’Brien is the founder

of Do Good, a strategic advisory firm, and the AllergyKids Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. She works with companies, organizations, individuals and non-profits to shed light on market trends, best practices and the latest research on the food system and how to address the escalating health care costs and their economic impact.

Robyn has been called “food’s Erin Brockovich” by The New York Times and recognized by Forbes Woman as one of “20 Inspiring Women to Follow on Twitter.” When she traded her briefcase for a diaper bag, she recognized the changing landscape of childhood. “AllergyKids was born out of the growing need to address the health challenges of this generation of children who have earned the title “Generation Rx” due to the escalating rates of asthma, allergies, ADHD, diabetes and other conditions.”

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PROFILE

ROBYN O’BRIENNA

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The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) is Rice University’s nationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship education, and the launch of technology companies. It was formed as a strategic alliance of three schools: the George R. Brown School of Engineering, the Wiess School of Natural Sciences and the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business in collaboration with the Vice Provost and the Office of Research.

The Rice Alliance is a catalyst for building successful ventures through education, guidance and connections. Its mission is to support the creation of technology-based companies and the commercialization of new technologies in the Houston community and Southwest.

Since its inception in 2000, the Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch of more than 250 start-ups which have raised more than half a billion dollars in early-stage capital. Over 1000 companies have presented at more than 125 programs hosted by the Rice Alliance.

The Rice University Business Plan Competition is the world’s richest and largest. The competition has grown from nine teams in 2001 to 42 teams from around the world competing for more than $1.5 million in cash and prizes today. Over 133 past competitors are in business today having raised in excess of $394 million.

“I’d studied French, Spanish, German and Japanese in school. The Rice MBA had a profound influence on my life in so many ways, not only in the lifelong friendships formed but also in the way that I was taught to approach decision making, cost benefit analysis, strategy and organizational behavior. Besides the obvious finance, marketing, accounting and other skills,

the most transformative class taught the importance of aligning incentive structures with stakeholders, shareholders, customers, and employees and how it can lead to unpredictable outcomes when that structure is aligned or skewed. The critical thinking I learned at JGSB changed the lens with which I view the world in both personal and professional environments.”

DEVELOP HARD SKILLS AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART. THE TACTICAL, ANALYTICAL AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS THAT I LEARNED AT JGSB ARE FOUNDATIONAL IN MY WORK TODAY. NOT ONLY CAN I PRESENT TO A VENUE FULL OF THOUSANDS, BUT ALSO TO A BOARD ROOM FULL OF EXECUTIVES. THE CONFIDENCE AND ABILITY TO DO THAT IS BASED NOT ONLY ON EXPERIENCE AND PASSION BUT ALSO THE SKILLS AND LESSONS LEARNED IN THE WORKPLACE. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FIND WHAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN TRIES TO GET US TO FIT INTO A CERTAIN MOLD. WHEN YOU LEVERAGE YOUR PASSION WITH YOUR BUSINESS SKILLS, YOU WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE.

RICE BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION

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ith areas of interest ranging from social consumer behavior, online marketing issues to relational aspects of consumer

behavior, Professor Dholakia understands the influence technology has on the future of business and how it is conducted. He says, “It’s hard to imagine any area of business, whether it is self-service kiosks, app-driven accounting and inventory management systems that function in real time, or data warehouses that record every consumer action, that is not fueled by technology. And studies indicate that the pace of technological

innovation and adoption by businesses is only accelerating and will continue to do so. It’s an exciting time to be in the management profession, yet for managers the challenges associated with assessing, adopting and implementing new technologies are greater now than ever before.”

Professor Dholakia’s research interests lie in studying motivational psychology of consumers and online marketing issues such as virtual communities and online auctions. He also studies relational

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BECAUSE OUR MBA PROGRAMS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL, FACULTY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET TO KNOW THEIR STUDENTS VERY WELL ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. COUPLED WITH OUR CULTURE, I THINK WE ARE ABLE TO DELIVER A PERSONALIZED AND CUSTOMIZED GRADUATE EDUCATION EXPERIENCE TO OUR STUDENTS MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN OTHER TOP BUSINESS SCHOOLS.

