Want to Connect With Industry Leaders? Look No Further Than Houston

A quality MBA education will take you far beyond the limits of theory and textbooks. It will also expose you to the invaluable insights of industry leaders. Having ready access to industry expertise means students are continually exposed to new ideas, emerging trends, and transformative opportunities.

When it comes to connecting with prominent business leaders, Rice Business enjoys a unique advantage: our location. Being in the vibrant city of Houston, we consistently draw a high-profile lineup of keynote speakers, guest lecturers, and conference panelists – people like Carolyn Comer (Shell Energy Americas), Osmar Abib (Credit Suisse) and Shiza Shahid (The Malala Fund).

Here are three reasons why Houston is the best place to network in business and connect with leaders in your industry.

Houston is not just a city. It's a dynamic business hub. 

Houston has the 3rd highest number of Fortune 500 company headquarters among U.S. metro areas. We lead the world in a wide range of industries, from energy and tech to healthcare and finance. 

This means Rice MBAs regularly make leadership connections by meeting prominent Houston professionals who are eager to share their stories and knowledge.

Houston is the most diverse city in the U.S.

Being the most diverse city in the United States means we have the best food in the country, of course. But it also means Rice Business is part of a robust, multi-cultural networking landscape.

Rice MBAs have access to embassies, transnational business networks, and global organizations. So, our consulting projects and experiential labs serve as a gateway to international connections and global leaders. Our students regularly interact with world-changers – from right here at home.

Rice Business forums and conferences add to Houston’s intellectual capital.

Our students organize annual thought leadership and research forums like the Rice Energy Finance Summit (REFS), the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference and the Women in Leadership Conference (WILC).

These renowned events attract top-tier researchers, entrepreneurs, scholars and founders – people like Andrea Alexander (Rent the Runway), Maureen “Mo” Berkner Boyt (The Moxie Exchange), and Kaes Van’t Hof (Diamondback Energy). These visitors challenge and empower Rice MBAs to make a positive impact in their chosen fields.

So, if you’re looking for an MBA program that goes beyond the ordinary…

Rice Business in Houston is the place to be. We can’t wait to welcome you to our community of future forerunners and trailblazers.