Owl Have You Know
Rice Business
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Owl Have You Know is Rice Business’ podcast created to share the experiences of alumni, faculty, students and other members of our business community – real stories of belonging, failing, rebounding and, ultimately, succeeding. During meaningful conversations, we dive deep into how each guest has built success through troubles and triumphs before, during and after they set foot in McNair Hall.
The Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business and is produced by University FM.
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Sep 13, 2023
Cooperation in the U.S. - Mexico Border Region feat. Daniel Gutierrez ‘14
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 future13:16 - 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 intelligence21:41 - 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
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Aug 30, 2023
Clean Tech, Climate Change, and the Future of Energy feat. Phoebe Wang ’13
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 control11:33 [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 investments04:13 - 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 tech01:35 - 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
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Aug 16, 2023
Everything Is a Business, Including Journalism feat. Kalyn Norwood '22
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 goals23:32 - 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 media26:09 - 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 asset22:22 - 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 food27:50 - 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
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Aug 2, 2023
I See The Benefits of my MBA in Everything I Do feat. Tracy and John Dennis, FTMBA ’00 and ’93
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 '22 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 back8:54: [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 community14:00: [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 Houston04:47: [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 school02:13: [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
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Jul 19, 2023
Everybody’s Got To Eat feat. Turner Hoff ‘13
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 company16:33 - 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 experience05:55 - 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
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Jul 5, 2023
His Passion for ALS Research Starts at Home feat. Daniel Barvin '18
During this year's alumni reunion Partio, we caught up with some alums right on campus. 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 in December of that same year that he tested positive for the C9orf72 gene expansion, which means may 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.
In this episode recorded in the Rice Alliance space in McNair Hall, Daniel chats with host Maya Pomroy '22 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 Coya27:20 - 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 movement18:01 - 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 story11:34 - 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 relationships16:33 - 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:
* LinkedIn
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Jun 21, 2023
Giving Entrepreneurs the Tools to Change the World feat. Hesam Panahi, Taylor Anne Adams ‘23, and Delaney Berman ‘22
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
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Jun 7, 2023
Failing Forward feat. Ben Clemenceau ‘21
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 mentorship26:18 - 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 community16:33 - 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 MBA18:39 - 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 Haiyang Li
* The Menil Collection
* Houston Museum of Natural Science
* Professor Vikas Mittal
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May 24, 2023
When War Broke Out, This Alum Flew Straight to Ukraine feat. Radu Filip ‘08
Many of us watch developments in the war in Ukraine on TV, and we get updates on Twitter. But for Radu Filip, who grew up behind the iron curtain in Romania, the conflict resonates deeper. So much so that he boarded a plane in late December 2022 to head into the war zone and help with relief efforts near Kharkiv with the nonprofit Elevate Ukraine.
Radu immigrated to the U.S. in 2005, and soon after attended Rice Business for his MBA, graduating in 2008. During his time at Rice, he was awarded the Jones Citizen Award for excellence and co-founded the Houston chapter of the Women’s Masters Network.
Radu sits down with host Maya Pomroy to talk about what draws him to his boots-on-the-ground efforts in Ukraine, the culture shock and challenges of being an international student, pivoting his career from IT to corporate finance and his goals for the year ahead.
Episode Quotes:
On choosing to help even if there’s risk12:34: Yes, there is a risk. There is a possibility that fate may be not good for us today, but we're not afraid. And that kind of bravery and defiance. And the result, again, motivated me to say, "Look, if they're not afraid, you should not be afraid, either. Be among them." I'm experiencing what they're experiencing. And communication back home every day was a key. My family, my friends, knew that I wanted to help, knew about my desire, and they all supported me. I could not have done this all without the support of my family and close friends.
How MBA allowed pivot in Radu’s career29:51: Everybody's career is different. In my case, the MBA was the hinge; it was the people that allowed me to move from a pure IT field to the world of corporate finance.
On his personal goals 36:17: My primary goal is to continue to grow and acquire experience at SLB. With the work I'm doing, taking up more responsibilities, and working on significant projects and programs that advance the company's performance, that advance the company on this road towards energy innovation. So career-wise, obviously, the second objective I have is to continue to help and find more ways to help the people of Ukraine through Elevated Ukraine, a nonprofit I serve. And third, is also manage to have time for my family, be around my family, my kids, and help them grow.
Show Links:
Guest Profile:
* Elevate Ukraine
* Radu Filip on LinkedIn
Other Links
* Women’s Masters Network
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May 10, 2023
A Former Fourth-Grade Teacher Is Working To Ease Your Migraines feat. Jillian Levovitz Fink ‘17
When she joined Rice Business in 2017, Jillian Fink was in the process of founding OcciGuide, the first device used in the emergency care setting to treat migraines, a neurological condition that disproportionately impacts women.