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PROFILE

UTPAL DHOLAKIAPERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ MENSA Member

¥¥ Professor of Management

¥¥ University of Bombay, B.E. Industrial Engineering ’93

¥¥ Ohio State University, M.S. Industrial Engineering ’94

¥¥ University of Michigan, M.S. Cognitive Psychology ’97

¥¥ University of Michigan, Ph.D. Marketing ’98

aspects of consumer behavior. He has published in a number of marketing and management journals, and consults with firms in financial services, energy, health-care and other industries.

A two-time recipient of both the Award for Teaching Excellence and Scholarship Excellence Award, Professor Dholakia joined the Jones School in 2001. He has also taught at London Business School, University of Zurich and Korea University Business School.

GRANTS¥¥ Exploring sustainability of Connexions William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

¥¥ Understanding the Open Source Business Model: Application to Connexions Computer and Information Technology Institute, Rice University (CITI)

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SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY, B.B.A. FINANCE ’07

PRE-MBA JOB: LEAD FINANCIAL ANALYST, ENERGY FUTURE HOLDINGS

CO-CHAIRMAN, 2012 RICE ENERGY FINANCE SUMMIT (REFS)

1ST PLACE WINNER: ROLANETTE AND BERDON LAWRENCE FINANCE CASE COMPETITION AT TULANE UNIVERSITY

INTERNSHIP: CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT INTERN ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORP.

onathon took on the leadership role as REFS co-chair after his experience volunteering his first year. “I realized

how much the summit has to offer the JGSB community.” As a student-run event, REFS welcomes new leadership each year. “We established three co-chair leadership positions, creating a structure that we thought would best fit the event and split the three main duties (external relations, operations/finance, and marketing) among those roles.”

His role as a co-chair was to manage the finances and operational aspects. “I was involved in fund-raising, establishing a budget, and overseeing collaboration efforts with the school, which allowed me to practice leadership and refine my communication skills.” Jonathan met with senior executives and industry leaders, checked in regularly with the Jones School Council of Overseers’ energy committee, and reached out to individuals to speak at the summit.

J

PROFILE

JONATHON VANDENBRANDPERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Avid golfer, hockey player, and world traveler


¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Midstream – Staff Commercial Development Representative Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

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THE SCOPE OF REFS WAS A BIG SURPRISE. AS A STUDENT RUN EVENT, WE HAD COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING FROM SPEAKER SELECTION AND INVITATION TO

OPERATIONAL SET UP AND COORDINATION WITH THE SCHOOL. REFS

PROVIDED ME WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE LEADERSHIP IN

ACTION AS I WORKED WITH AN ALL-STUDENT TEAM TO ORGANIZE THE

EVENT. FOR ME, MY RICE EXPERIENCE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THE SAME

WITHOUT MY INVOLVEMENT WITH REFS.

The Rice Energy Finance Summit is an annual student-run conference at the Jones School that features industry thought leaders to discuss pertinent energy issues. Previous conferences addressed the economic, financial, geopolitical, and strategic implications of unconventional resource plays. Topics included: Balancing Risks and Opportunities in Times of Recovery; Dynamic Industry: Challenges for the Future; and The New Economics of Energy Security.

Each year a team of MBA candidates from the Jones School is selected to organize the Rice Energy Finance Summit. The team works together for 10 months to create and deliver the school’s flagship event, applying key business management fundamentals in the process. For Jonathon and the trajectory of his career, REFS solidified his commitment to energy and finance and the Jones School’s mission of thought leadership.

RICE ENERGY FINANCE SUMMIT (REFS)

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COMMUNICATION, MARKETING AND FINANCE SKILLS REQUIRED TO THOUGHTFULLY EXECUTE A MEANINGFUL BUSINESS PLAN AND PRESENTATION AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER INCORPORATED EVERY LESSON I HAVE LEARNED INSIDE THE CLASSROOM DURING MY MBA EXPERIENCE.

Technology Commercialization in Developing Countries is a unique global health technology commercialization class taught by Marc Epstein, distinguished research professor of management. The class offers students an opportunity to apply their business school knowledge, learn about business in developing countries, contribute to the alleviation of poverty, and have a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa.

Using a commerce model and the education and skills of second-year MBAs, students develop commercialization plans for four technologies created by Rice engineering undergraduates. The students work in teams and travel during fall break to truly understand the challenges of finding effective ways to manufacture, distribute, and market products.

