Pillar 1

We are committed to elevating diversity, equity and inclusion, collectively, as a fundamental pillar of our organizational identity and culture, so that every member of our community feels embraced and empowered. 

Our efforts to elevate school culture and climate are reflected in the other four strategic pillars:

 

These efforts will focus on fostering equity and inclusion as we elevate diversity among faculty, staff and students.

Employee Engagement and Development

Our school culture and climate are positively impacted when our internal stakeholders — students, staff and faculty — spend time building and sustaining relationships inside and outside of our workplace. Over the past year, Jessica Krom, director of staff administration, coordinated several engagement events with the incredible support of staff-led leadership organizations (e.g., Rice Business Staff Council and Rice Business Network.)

Engagement Initiatives

Engagement Initiatives

  • This year marked the fourth annual Rice Business Staff Awards Ceremony hosted by Dean Peter Rodriguez. This event recognizes the years of service milestones within the staff community. This event also celebrates the amazing contributions within the staff community. Every year, Rice Business staff members nominate their peers for awards embodying our community’s culture. A committee is formed with deans, students and staff members to select the award winners.  

    The 2024 Staff Award recipients (in order of appearance, left to right, in the photo) 

    • Regina Edwards | You Belong Here Award
    • Abbey Hartgrove | Mountain Mover Award
    • Jan Spreen | Helping Hand Award
    • Mariella De Alba Ortiz | Student Impact Award
    • Rafael Serrillos Barboza | Above and Beyond Award
    • Gabrielle Metcalf | Rising Star Award
    • Phalon Ervin | Deans Award
    • Kelcie Johnson | Leading From Behind Award (not pictured)
    • Murphy Guidry | Tina Smith Award (not pictured)
  • In collaboration with the Events Management team, the Office of Business and Administration hosted a Valentine’s Day Candy Bar to celebrate the holiday as a community. The event was open to faculty, Ph.D. candidates and staff. The event was hosted to elevate visibility to the newly redone staff lounge, which came via a proposal from Katrena Friedman as a part of her final L.E.A.P. project. The new staff lounge was well-received during this event.  

  • Annually hosted by senior leadership and coordinated by the events management team, these two festive celebrations have consistently brought the staff community together in a meaningful way. The annual gingerbread house competition is held during the Winter Celebration, and the Career Development Office is holding the championship position with their first-place win. Engagement flourishes during these two flagship events as staff come together in seasons of gratitude and hope.  

  • Hosted semiannually, the Rice Business Staff Town Hall offers a space to connect with staff members across Rice Business, facilitate conversations with staff members and leadership, and ensure that all staff members stay informed about the latest developments within the organization. This biannual event is led by the Rice Business Staff Council. This year's presentations included details related to:  

    • The 50th anniversary celebration of Rice Business  
    • Executive Education development opportunities  
    • Building expansion and development updates  
    • Staff administration structure  
  • Rice Business Gives Back is a service initiative that allows students, faculty and staff to give back to the local Houston community. This year, Rice Business staff members were invited to bring a friend, family member or colleague from other corners of campus to serve alongside the staff-specific initiative. As a staff community, we served at the following locations to strategically target food insecurity in the Houston area.  

    • Target Hunger, Fall 2023 
    • Houston Food Bank, Spring 2024 

Rice Business Staff Council (RBSC)

The mission of RBSC is to enhance the work experience for all staff members of Rice Business by providing representation, resources and opportunities for involvement that elevate and celebrate overall work-life engagement.

The staff council was formed in 2018 to work with the dean’s office in an effort to strengthen ties between employees in the business school, enrich the school through more efficient and thoughtful processes, and improve our personal and professional outcomes.

Rice Business Staff Council Members (2023–2024):

  • Chase Crook, Lead 
  • Paul Foley, Secretary/Treasurer 
  • Emily Reichenbach, Events 

This year, Rice Business Staff Council members have taken the lead on many engagement opportunities that have driven the school’s commitment to engagement and positive staff experiences. A few of the initiatives are listed below:  

  • Month of Gratitude  
  • Coffee and Conversations with Dean Peter Rodriguez  
  • Gingerbread House Competition  
  • Cool Off and Connect: A Day of Well-being  
  • Annual Step Challenge  
  • Staff Appreciation Celebration Day  

Rice Business Network (RBN)

The Rice Business Network is a staff-led networking group with the goal of connecting staff between departments and providing opportunities for quarterly professional development and off-site networking socials. All Rice Business staff are eligible to join RBN. The RBN executive committee collaborates and organizes professional development workshops and networking opportunities with RBN advisor, Jessica Krom.  