In her role as CEO, Jillian navigated the complexities of the healthcare system to get her medical device approved by the FDA, including designing clinical trials using real-world data, navigating U.S. healthcare treatment paradigms, and developing creative strategies to commercialize the device during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode, the healthcare entrepreneur joins host Maya Pomroy to share her story of pivoting from elementary education to co-founding and leading a medical device startup company. She talks about her unconventional path, her advice to those considering a pivot in entrepreneurship, and how she invests her time in giving back to the community.
The Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
On understanding the value of listening08:40: [Maya] Was OcciGuide something that was already on the horizon for you? Or, is this something that developed while you were in school? [Jillian] It was very, very, very early; we'd been talking about the potential for it. And then there were actually some of our professors at Rice, or my professors at Rice, who thought it was interesting. And there's a tech entrepreneurship class, or was when I was there, that we got to run it through the class and do some of that really early market research, Lean Canvas development, or whatnot. I got to work with my classmates on it, which was great because I had so many smart classmates, and all of their contributions were just so fun and helpful to be able to partner with them. And then it grew from there.
An advice for women entrepreneurs17:08: With everything in business or life, finding mentors and people who can be a resource to help you answer questions and also have already identified pathways is so important. There are amazing women out there to find that can provide that support, but there are also men who can also provide that support, and that shouldn't be overlooked.
On understanding the value of listening17:08: It's so important to listen and not get caught up in getting your message out there, regardless of what other people are saying, but actually to hear what people are saying and respond accordingly, in that non-emotional, non-angry way, but just to have that dialogue, and people will respond to that.
Show Links:
Guest Profile:
* Jillian LinkedIn
Other Links:
* Fem Health Insights
* OcciGuide
* American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
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Apr 26, 2023
The Tools For Strong Leadership Are Right In Front of You. feat. Ruth Oh Reitmeier and Brent Smith
We’re back with another live edition of Owl Have You Know! And this time, we welcomed two leadership experts to the show, Ruth Reitmeier, director of coaching at Rice Business, and Brent Smith, the senior associate dean for executive education and associate professor of management and psychology at Rice Business.
Certain topics, like cryptocurrency, AI, political polarization, and Jennifer Coolidge's comeback, speak to the cultural zeitgeist. They characterize moments in time. But the topic of leadership, and what it takes to be an impactful leader, is endlessly relevant and fascinating. We all have the potential to be trailblazers in our lives and careers.
Listen as host Scott Gale sits down with Ruth & Brent to discuss their cutting-edge insights on the science of leader development, managing zillennials, and what we’ve learned post COVID-19.
Owl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.
Episode Quotes:
What are millennials looking for…
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Apr 12, 2023
Human Moments Are Not Always Pretty feat. Dan Purvis ‘05
Dan Purvis says his passion for working for himself started in junior high when he began selling pieces of gum to classmates. Six companies later, it is safe to say Dan is a certified serial entrepreneur.
Dan graduated with honors in electrical engineering and an undergraduate fellowship from Texas A&M and was a Jones Scholar at Rice Business, where he earned an EMBA in 2005. His career began at National Instruments in the upper Midwest. After returning to his hometown Houston, he began building a division for his new employer. After his third successful sale, he co-founded Velentium in 2012, which took over as his full-time job.
Velentium is a professional engineering firm specializing in end-to-end support for designing and producing therapeutic and diagnostic active medical devices, intelligent products, and automated test systems for the medical, energy, and manufacturing industries. And in 2020, Velentium faced an unprecedented ask: partner with a small medical device company an…
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Mar 29, 2023
Taking DEI Into the Future feat. Amanda Stewart ‘08
These days, you don't often find someone who's been with their job for maybe 5 or 10 years. Well, Amanda Stewart has been at Constellation for 15 years now and is still committed to helping the company grow.
Amanda earned a BBA from UT Austin in 2002, with a concentration in marketing, and an MBA from Rice Business in 2008. She is the vice president of retail operations for Constellation, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy and a leading competitive retail supplier of power and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the U.S.
She sits down with host Scott Gale ‘19 to chat about the benefits of getting an MBA at a smaller school, what has kept her working with passion at Constellation for 15 years, and how her Japanese-American background and the internment camps of WWII are a central part of her family’s history and her commitment to DEI work.