A CLASS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

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THE STRATEGY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP,.

aria signed up for the Technology Commercialization class because she has a personal interest in international

development, corporate social responsibility and Africa. “I graduated with a degree in political science and human rights and spent the next three years working at a corporate foundation that was focused on economic empowerment and financial inclusion on a global scale. I chose to pursue my MBA to supplement this experience to pursue a long-term career in corporate social responsibility at a global, strategic level.”

She worked with team members who had a diversity of experiences — a nurse, a former hedge fund employee, an electrical engineer and an active member of U.S. military. “Together we strategized that the most effective way to bring our product, DoseRight — a low-cost, disposable syringe clip, into the African market was to demonstrate its effectiveness on maximizing the millions of dollars that governments are spending on the prevention of pediatric HIV/AIDS.”

F

PROFILE

FARIA NASSERPERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Worked for the William J. Clinton Foundation


¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Senior Consultant Ernst & Young

NA

BARNARD COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, B.A. POLITICAL SCIENCE

AND HUMAN RIGHTS ’08

PRE-MBA JOB: PROGRAM ASSOCIATE CITI FOUNDATION

PRESIDENT, MBA WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AND ALUMNI AFFAIRS, JONES STUDENT ASSOCIATION

INTERNSHIP: SENIOR CONSULTANT INTERN, ERNST & YOUNG

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BUSINESSIS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, BUT IT HAS MANY DIALECTS. UNDERSTANDING THEM ALL IS THE ONLY WAY TO COMPETE IN THE EVER-INCREASING GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. DURING ONE SESSION, WE SPOKE WITH MANY PEOPLE FROM THE ENERGY INDUSTRY. THE TOPIC OF A RECENT MAJOR OIL SPILL WAS BROUGHT UP. WE DISCUSSED THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND FINANCIAL DAMAGE THAT HAD OCCURRED, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE DISCUSSED THE TRIALS THAT THE FIRM FACED WHILE DEALING WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY IN ITS AFTERMATH.

R YA N E L K I N SH o m e t o w n : L a k e J a c k s o n , T XTe x a s A & M U n i v e r s i t y, B . S . C o n s t r u c t i o n S c i e n c e ’ 0 5R i c e U n i v e r s i t y, M B A ’ 13P r e - M B A J o b : N a v a l O f f i c e rI n t e r n s h i p : C o n s u l t a n t , E r n s t & Yo u n g P o s t - M B A J o b : O p e r a t i o n s A n a l y s t , F M C Te c h n o l o g i e s I n c .I n t e r n a t i o n a l t r i p s d u r i n g M B A : L a t i n A m e r i c a ( B r a z i l , A r g e n t i n a ) a n d C h i n a ( S h a n g h a i , B e i j i n g )

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INTERNATIONAL TRIPSEvery year students from the Rice MBA programs may choose to embark on several international trips, arranged during winter and spring breaks. In keeping with the Jones School’s mission of developing principled, innovative thought leaders in global communities, trips to China, Mexico, Latin America, South America and India remain strategic destinations.

Itineraries include visits to corporate offices, U.S. embassies, and plant sites, as well as alumni and prospective student events. Students make business contacts and learn firsthand about the economic situations in the host country as well as take classes at local business schools.

Past trips have included Mexico City, Guadalajara, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Shanghai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Dubai.

PASSPORT TO LEARNING – MEXICO ITINERARY 2013For students interested in working internationally, traveling with classmates during the MBA program is the perfect way to discover different parts of the world, visit international organizations, and study diverse cultures.

¥¥ Arrive in Mexico City, Mexico.

¥¥ Free day: attend Toluca vs Jaguares soccer game.

¥¥ Classes at IPADE Business School.

¥¥ Attend company visits at Nielsen Mexico and Wal-Mart, followed by a meeting with the US Department of Commerce.

¥¥ Pyramid tour, then street food tour!

¥¥ Last official day of the trip includes meeting Mexico’s former secretary of finance, followed by the CEO of La Bolsa Mexicana De Valores (the Mexican Stock Exchange) and the CEO of Rotoplas.

¥¥ Optional next stop: Cancun for sightseeing.