Rice Business Network Executive Committee (2023-2024, alphabetically by last name):

  • Jennifer Applebee 
  • Sofia Cormack
  • Regina Edwards
  • Paul Foley  
  • Nikole Jessie
  • Victoria Nguyen  
  • Alli Simmons 

Workshop Topics:

Rice Business Network Workshops

  • Attendees had the opportunity to learn from a panel of experienced leaders from within Rice Business. This moderated panel covered topics ranging from career planning, conflict management, mentorship, workplace/team culture and managing change.  

    Featured Panelists:  

  • This interactive and fun session led by Janet Moore (director of communication program and senior lecturer in management communication) explored the messages that we send to ourselves and others through personal style. Participants learned how to treat their personal style as a strategic communication tool to enhance professional success.  

  • Attendees heard from staff members with previous leadership experience in the Rice Business Network, Rice Business Staff Council (RBSC) and Lead, Engage, Align, Perform (LEAP). Panelists shared insights on serving in these roles, development of leadership skills and impact within the Rice Business community.  

    Featured Panelists: 

    • Owen Amadin, Director, Faculty Services Administration 
    • Cheyenna Mitchell, Program Director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship 
    • Troy Tabner, Associate Director Communications and Events, Career Development Office 
    • Jennifer Applebee, Associate Director Recruiting & Employer Relations, Career Development Office 

Recognition, Social Support, Professional Development, and Workplace Policies and Practices

Our school culture is strengthened by other new initiatives that foster recognition, social support, professional development, and supportive workplace policies and practices.

Recognition, Social Support, Professional Development and Workplace Policies and Practices

    • Employee Appreciation Day is one of the most visible ways in which staff members are celebrated and recognized publicly.  
    • Staff Awards Ceremony, recognizing organizational values and years-of-service recipients. Because Dean Peter Rodriguez hosts this event, there is a visible prioritization of elevated recognition of staff members. This event also reinforces the collaboration and responsibility staff members take on in their own nominations for the awards of their colleagues.  
    • As we prepare to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary, an appreciation survey has been shared to better meet the preferences of our staff members in times of recognition and celebration.  
    • National Staff Appreciation Day took place March 1 and in collaboration with the events management team, donuts were had to celebrate the occasion.   
    • Listening Tour: Led by Associate Dean Christian Rafidi to gain a better understanding of the staff experience at Rice Business.
    • Rice Business Network professional development and social support.
    • Rice Business Staff Council to garner feedback and encourage employee engagement. 
    • Milestone celebrations: Cookies sent for one-year anniversaries and arrangements sent for graduation achievements of staff members.  
    • Recovery, Bereavement/Condolences engagement: Cards were provided to teams to express sympathies, and flowers were sent when requested to those staff members who lost family members or were on short-term disability leave.  
    • Leadership meetings were established with area leads to open channels of communication and ensure efficiencies across the organization. These meetings were proposed and are held quarterly by Associate Dean Christian Rafidi.  
    • Individual coaching opportunities for staff  
    • Training offered to supervisors focused on Agility and Leader as Coach 
    • Collaborative offering of Executive Education opportunities for supervisors to take Management Incubator and Leadership Accelerator courses at no cost  
    • OWL welcome program to introduce new employees to different departments 
    • Flexible work schedules in low-volume seasons.  

Academic Programs and Student Experience

The Office of Academic Programs and Student Experience (APSE) focuses on the delivery of Rice Business’ academic degree programs, blending operational excellence in program delivery with a keen focus on empowering students to write their professional story, and imbuing members of our community with a sense of agency and purpose in the classroom, as well as the full array of experiences that are part of pursuing a degree at Rice Business. 

