Pivot
Season 5, Episode 6
Michelle talks about her journey — from the arts to executive leadership, why soft skills matter more than you think and how failing fast and smart can shape a resilient career.
Check Out Our New Podcast Episode
Michelle Lewis ’05 has never been afraid to try and fail. That mindset took her from a fine arts degree to overseeing $10B+ in global deals — and building a powerhouse career in private equity and beyond. In this episode of Owl Have You Know, Michelle shares how soft skills, risk-taking and a willingness to fail fast helped shape her journey.
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Welcome to America’s most diverse city. Home to newcomers from around the globe, there’s no better place to live and launch. Think foodie heaven, off-the-grid culture, wildcatter innovation, sports, arts and 38,394 acres of parks.
Personally Speaking...
When on campus, Rice introduced me to alumni, benefactors, and others who shared my professional goals and had gone the path I wanted to go. I knew right then that Rice was dedicated to creating a custom experience that would shape my future.
Dallin Bud Scruggs
Full-Time MBA
There is more to an MBA besides the classes and grades. The events, information sessions, associations, workshops and everything in between will further enhance one's professional development and overall wellbeing.
Sunita Dharani
Professional MBA
One of the things the MBA program has given me is confidence — the feeling that there’s nothing I can’t explore.
Keyuri Popat
Executive MBA
Introducing the Virani Undergraduate School of Business
We’re excited to announce the naming of the undergraduate business programs, thanks to a generous gift from Houston leaders Farid and Asha Virani. This historic contribution will support the continued growth of our undergraduate business community through curricular and co-curricular advancement and a new associate dean position. Let’s celebrate this milestone!
OWL HAVE YOU KNOW
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.
Up Next
Season 5, Episode 5
In this special live episode, James Weston, the senior associate dean for degree programs and Harmon Whittington Professor of Finance, reflects on his 25 years at Rice University.
Pivot
Season 5, Episode 4
Shai chats about her pivots from law to music and back again, the invaluable lessons she’s learned along the way, what led her to pursue an Executive MBA at Rice and how she’s already putting insights from the program to use.
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Faculty research applied in the classroom.
Data Analysis | Peer-Reviewed Research
Google search trends can forecast retail sales up to three quarters ahead — giving investors, analysts and policymakers an early glimpse into consumer demand.
Strategy | Peer-Reviewed Research
By pushing regulatory boundaries and engaging with lawmakers, some companies turn nonconformity into a competitive edge — while others lose big.
Global Politics | Expert Opinion
The first year of Georgia’s “foreign agent” law shows how autocracies are replicating Russian model − and speeding up the time frame.
Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur
Whether you want to launch your own startup or shake up the company where you work, you’ll need to think like an entrepreneur. Rice Business gives every student the core skills and entrepreneurial mindset needed to adapt to a changing business world. That's why we're ranked the No. 1 graduate entrepreneurship program for the sixth year in a row.
News & Events
School Updates
Rice University has announced the launch of Rice Digital Learning and Strategy, a reimagined office aimed at expanding the university’s impact through innovative digital learning initiatives. Formerly known as Rice Online Learning, Rice Digital Learning and Strategy reflects the university’s expanded mission to integrate digital tools and strategies across all levels of education.
In The Media
Nine Houston universities have climbed through the ranks in U.S. News & World Report’s recently released report of the best graduate schools nationwide for 2025. Several graduate programs also appeared among the top 10 in a Texas-wide comparison.
In The Media
Rice University is embarking on a significant growth plan to increase enrollment by 30% while simultaneously facing unexpected challenges from Washington, according to President Reginald DesRoches in a recent interview.
Events
Apr 30
12:00pm to 1:00pm
Virtual
May 2
12:00pm to 3:00pm
Rice University - McNair Hall