Graphic

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DURING THE INTEGRATION PHASE, FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY WERE THE KEY TERMS THAT ENABLED ME TO ADJUST TO THE NEW BUSINESS CULTURE THAT WAS BEING CREATED BY THE JOINING OF TWO GREAT COMPANIES. ACTUALLY, OILFIELD SERVICES IS A VERY DYNAMIC BUSINESS, CONTINUOUSLY IN A STATE OF ACQUIRED COMPANY INTEGRATION, EXPANSION OF NEW BUSINESS LINES, AND GROWTH THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE LOCAL CULTURES TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH FOR THE DIFFERENT REGIONS WITHIN ASIA WHERE WE DO BUSINESS — FROM CHINA DOWN TO AUSTRALIA. NAVIGATING THROUGH THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES IN OUR BUSINESS HERE IS AN ONGOING PROCESS BUT ONE THAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

hen Tim Okabayashi’s company was acquired by Schlumberger, his position as manager of acquisitions and

business expansion “morphed slightly,” but his desire to work overseas did not. “Since my first professional job, I have been exposed to international business. I was interested in a career that had opportunities for conducting international business, and a job with an integrated global oilfield service company provides lots of exposure to global business opportunities.”

In Kuala Lumpur for less than a year, Tim and his wife Casey “went through a wide spectrum of emotions related to the move — excitement, nervousness, frustration, sadness, and occasional isolation.” They recognized that this promotion was a great opportunity for his career and the future for their family, including daughter Cooper, nearly two. “Kuala Lumpur is full of expats from around the world. We also look forward to Cooper growing up with a broad social and cultural awareness.”

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PROFILE

TIM OKABAYASHIPERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Hometown: Houston, Texas

¥¥ University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, B.S. Public Health ’99


¥¥ Pre-MBA job: Project Manager, Global Environmental Solutions, Inc

¥¥ Internship: Associate, EnviroFuels

¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Operations Support Manager, Asia for Drilling Tools and Remedial (a segment within Schlumberger)

1. Homework. We met with families that had international assignments. The insights gained were invaluable and helped prepare us for the journey ahead.

2. Network. We have relied on the Schlumberger Spouses Association for a network here in Kuala Lumpur. I’d recommend finding a similar group to make a new city seem a little smaller.

3. Travel. Utilize travel opportunities within the region.

4. Patience and flexibility. Two things that are definitely required when adjusting to a new culture.

5. Safety. Be aware of local safety concerns. Check and comply with company safety alerts for crime, illness, etc.

FIVE TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENT

NA

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Globally ranked in the top 25 for career services, the Jones School’s Career Management Center (CMC) successfully partners with students and alumni to meet their professional development goals.* With relationships across the spectrum of Fortune 500 and professional services firms, the CMC is well poised to assist you with your professional development goals.

The CMC delivers cutting edge professional development content beginning even before classes start in order to prepare for the summer internship. Upon acceptance to the MBA program, students are required to participate in a five-week online course in order to gain access to the Jones School’s on-campus recruiting systems. In this course, you will submit

a resume and cover letter and compile company and industry research, resulting in a complete portfolio of career and job search tools necessary for finding their desired internship and job after graduation.

The Career Management Center also provides group workshops and meets individually with students to ensure they develop the strategy, job search skills, and networking opportunities that will help them succeed in the professional MBA job market.

*(Based on The Economist, student and alumni CMC assessments from 2008-2012.)

CAREER MANAGEMENT CENTER

THE CMC SPONSORED THE INFORMATION SESSION WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT CHEVRON’S ROTATIONAL PROGRAMS. THEY ASSISTED IN MY INTERNSHIP SEARCH BY PROVIDING A CRITICAL REVIEW OF MY RESUME, ADVISING ME ON MY ONLINE PRESENCE ON SITES SUCH AS LINKEDIN, AND HOLDING MOCK INTERVIEW SESSIONS BEFORE I WENT TO MY FINAL INTERVIEW WITH CHEVRON. I WILL BE WORKING IN THE ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE GROUP, WHICH REPORTS TO THE CIO OF CHEVRON GAS AND MIDSTREAM. OUR JOB IS TO LOOK AT THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS FACING GAS AND MIDSTREAM AND THEN DEFINE THE BEST TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO TO ADDRESS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS.