The APSE office accomplishes this goal through five focused teams of professionals:

  1. Student Success and Academic Advising
  2. Specialty Programs (including the Master of Accounting, Undergraduate Business Major and Online MBA).
  3. Global Programs and Experiential Learning
  4. Registration and Student Records
  5. Student Experience

The Student Experience team manages onboarding programs (known as Launch) and advises 40-plus student organizations; Rice Business Board Fellows; Rice Business Gives Back; the Rice Business Student Associations; and student conferences including Rice Energy Finance Summit, Women in Leadership Conference, and the Veterans Business Battle. They also host Partio (aka, party on the patio) — in partnership with the Rice Business Student Association — on Thursdays throughout the academic year. 

Each of these engagements, from student clubs to Partios and conferences, provides an atmosphere for students to find their home and connection at Rice Business. Moreover, these experiences help students to feel that they belong at Rice Business. 

Graduate Student Diversity Associations and Affinity Clubs

Our student diversity associations and affinity clubs play a pivotal role in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the campus culture. Discover how student diversity associations and affinity clubs actively shape the Rice Business community and beyond, each adding their unique perspective to a more inclusive future. 

Graduate Student Diversity Associations and Affinity Clubs

  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Breaking Barriers: Riyaaz Qawaali and the Jones Family Gospel Singers, Fall 2023 
      Arts Club students attended this concert hosted by the Indo-American Association. The production explored multiple faiths, presenting songs from the Hindu bhajan, Sufi Qawwali and Christian Gospel musical traditions. 
    • Sounds of the Himalayas, Fall 2023 
      Arts Club students attended Sounds of the Himalayas, a tribute concert in memory of santoor naestro and music composer, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma. Rahul Sharma, son of Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, paid homage to his father and guru, the pioneer of the santoor who elevated and popularized the 100-string hammered dulcimer around the world. 
    • Black Arts Crawl, Spring 2024 
      Arts Club and the Black Business Student Association (BBSA) co-sponsored this event to experience three unique art exhibitions in Houston’s museum district. The event began at the Holocaust Museum Houston, where attendees viewed “The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection” and heard from featured artist Ava Cosey. Then, the group visited the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) to experience “Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence” and “Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage.” 
    • Laughs in Spanish, Spring 2024 
      Arts Club members attended Laughs in Spanish. Hosted by Stages, “Laughs in Spanish” is a crime thriller turned fast-paced, cafecito-infused comedy about art and success, and a joyous snapshot of Cuban and Colombian American culture.
    • “Beatbox: a Raparetta, Spring 2024 
      Presented by Ensemble Theatre, Houston’s historic Black theater company, “Beatbox: A Raparetta” is a modern dramatic musical production written and performed in rhythm and rhyme with vocal drumbeats (also known as beatboxing), hip-hop dance and a live DJ. The play is soaked in hip-hop culture built from equal parts of anger and hope. Feel the flow in the lives of two stepbrothers navigating through loss, jealousy, friendship, and dreams. 
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • BBSA Networking with Accenture, Fall 2023 
      In partnership with Accenture Consulting, Black Business Student Association (BBSA) hosted an exclusive panel discussion and networking event. Attendees learned about internships and full-time job opportunities directly from Accenture representatives. 
    • Black Business Week Series, Spring 2024
      • Elevating Black Business at Rice: BBSA featured the achievements and contributions of current students across social media pages. 
      • Black-Owned Business Luncheon: BBSA hosted a luncheon with Rice Business alumnus Ope Amosu ’14. Amosu shared his journey of launching ChopnBlok. 
      • Networking: BBSA invited speaker and entrepreneur Lagina Harris to build on networking skills and other career-centered skills.  
      • Alumni Panel Reception: BBSA honored Black excellence with a Fireside Chat featuring Natalie Smith ’17 (Senior Director, EYP) and Dominic Smith ’20 (Investment Banking VP, JP Morgan), moderated by Rayna Anderson-Crier (Career Development Office career coach). Attendees gained valuable insights into dual careers as the Smith power couple shared their experiences and strategies for success, highlighting the nuances of navigating both investment banking and consulting. 
    • Black History Month Partio, Spring 2024 
      BBSA and the Rice Business Student Association co-hosted this evening filled with networking opportunities, delicious food from Black-owned vendors and celebratory dancing to honor Black History Month. 
    • BBSA Little Learners Initiative, Spring 2024 
    • During Black History Month, the BBSA supported underserved first graders in Black neighborhoods through the Little Learners Initiative. This program, aimed at providing educational supplies, symbolizes hope and encouragement, reinforcing the children’s potential and worth. The initiative seeks to broaden its impact, highlighting the importance of community support in validating these children’s dreams and aspirations. 
    • Black History Month: Movie Night 
      BBSA members hosted a movie night centered on Black history with the classic John Singleton movie, “Higher Learning.”
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Office Hours: National Black MBA Conference, Fall 2023 
      Consulting Association hosted this unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and advice from National Black MBA Conference attendees. Featuring second-year students who participated in the conference last year, the sessions offered tips on networking, maximizing the conference experience and career opportunities while answering questions and providing guidance. 
    • Consulting DEI Fireside Chat: Asians in Consulting, Fall 2023 
      Co-hosted by the Consulting Association and the Rice South Asian Business Association. Attendees learned about the challenges faced by the Asian community, tips about self-advocating and thriving in the consulting industry. 
    • Consulting DEI Fireside Chat: Latinx in Consulting, Fall 2023 
      Co-hosted by the Consulting Association and the Latin Business Student Association, this event discussed how to successfully navigate a career in consulting as a Latinx professional. Attendees learned the challenges faced by the Latinx community, how to self-advocate and tips to thrive in the consulting industry. 
    • Consulting DEI Fireside Chat: Blacks in Consulting, Fall 2023 
      Co-hosted by the Consulting Association and the Black Business Student Association, this event discussed how to successfully navigate a career in consulting as a Black professional. Attendees learned the challenges faced by the Black community, how to self-advocate and tips to thrive in the consulting industry. 
  • Featured event hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Lunar New Year Celebration, Spring 2024 
      This festive celebration is a wonderful opportunity for our EMBA community to come together, celebrate cultural diversity, and usher in the Lunar New Year with joy and camaraderie. Attendees contributed to the sense of unity within our academic community. It was a memorable occasion, providing an excellent opportunity for students and faculty to connect outside the academic setting. 
  • Featured event hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Diversity Recruiting Q&A, Fall 2023 
      The Finance Association hosted this virtual event to discuss the Diversity Recruiting process, ways to prepare and opportunities.