Episode Quotes:
The value of working together18:19 - If we understand how to work together better…
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Mar 22, 2023
Encore Episode of The Index - Unmarketing: A Guide To Not Buying Anything
Every March, South By Southwest brings together innovators, changemakers, and leaders from all over the world to Texas.
To celebrate, this month we are revisiting episodes from The Index, a podcast collaboration between Texas Monthly and Rice Business at the 2019 South by Southwest festival, where the two entities co-hosted a pop-up experience in an Austin storefront.
We sat down with Professor Utpal Dholakia in episode 5 of our series. He is a marketing expert who encourages people to buy and consume prudently to maximize pleasure.
You can find more episodes of The Index coming up in this feed opposite weeks of our regular episodes of Owl Have You Know, or find them on our website.
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Mar 15, 2023
The Value of a Kind and Collaborative Community feat. Joanna Nathan ‘19
Joanna Nathan has been pretty busy since earning her MBA 2019. A biomedical engineer by trade, visionary, and serial entrepreneur, Joanna most recently became the CEO of Prana Thoracic, a Houston-based medical device startup dedicated to developing solutions for the detection and intervention of early-stage lung cancer.
She was formerly the manager of new ventures at the Johnson & Johnson Center for Device Innovation at Texas Medical Center (CDI @ TMC). And before joining J&J, Joanna was a venture fellow at Mercury Fund, a $300M venture capital fund focused on early-stage enterprise software.
Joanna joins with host Maya Pomroy '22 to share her career journey, passion for healthcare, deep connection to Rice, and how the heartbreaking loss of her young son serves as inspiration to continue her work in finding groundbreaking medical technologies to help others.
Episode Quotes:
Building the right skill set through Rice07:25 - Innovation is very complex because the body is extremely com…
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Mar 10, 2023
Encore Episode of The Index - The Strangely Immovable Economics Of Live Performance
Every March, South By Southwest brings together innovators, changemakers, and leaders from all over the world to Texas.
To celebrate, this month we are revisiting episodes from The Index, a podcast collaboration between Texas Monthly and Rice Business at the 2019 South by Southwest festival, where the two entities co-hosted a pop-up experience in an Austin storefront.
In the first episode of this series, we’ll hear a conversation with Dean Peter Rodriguez on his research into what live performance reveals about our economic future.
You can find more episodes of The Index coming up in this feed opposite weeks of our regular episodes of Owl Have You Know, or find them on our website.
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Mar 1, 2023
Your Biggest Competitive Advantage Is Your Authentic Self feat. Takeya Green ‘22
From the moment Takeya Green stepped off the plane to visit Rice, she knew Houston was the city for her. The Chicago native earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After getting her undergraduate degree in 2014, she joined Dow, in Freeport, TX, as a lead production engineer. She then joined Olin as a site logistics engineer in 2017, where she led an operations team of 40+ people.
After graduating in 2022, Takeya joined Citi as an investment banking associate in Houston, Texas. She works for the oil and gas and clean energy sectors.
With our host Scott Gale ‘19, Takeya shares her incredible journey from the chemical engineering lecture halls of a top-ranked program to the control rooms of world-scale chemical manufacturing facilities and from NRG Stadium cheering for the Houston Texans to now an investment banking career focused on clean energy.
She also reflects on being a Black woman in the STEM fields and overcoming…
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Feb 15, 2023
A Scholar of Scandal feat. Professor Anastasiya Zavyalova
They say all you have in business is your reputation. But in today's rapidly evolving world with social media lending everyone a microphone, who truly controls it?
On Monday, October 24th, 2022, we hosted our first live podcast taping at Rice Business with host Maya Pomroy ‘22, and Rice Business Associate Professor of Strategic Management, Anastasiya Zavyalova.
Anastasiya is an associate professor of strategic management at Rice Business and an International Research Fellow at the Oxford University Center for Corporate Reputation. Anastasiya’s research focuses on socially responsible and irresponsible organizational actions that build, damage, and restore social approval assets, like reputation and celebrity.
During this conversation, we dive into Anastasiya’s research on reputation management, how social media changed the landscape of the field, how that relates to the Russia-Ukraine war, as well as her hopes for the future.
Episode Quotes:
How long is a person's social mem…
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Feb 1, 2023
Banking in the Bay Area feat. Danielle Conkling ‘09
While most high school graduates spend the summer hanging out with friends or working at local amusement parks, Danielle Conkling was interning in downtown San Francisco with the PR and events team at Robertson Stephens. And she’s been working in the banking industry ever since.
Danielle is the director of corporate social responsibility and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and serves as the ESG program lead for Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Her unique role at SVB combines her passion for giving back to the community with her extensive experience in advising entrepreneurs and leaders in the innovation economy. Based in Menlo Park, California, her leadership of ESG efforts advances the sustainability and ethical impact of the company’s investments and operations.