PAT R I C K C O O G A NH o m e t o w n : P l a n o , T XP r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y, B . S . E . M e c h a n i c a l a n d A e r o s p a c e E n g i n e e r i n g ’ 0 4R i c e U n i v e r s i t y, M B A ’ 14 P r e - M B A J o b : S e n i o r M a n a g e r, S y s t e m s I n t e g r a t i o n a n d Te c h n o l o g y C o n s u l t i n g , A c c e n t u r eI n t e r n s h i p : E n t e r p r i s e A r c h i t e c t u r e A n a l y s t , C h e v r o n G a s a n d M i d s t r e a m

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Academy Sports + Outdoors • Accenture • Access Midstream • AIG • Air

Liquide • alliantgroup • Alvarez & Marsal • AMD • Amegy Bank • Anadarko

Petroleum Corp. • Apache • Applied Diagnostics • AT&T • ATX Innovation,

Inc. • Baker Hughes • Bank of America Merrill Lynch • Barclays • BMO Capital

Markets • BP • Bredero Shaw • Calpine • Cameron • The Carlyle Group •

CenterPoint Energy • ChaiONE • Chevron • Chevron Technology Ventures

• Citi • ConocoPhillips • CBRE • Crédit Agricole • Credit Suisse • DCP

Midstream • Deloitte • Deutsche Bank • Dish Network • Dr Pepper Snapple

Group • Duke Energy • Dynex • Eaton Corporation • Edward Jones • Enite •

Ernst & Young • Exterran • ExxonMobil • Fluor • FMC Technologies • Galway

Group • GE • General Mills • Global Medical Technologies • Goldman Sachs

• Gulf States Toyota • Halliburton • Healthcare Management Systems, Inc.

• Hines • Honwha Chemical • HP • HSBC • IBM • Ignite Restaurant Group •

Infosys • Intel • J.P. Morgan • Kalypso • KBR • Kirby Corporation • Korn/

Ferry • KPMG • Kraft Foods • Lazard Freres & Co. • LinkedIn • Lloyd’s •

Luca Technologies • Marathon Oil Company • Master Flo Valve • McKinsey

& Company • Medtronic • Mercer • Morgan Stanley • Nabors Industries •

National Oilwell Varco • Newfield Exploration • NRG • Oak Forest Ventures

• OCS Group • Oiltanking • Pentair Valves & Controls • Phillips 66 • Plains

All American Pipeline • Plains E&P Company • PROS • RBC Richardson Barr

• Remington • Repsol • RigNet • Rockefeller Financial • Rockwater Energy

Solutions • Sabre Holdings • Salient Partners, LP • Samsung • SAP • SCF

Partners • Schlumberger • Scotia Capital • Shell • Simmons & Company

• Situs • Spectra Energy • Standard Bank • Stanford Hospital and Clinics

• Sysco • Target • TD Securities • Teacher Retirement System of Texas

(TRS) • Texas Capital Bank • Texas Crude Energy • The CapStreet Group •

The Edelman Financial Group • The Methodist Hospital System • Tristream

Energy • Tudor Pickering • U.S. Capital Advisors • U.S. Well Services,

LLC • UBS • UMT Consulting • United Airlines • U-Tex • Walmart • Waste

Management • Westney Consulting Group • Wipro • Wood Mackenzie •

WoodRock & Co. • Woodway Financial Advisors • World Class Capital Group

WHO EMPLOYS RICE MBAS

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PURSUING AN MBA WAS ALWAYS MY LONG-TERM GOAL, AND I KNEW THAT IT WOULD GIVE ME THE PROPER TRAINING AND TOOLS FOR AN ENHANCED CAREER. I CHOSE RICE MAINLY DUE TO ITS CLASS

SIZE AND IMPRESSIVE LIST OF COMPANIES IN A VARIETY OF

INDUSTRIES THAT RECRUIT HERE. ATTENDING A LARGE UNIVERSITY

FOR UNDERGRAD, I WANTED TO EXPERIENCE THE INTIMACY OF A

SMALL UNIVERSITY.

hen Rozina joined Hub Management, Inc. as a staff accountant, she was promoted to controller within three

months but after five years had reached a career ceiling. As business developer at ConocoPhillips overseeing the East and South African regions, she can reflect on the transformation her Rice MBA provided. “I am now a person who is open to different ideas, has a vision, speaks her mind, looks at the big picture, leads by example, and believes in constant learning.”