     

  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Meet and Greet Lunch, Fall 2023 
      The Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management partnered with FLI in a social gathering where members shared important tips and study resources for midterms.  
    • First-Generation College Day, Fall 2023 
      The Recruiting and Admissions Office, Marketing and Communications Office and FLI collaborated to highlight the lived experience of FLI members. The resulting video launched on First-Generation College Day.  
    • Holiday Social, Fall 2023 
      Together with FLI, The Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, the Latin Business Student Association and the Black Business Student Association hosted a combined holiday social gathering for members. 
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Student-Led Interministry Worship Night, Fall 2023 
      Jones Christian Fellowship (JCF) members joined in a cross-denominational night of fellowship, prayer and worship.  
    • Lunch & Learn with David Oelfke, Fall 2023 
      JCF members enjoyed a lively discussion about the intersection of faith and business led by David Oelfke. 
    • JCF Bible Study, Fall 2023 
      JCF members regularly hosted Bible studies throughout the fall semester. 
    • 2024 Believers in Business Conference, Spring 2024 
      “Radically Inspiring: A Full life in Christ” took place in New York, and JCF members represented Rice Business at this business conference. 
  • The mission of the Jones Public Policy Roundtable at the Jones Graduate School of Business is to provide a forum for students to explore the relationship between business, government and policy, both domestically and internationally. The club works to cultivate thoughtful civic and business leaders who recognize a mutual responsibility for the societal effects of business and policy decisions on the community.

    Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • El Grito: Mexico Now, Fall 2023 
      In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, members attended a panel discussion with Rice University experts on the most significant social and cultural issues affecting Mexico today. This event is sponsored by Rice University Multicultural Community Relations in the Office of Public Affairs and the Baker Institute Center for the U.S. and Mexico. 
    • Resilience as Part of the DNA of a City, Fall 2023 
      Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy hosted this event with Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas, the mayor of the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Public Policy members learned about Mayor Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas’ perspective on city governance and Mexico’s economic and cultural framework. 
    • Preserving Democracy – The Role of the National Archives, Fall 2023 
      This event was sponsored by the Office of the Director of the Baker Institute, the Honorable David M. Satterfield. At this event, a panel of experts, including U.S. Archivist Colleen Shogan, Ph.D., explored the significance of NARA’s mission, underscoring its pivotal role in preserving our nation’s historical heritage. They also discussed the intricate challenges linked to preserving digital data, the growing demand for digital literacy skills and the critical importance of securing our digital legacy.  
    • A Conversation with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Fall 2023 
      Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken joined the Honorable David Satterfield, director of Rice University’s Baker Institute, for a wide-ranging conversation about foreign policy and U.S. national security interests. The Honorable James A. Baker, III, former secretary of state and honorary chair of the Baker Institute, delivered opening remarks. 
      This event was presented as part of the Shell Distinguished Lecture Series by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. It was free and open to the public via in-person attendance or livestream. 
    • A Conversation with Condoleezza Rice, Spring 2024 
      Amidst ongoing violent conflicts abroad and a deeply polarized domestic political landscape, focus has moved to the academic community and the delicate balance between free speech and incitement. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined Baker Institute director David M. Satterfield to discuss how leaders — both on the world stage and in higher education — are responding to present domestic and international challenges. 
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • American Mariachi at the Alley Theater, Fall 2023 
      Hosted at the Alley Theatre, Latin Business Student Association (LBSA) students attended the live mariachi music-infused play “American Mariachi.” This event was co-hosted by Arts Club. 
    • Fiesta Latina, Fall 2023 
      The LBSA, Office of International Students & Scholars, Student Activities, Latin American Graduate Student Association (LAGSA) and other Latin graduate organizations celebrated Our Heritage Month (Rice University’s Hispanic Heritage Month) with a night of authentic cuisine, music and dance. 
    • Dia de los Muertos Festival, Fall 2024 
      LBSA and Jones Partners and Families joined together to promote MECA’s family-friendly Day of the Dead community festival. 
    • Exploring Diversity at Microsoft, Spring 2024 
      The Latin Business Student Association and the Black Business Student Association co-hosted a resume/LinkedIn review with Bryan Leon (cybersecurity program manager, Microsoft career coach) and a panel discussion with Microsoft ERGs (Employee Resource Group) employee members to learn how Microsoft promotes diversity. 
    • Authentic Self Workshop, Spring 2024 
      LBSA hosted this workshop with Alexandra Herrera, executive coach, who shared strategies for being authentic and thriving professionally. 
    • Karaoke Party, Spring 2024 
      LBSA and LAGSA co-hosted this event to build community across the Rice University campus. 
  • Featured event hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Women in Leadership Conference (WILC) Volunteer Training 
      Men as Allies partnered with the Women in Leadership Conference planning team to host three volunteer training sessions. Topics ranged from learning about WILC and volunteer roles to conference operations and logistics.  
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Recruiting at ROMBA – Alumni & 2nd Year Panel + Networking 
      Past and present Out & Allied (O&A) members shared tips on how to maximize time at the ROMBA Conference, a conference intended for members of the LGBTQ community and active allies. 
    • Black History Trivia Night, Spring 2024 
      In honor of Black History Month, BBSA and O&A joined forces to bring Rice Business Students a fun and engaging trivia game centered around Black history. 
    • Drag Queen Story Time: The Goal, Spring 2024 
      O&A and Operations & Supply Chain collaborated to present the premiere business fable The Goal. Houston drag queen Persephone regaled the audience with the tale of Alex Rogo and his manufacturing plant attempt to reckon with Bill Peach’s ego. 
    • Transparent, Spring 2024 
      O&A hosted an inspiring conversation on navigating careers for individuals of trans experience. Guest speaker Kelly Kline shared her involvement in advocacy surrounding HIV awareness and transgender wellness. 
    • Pride Partio, Spring 2024 
      O&A and the Rice Business Student Association co-hosted this event to celebrate Pride. The event featured drag performances and food from LGBTQ-owned business Mombasa Street Eats. In recognition of Ramadan, food options were halal. 
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • DEI Brunch in Honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Fall 2023 
      The Rice Business Student Association for Professionals (RBSAP) hosted this brunch at a Hispanic-owned restaurant, Maison Pucha Bistro. Attendees enjoyed great food and discussed how DEI and heritage play a role in creating and sustaining a business. The Pucha brothers, owners of Maison Pucha Bistro, shared their journey to entrepreneurship, how they came up with the creative idea to blend their Ecuadorian heritage with French cuisine and how celebrating DEI is prioritized in their businesses. 
    • RBSA X RBSAP: “Standing in Difference” Alumni Panel, Spring 2024 
      “Standing in Difference” was an inclusive event created and coordinated by RBSA and RBSAP. The intention was to provide valuable insights into different affinity communities navigating the corporate world. The event fostered a sense of community, support and empowerment while addressing the unique challenges faced by people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups in corporate settings. 
      The event consisted of a diverse panel of accomplished professionals and Rice alums from various industries who successfully carved out their careers. These panelists explored topics such as corporate culture, resource accessibility and the journey to breaking into specific industries. 
    • Iftar Dinner, Spring 2024 
      Ramadan is a time for blessings and peace to be spread. This year, RBSAP joined forces with RBSA to host its most popular DEI dinner. This annual dinner is meant to encourage students to engage in meaningful conversation about other cultures and religions with the purpose of fostering a deeper sense of belonging throughout Rice Business. The Maghrib prayer was student-led, with attendees encouraged to bring prayer mats. 
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Salute to Service Football Game, Fall 2023 
      Rice University and Rice Athletics recognized Rice Veterans Business Association for their service to the country at the annual Salute to Service Rice football game. This special game honors the courageous men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation. 
    • Veterans Day Partio (sponsored by Phillips 66), Fall 2023  
      The Jones Graduate School of Business and the Rice Business Veterans Association invited the Rice Business community to recognize our military students, faculty, staff and executive partners for their patriotism and willingness to serve our country. Rice Business has veteran or active-duty students enrolled across all MBA programs at Rice Business representing the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines Corps and Navy. We honor their service and value their unique contributions to our school. This event was co-hosted by the Rice Business Student Association and Rice Business Veterans Association. 
    • Veterans Business Battle, Spring 2024 
      Veterans Business Battle is the largest veteran-focused business plan competition in the country and serves as a forum to connect veterans with investors, advisers and resources. The goal is to lead as many veteran-owned businesses to success as possible.  
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Winning with Women: Finance, Fall 2023 
      RBWO and the Finance Association collaborated to connect current MBA students with Rice Business alumni in finance. This event gave students a chance to ask about the jobs that professionals are in, as well as challenges, roadblocks, favorite parts of their jobs and anything in between. 