Giving back both on and off the job, Danielle is a regional board advisory member of BUILD, which provides entrepreneurial experience to young people in under-resourced communities, and of Girls Leadership, a nonp…
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Jan 18, 2023
Taking Classes in 12 Different Cities feat. Mike Narvaez ‘20
Mike Narvaez describes himself as a “husband, father, manager, student and volunteer trying to make more right decisions than wrong.”
Right out of undergrad, Mike was a system safety engineer at the GHG Corporation, identifying hazards affecting the International Space Station (ISS) and astronauts by providing real-time support at Mission Control. He spent time as a manager of safety and risk at Sysco in 1999 after that, and eventually joined BP where he is currently a workplace services manager for the U.S. and Canada, driving the implementation, execution and monitoring of bp workplace operations.
This Houston native sits down with host Maya Pomroy ’22 to talk about how his son pushed him to get his MBA, maintaining connections with his cohort even though he did the online MBA program, and being a lifelong learner.
Episode Quotes:
What Mike wanted from an MBA program22:21 - I really wanted to learn from the other people in the program. And so the more diverse that is, wheth…
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Jan 4, 2023
Generations of Rice Grads feat. Chuck Yates ‘94
From grandparents to parents, brothers and uncles, it seems like almost everyone in the Yates family has attended Rice, some even multiple times! That includes our guest today Chuck Yates, who earned a B.A. in political science from Rice in 1991, graduating magna cum laude, and later returned to earn his MBA from Rice in 1994.
Chuck Yates is an investor and former managing partner at Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, as well as the host of the Chuck Yates Needs a Job podcast.
He is a self-proclaimed “dysfunctional life coach who’s had enough therapy to quote Brene Brown chapter and verse,” pivoting to creating and hosting a podcast after being publicly fired from Kayne Anderson, when the firm consolidated its energy teams.
Chuck sits down with host Scott Gale at the Digital Wildcatters Podcasting Studio right here in Houston to talk about his long-standing ties to Rice, pursuing a career in investment banking, his connections to Nashville and the music industry, and his hopes f…
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Dec 14, 2022
What Is My Purpose Here? feat. Mike Dey ‘20
Growing up, Mike Dey had a passion for planes. So it was only fitting that when he got older, he would pursue a career doing what he was good at (mechanics) in the field he loved (aerospace engineering).
Mike is a Houston native and Rice Business Class of 2020 online MBA graduate. He received a BS in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and began his career as an engineer for flight crew operations integration at Boeing in 1996.
Mike initially wanted to get an MBA to advance his existing corporate career by adding business tools and knowledge to his engineering background, but Rice Business exposed him to the concept of entrepreneurship through acquisition, inspiring him to pivot to business ownership. He is now based in Seattle and is the president and owner of American Spray Technologies, a manufacturing company that invents and manufactures drywall texture spraying technology.
He talks with host Maya Pomroy about building a cohort community in the online…
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Nov 30, 2022
Hard Work and Flexibility Lead To Success feat. Natalie Smith ‘17
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 Rice07:50 - 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. T…
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Nov 16, 2022
Transforming Tragedy Into Something Remarkable feat. Jackie Pham ‘21
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 Colette, Edison and Olivia, and transforming the lowest points of her story into hope and action…
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Nov 2, 2022
Pushing Boundaries feat. Jeffrey Moseley ‘21
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:
On being in the military05:19 - That's kind of the goal is t…
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Oct 19, 2022
A Self-Proclaimed Sustainability Nerd feat. Lauren Miller ‘14
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 ideas17:34 - Eve…
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Oct 5, 2022
At the Forefront of Female Health feat. Caroline Goodner ’92
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…
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Sep 21, 2022
Creating Resources for Resiliency feat. Pierre Aristide ‘22
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:
Adv…
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Sep 7, 2022
Seizing the Opportunity feat. Brandy Hays Morrison ‘05
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 b…
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Aug 24, 2022
Doing Business in 70+ Countries feat. Robert Lesnick ‘00
Robert Lesnick 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 int…
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Aug 10, 2022
Whatever You’re Doing, Do It For The Right Reasons feat. Ruy Lozano '20
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…
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Jul 27, 2022
The Erin Brockovich of Food feat. Robyn O’Brien ‘98
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 th…
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Jul 13, 2022
A Dope Platform for Everyday Women feat. Raisha Smith ‘22
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.…
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Jun 29, 2022
Family, Commitment and Fosters feat. Casey Sherrod ‘21
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:
Pa…
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Jun 15, 2022
Attentive, Responsive and Kind feat. Dean Peter Rodriguez
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.