The Jones School provides tools to navigate the job search. “Whether you are changing jobs or industries, take advantage of the internships which often times turn into full-time opportunities. Choose the industry, position, and location wisely; it is possible that your best full-time offer will be from your internship company. And don’t be afraid to look into a new industry or a new career path, this is the time to do it! Get out of your comfort zone, you will surprise yourself with your own abilities.”

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A TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCEAlong with the rigorous curriculum, I learned:

¥¥ Teamwork. Appreciate different viewpoints and interact with different personalities for the betterment of the project.

¥¥ Communication skills. Use clear and concise manner in both verbal and written communication.

¥¥ Time-management. In real life, just like in school, there is always too much to do and too little time to do it. Rice’s

curriculum replicates this well, and it gave me a chance to learn how to make the most efficient use of my time.

¥¥ Network. Rice emphasizes networking and gives students the tools they can use to increase their network. In my professional career I have continued to network and have made some incredible friends and professional contacts that have proven useful in a variety of ways.

PERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Hometown: Houston, TX

¥¥ University of Houston, B.B.A. Accounting ’96


¥¥ Pre-MBA Job: Controller, Hub Management, Inc.

¥¥ Internship: Advisor, Downstream Investment Appraisal Group, ConocoPhillips

¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Business Developer, ConocoPhillips

PROFILE

ROZINA DAMANI NA

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UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS, B.A. JOURNALISM ’02

PRE-MBA JOB: SUPPLY OFFICER USS CROMMELIN (FFG 37), U.S. NAVY

PRESIDENT, BLACK BUSINESS STUDENT ASSOCIATION

VICE PRESIDENT OF SPECIAL EVENTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLUB

MILITARY DECORATIONS: JOINT COMMENDATION MEDAL TWO NAVY COMMENDATION MEDALS FOUR NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDALS

y Luster wanted to join the military from the time she was in high school, but when she was offered a scholarship

to college, she put the dream off for a while. “I was a full-time undergraduate student working full time to support myself. Enlisting in the Navy under the Baccalaureate Degree Completion program provided me with the opportunity to focus solely on my education. By removing the stressors of full-time employment with a full-time course load, I was able to map out a career path.”

Before applying for her MBA, Ty worked in several demanding positions, including two tours onboard ships and a year in Iraq serving as a logistics advisor to the Iraqi Army. “An MBA was key to my career progression. My new skills in strategy, quantitative processes, and shaping organizations will help me in my next stage on the USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) as one of the principal assistants on board in the logistics department. I will be leading a team of 200 plus sailors.”

T

PERSONAL ELEMENTS¥¥ Award-winning Bodybuilder


¥¥ Post-MBA Job: Principal Assistant of Services, USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74), U.S. Navy

34

PROFILE

TY LUSTERNA

“In the military, we receive a lot of support from our superiors, subordinates, colleagues, and other resources available outside our respective commands. The support from the Rice faculty and staff is one of the many things that makes the transition from sailor to student to management professional easier on a lot of veterans. This speaks volumes about the program and the caliber of people at JGSB.”

“My advice for future Rice MBAs is to use your time effectively because every minute counts in excelling in this program. Time management is key in balancing your assignments, group work, and preparing for class. For those in the military, I would say take it all in and learn from your classmates’ experiences in the civilian sector. I think we can learn a lot from them about how we approach situations and solve issues.”

MY EXPERIENCE AT JGSB HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON MY LEADERSHIP STYLE AND MY PERCEPTION OF WHAT A GOOD MANAGER IS. THE MEMBERS OF AN ORGANIZATION ARE ITS MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS AND I HAVE GAINED SO MANY SKILLS IN HOW TO FULLY EXPOSE AND NURTURE THIS ASSET AND BRING ABOUT EFFECTIVE CHANGE IN AN ORGANIZATION.

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JGSB ONLINE

JGSB QUICK LINKS

Upcoming Jones School events: business.rice.edu/Events

Full list of electives: business.rice.edu/Electives

Full list of courses: business.rice.edu/Courses

Frequently asked questions: business.rice.edu/FTFAQ

The Rice MBA admissions blog has program information, admissions tips, Jones School news, as well as student and alumni bloggers sharing their experiences at the Jones School. riceMBAadmissions.com

How can joining a student club impact your life and career? Find out about the many student clubs, their current officers and their missions at: business.rice.edu/Clubs

Research faculty by name, academic area or interests at: business.rice.edu/Directory

From the gumball challenge to faculty research, student and alumni stories, the homepage hosts a fresh rotation of articles each month. Visit business.rice.edu/Press to see what you’ve missed.