      Featured alums: 
      Katie Cothern, MBA ’22 - ex-Credit Suisse and Main Street Capital (Private Equity) 
      Takeya Green, MBA ’22 - Citi Bank (IB) 
      Kelli Muhl, MBA ’22 - Morgan Stanley (IB) 
      Christina Tschirgi, MBA ’22 - Bank of America (IB) 
      Reena Kandarie, MBA ’21 - Chevron (Corporate Finance) 
      Jami Healing, MBA ’21 - Chevron (Corporate Finance) 
    • Women in Technology Consulting Lunch & Learn with Infosys, Fall 2023 
      Rice Business Women’s Organization and Rice Business Consulting Club, in partnership with Infosys Women Connect, invited women interested in careers in technology and consulting to hear from seasoned consulting professionals and Jones School alumni about their experiences. 
    • Women in Leadership Conference, Spring 2023  
      The 24th annual Women in Leadership Conference was held in person Friday, February 9. The conference has been a beacon of inspiration in the Houston community, empowering women to accomplish their career goals.    
      In panel discussions and interactive workshops, attendees heard from leaders across different industries, explored various approaches to leadership, and discussed future opportunities for success.    
    • Women’s History Month Partio, Spring 2024 
      This event was hosted by the Rice Business Student Association and co-hosted with Rice Business Women’s Organization to celebrate powerful stories of women in business and the major role they play in history.  
    • Women’s History Month Happy Hour, Spring 2024 
      The RBWO collaborated with the University of Houston’s Bauer Women’s Organization for a fun afternoon of socializing and building community. 
    • A Brand New You: Personal Branding Strategies for Career Success, Spring 2024 
      The RBWO hosted a lunchtime session with certified career coach Rayna Anderson-Crier, exploring high-impact strategies for personal branding. This workshop helped attendees identify unique values, celebrate authenticity and develop compelling storylines. 
  • Featured event hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Diwali Partio, Fall 2023 
      Diwali is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and wisdom over ignorance. This is symbolized in the fact that it is celebrated on a new moon day by lighting earthen lamps, burning firecrackers and decorating homes with string lights. Students celebrated Diwali with a night filled with lights, great food and lots of fun. 