Episode Quotes:
How COVID affected business school education:06:41 - I think sometimes when looking at education or thinking about business school, people think, “Well, I'm going to get the formula to solve every problem,…
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Jun 1, 2022
Behind the Mic With Host Christine Dobbyn '20
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.
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May 18, 2022
Behind the Mic With Host David Droogleever '12
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.
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May 4, 2022
The Entrepreneur Whose Intelligence is Anything But Artificial feat. Aruna Viswanathan '01
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.
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Apr 20, 2022
Why Startup Founders Should Be a Bit Crazy feat. Lynn Lednicky '91
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 here.
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Apr 6, 2022
Building a Medical School From Scratch feat. Dr. Omar Matuk-Villazon '18
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 here.
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Mar 23, 2022
How Trauma Led to Triumph feat. Jen Paquette '19
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 here.
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Mar 2, 2022
The Dos and Don'ts of Launching a Business feat. Alex Porter '18
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.
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Feb 16, 2022
From Philosopher to Financier feat. Brad Olsen '06
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 here.
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Jan 26, 2022
Recruiting During the Great Resignation feat. Sha Lee Hornsby
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 here.
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Jan 5, 2022
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs feat. Sean Self '06
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 here.
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Dec 15, 2021
The Reciprocity Between Research and Real-World Experience feat. Dr. Alan Crane
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.
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Dec 8, 2021
An Entrepreneur That's On the Right Track feat. Cameron Simoneau '05
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 here.
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Nov 3, 2021
The Alum Keeping Moms in the Workforce feat. Abbey Donnell '17
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.
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Oct 27, 2021
The Importance of Creativity for a Career Switcher feat. Charley Donaldson '09
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 here.
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Oct 20, 2021
The Leader in Education Who Never Stops Learning feat. Patra Brannon-Isaac '11
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 here.
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Jun 2, 2021
Talking Technology in the Energy Industry feat. Tamara Hughes '16
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.
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Jun 2, 2021
The Explorations of an Industry-Agnostic Alum feat. Matthew Marand '20
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.
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Jun 2, 2021
This Energy Leader Knows Soft Skills Lead to Hard Results feat. Ian Hernandez '11
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.
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Apr 14, 2021
Choosing Mindfulness Over Milestones feat. Ritesh Sheth '04
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.
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Mar 31, 2021
A Clean Energy Exec Contributing to Corporate Innovation feat. Scott Gale '19
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.
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Mar 24, 2021
Defying Limits in Leadership Development feat. Dr. Tom Kolditz
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.
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Mar 17, 2021
An Alum's Search for a Reason to Stop Hitting the Snooze Button feat. Pranika Sinha '04
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 here.
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Mar 10, 2021
Entrepreneurial Ambitions in Houston's Strong Startup Ecosystem feat. Kyle Judah and Sophie Randolph '22
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.
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
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Mar 3, 2021
The Purpose in Problem-Solving feat. Joan Dunlap '02
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.
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Feb 24, 2021
Insights from a Transportation Infrastructure Investment Banker feat. Mark Morehouse '01
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.
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Feb 10, 2021
Finance Leader and Father of Seven on Investor Bias and Work-Life Balance feat. Jonathan McAdams '01
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.
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Feb 3, 2021
For This Infrastructure Investor, If You're Not Moving You're Killing Grass feat. Will Robertson '05
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.
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Jan 27, 2021
How Inspiration Led to Investment for a Two-Time Rice Alum feat. Scott Noel '04
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.
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Jan 20, 2021
Veteran and Senior VP at NRG Knows Successful Leaders Eat Last feat. Rob Gaudette '01
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.
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Jan 13, 2021
A Tech Innovator Ignites Children's Imaginations feat. Devina Bhojwani '06
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.
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Jan 6, 2021
A Culinary Creative in the Houston Community feat. Ope Amosu '14
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.
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Dec 16, 2020
For a Visionary Nonprofit Leader, Business Is Personal feat. Runsi Sen '04
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.
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Dec 9, 2020
Transforming a Top Business School in Asia feat. Sean Ferguson '01
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.
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Dec 2, 2020
The Leap From Broadway to Business School feat. Julianne Katz '21
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.
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Nov 18, 2020
The Journey From Engineer to Entrepreneur feat. Karen Crofton '10
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.
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Oct 29, 2020
Hungry for Innovation feat. Aaron Knape '08
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.
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Oct 29, 2020
How to Break Beyond the Bottom Line feat. Bethany Andell '01
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.
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