Jones Graduate School Entrepreneurs Organization: business.rice.edu/JGSEO

Rice Alliance: alliance.rice.edu

Rice Business Plan Competition: alliance.rice.edu/RBPC

The Jones Journal, our alumni magazine: business.rice.edu/JonesJournal

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facebook.com/ricembatwitter.com/ricembabusiness.rice.edu

RICE MBA BUSINESS CONCENTRATIONSThe goal of a concentration is to provide students with the abi l i ty to demonstrate functional, professional,

or industry expertise in a particular area of interest within a general management program. Concentrations represent some

of the areas of strength, excellence and depth within the curriculum. Students have the option of earning a maximum of two

concentrations, and the completion of each concentration wil l be cer t i f ied on the student’s transcript.

ACCOUNTINGThe concentration in accounting reinforces the program’s fundamental concepts and adds insight into accounting processes and principles. Completion of the concentration enhances a student’s ability to analyze and interpret accounting reports while emphasizing the importance of accounting information to internal and external decision makers.

ENERGYA concentration in energy develops students’ perspectives and improves their understanding of management issues in the industry. The concentration explores the management and global economic environment. The coursework also delves into geopolitics by requiring courses from other Rice University departments.

ENTREPRENEURSHIPThe concentration in entrepreneurship presents a framework for success. The required courses provide insight into starting a business, as well as buying and selling a company. Students may choose courses in specific entrepreneurial topics in which they are interested.

FINANCEA finance concentration provides a deep foundation in financial management principles and a chance for further specialization. Students will complete the primary finance electives of the MBA program and a course in financial statement analysis as well as additional specialized courses.

GLOBAL BUSINESSThe ability to take full advantage of a global economy can be the difference between success and failure. Sourcing, staffing, financing, developing ideas, and reaching customers, all require managers to have a global perspective. The concentration draws upon coursework from several functional areas as well as courses taken from other Rice University departments.

HEALTH CAREThe concentration in health care focuses on the best ways to understand, organize and manage aspects of the health care system and the rapidly changing issues driving the industry. Required courses address how management principles are interpreted and applied in the health care industry and in different health care settings — such as pharmaceutical, hospital, and large and small practices.

MANAGEMENT CONSULTINGManagement consultants must be able to identify both the problem and the solution and, in many cases, implement the corrective action. It is an ideal path for students that enjoy solving problems and who have strong analytical skills. The curriculum covers an array of issues related to business strategy and the process of analyzing business problems from various angles to develop preliminary solutions.

MASTERING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATIONCreativity and innovation are essential skills across all industries and benefit students regardless of their career path. Students in this concentration gain a theoretical understanding of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial behaviors while strengthening managerial skills to nurture and promote creativity in their employees.

MARKETINGThe marketing concentration is ideal for those planning to pursue a career in brand/product management, marketing research and analytics, pricing, new products, marketing communications and direct marketing, or promotion.

REAL ESTATEThe Rice MBA concentration in real estate provides an educational structure of essential information, from both world-renowned Rice faculty and successful real estate practitioners and entrepreneurs. Students receive the foundation on which they can build or enhance their careers in courses ranging from real estate finance and real estate development to the application of marketing and research strategies.

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Houston is a vibrant, dynamic, diverse city full of opportunity. Rice students, faculty and staff can take advantage of all that the fourth-largest city in the U.S. has to offer — from attending premier performing arts events in the downtown theater district, eating at outstanding restaurants to cheering on the city’s professional sports teams. Best of all, many of these activities, including those in a bustling downtown and thriving Museum District, are easily accessible from the Rice campus. MBA students also tap into the assets, energy, ideas and technology of a thriving business community in Houston.