Undergraduate Diversity Associations and Student Affinity Clubs

Undergraduate Diversity Associations and Student Affinity Clubs

  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Diversity Recruiting Information Session, Fall 2023 
      Rice Business Society (RBS) held an information session for students with racial, ethnic, gender and LGBTQ+ diverse identities interested in pursuing consulting, investment banking and private equity summer and full-time analyst programs. Programming highlighted respective industry timelines and firms, outlined interview components and engaged students in mock interview environments.   
    • RBS Clothing Drive 
      RBS hosted a campus-wide clothing drive to collect donations for students needing clothing for interviews and business events. The clothing drive was open for students to request from and donate to year-round, and members of the RBS board facilitated donation pick-up and distribution. The clothing drive was an effort to increase accessibility at Rice for all groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, helping facilitate collaboration across Rice’s business community. 
    • Girls Who Invest Panel, Fall 2023 
      Co-sponsored by Rice Business Society (RBS), Rice Women in Business (RWiB), and Women in Finance and Investing (Wi-Fi), the Girls Who Invest Panel featured students who have completed the online intensive and summer intensive programs from the nonprofit organization Girls Who Invest. Girls Who Invest is focused on increasing female access to investing and buy-side roles. Girls Who Invest connects women interested in alternative asset management with opportunities across the space and mentorship from Girls Who Invest network alumni/peers to increase the representation of women in the industry. They have programs for first- and second-year undergraduates. 
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Consulting and Investment Banking Diversity Recruiting information session, Fall 2023 
      Rice Women in Business (RWiB) members learned from speakers who have gone through the Consulting and IB Diversity recruiting process. 
    • Bain and Company CREW information session  
      Representatives from Bain and Company spoke with RWiB members about Bain Connected and Resourcing Empowered Women (CREW), a women’s leadership program.  
    • Meet the Women at McKinsey information session, Fall 2023 
      Practitioners and Rice alumni Delaney Schultz ’23 and Catalina Santamaria ’21 discussed their experiences working at McKinsey with RWiB members. 
  • Featured events hosted or attended by this organization:

    • Hines Fireside Chat, Fall 2023 
      This event with Manika Daruka ’19 allowed students to learn more about her role as an investment associate at Hines. During this event, she shared her recruiting experience, her role at Hines, and how she navigated different career opportunities during her time at Rice.  
    • Introduction to Venture Capital Panel, Fall 2023 
      This event focused on introducing undergraduates to career opportunities in venture capital after Rice. We had two former Rice undergraduates as panelists, Nafisa Istami ’21, who joined Mercury Fund, and Juliette Richert ’20, who joined The Artemis Fund after graduation. They shared how they broke into venture capital from Rice, how they explored this career interest during their undergraduate careers, and general advice for learning more about the Texas venture capital space. 
    • MBA Mentorship Program, Spring 2024 
      Throughout the spring semester, starting in February, Wi-Fi hosted an MBA mentorship program that paired undergraduate students with MBA students based on work experience, career goals and interests. This gave undergraduate women an opportunity to learn more about different careers and how to navigate career changes and seek new opportunities. 

Community Insights Collective

Composed of Rice Business MBA student government representatives and student club liaisons, the Community Insights Collective (CIC) provides members of Rice Business an opportunity to discuss, share and inform each other on matters related to our community as well as to support the many initiatives of the different groups. 

CIC aspires to:

  • Be a forum to exchange information and share ideas among student groups.
  • Provide suggestions for activities and programming, including the annual DEI conference.
  • Inform the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion about best practices regarding cultural and heritage observances.