The 46 Places to Go in 2013, according to the New York Times travel section, lists Houston as No. 7. “Houston is probably best known as the Texan center for energy and industry, but it’s making a bid to be the state’s cultural and culinary capital as well. The Houston Museum District is a formidable coterie of institutions that includes the Rothko Chapel, the Museum of African American Culture, which made its debut last February; and the Asia Society Texas Center, which opened in a stunning Yoshio Taniguchi-designed building in April. And last summer, the Houston Museum of Natural Science opened a 30,000-square-foot hall of paleontology in a new $85 million wing. Meanwhile, the city’s dining scene is also heating up, with three of the city’s newest restaurants — Oxheart, Underbelly and Uchi — placing on national best-new-restaurant lists.” — Ingrid K. Williams

HOUSTON

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FROM RICE CAMPUS¥¥ 1 block to medical center

¥¥ 2 blocks to museum district

¥¥ 2.4 miles to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show at Reliant Stadium

¥¥ 3.2 miles to downtown Houston

¥¥ 46 miles to Galveston Island beaches

¥¥ 320 miles to Mardi Gras in New Orleans

1st

Value Internationally

4th

Largest City in U.S.

7th

New York Times Places to Go in 2013

3rd

Fortune 500 Co. Headquarters

¥¥ No. 1 relocation spot in U.S. for the fourth straight year, U-Haul 2012 Top 50 U.S. Destination Cities

¥¥ No. 2 in country for female businesses by Forbes.

¥¥ More than 200 institutions are devoted to the arts, science and history in Houston.

¥¥ Foreign governments have established 94 consular offices in metropolitan Houston, ranking the city third behind New York and Los Angeles.

¥¥ Sports fans cheer for a variety of professional, semi-pro and collegiate sports teams, including Texans football, Astros baseball, Rockets basketball, Dynamo soccer and Aeros hockey.

¥¥ Harris County and City of Houston parks total more than 65,076 acres. The Houston area offers over 145 public and private golf courses.

¥¥ The City of Houston Bikeway Program is a 345-mile bikeway network spanning across the city and providing access to 500,000 square miles throughout Houston. City parks offer 95 more miles of hike and bike and nature trails.

HOUSTON STATISTICS

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READY TO DISCOVER YOUR MBA DNA?At the Jones School there is no blueprint for admission. There is only a diverse group of students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership ability, interpersonal skills and the motivation to work hard. Grounded in strong ethics and a global perspective, the Rice MBA is about to transform your world, your career, your future.

If you’re ready to discover your MBA DNA, come tell us what makes you who you are.

Here’s a place to begin — and let us know how we can help.

DATES TO REMEMBER — CLASS OF 2016 APPLICATION DEADLINES DECISION DATESOctober 28, 2013 December 6, 2013January 6, 2014 February 28, 2014February 24, 2014 April 4, 2014April 7, 2014 May 9, 2014

FINANCIAL INFORMATION Rice MBA program tuition for the academic year 2013-2014 was $48,500. We estimate other first-year costs such as fees, insurance, books, rent, and miscellaneous expenses to be approximately $30,000.

The Jones School offers scholarships which are determined on the basis of academic merit. Please note that consideration for merit-based scholarships are based on the strength of the entire application package including, but not limited to, GMAT score, undergraduate transcripts, work experience, leadership potential and team skills.

There is not a separate application process for scholarship awards. All applications are reviewed for merit-based scholarship awards at the time of admission and any award will be noted in your admission letter.

To schedule a campus visit or for any additional information:

Office of Admissions Jones Graduate School of Business Rice University McNair Hall – MS 531 6100 Main Street Houston, Texas 77005

Toll free: 888-844-4773 Local: 713-348-4918 Fax: 713-348-6147

Email: [email protected] Online: business.rice.edu

CLASS OF 2015 PROFILE (as of June 6, 2013)

¥¥ Number of Students: 116

¥¥ Average Work Experience: 5 years

¥¥ Average Age: 28

¥¥ Average GPA: 3.4

¥¥ Average GMAT: 676

¥¥ International Citizenship: 29%

¥¥ Number of Countries Represented: 19

¥¥ Women: 35%

¥¥ Underrepresented Minorities: 11%

BY THE NUMBERS¥¥ 60 credits to graduate

¥¥ 108 electives offered

¥¥ 34 student clubs

Top30

Best Graduate Schools, Schools of Business, 2013

U.S. News and World Report

Top20

Full-time MBA, U.S., 2013 Financial Times

1st

Percent Salary Increase 2013 Financial Times

in U.S.

Top10

Graduate Program in Entrepreneurship

2009-2012Princeton Review

EntrepreneurMagazine

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