Chikere Ogbonnaya

Why did you choose Rice Business? 

While researching possible business schools, my top priorities were proximity to home, an exceptional network and reputation, and a nurtured sense of community. I wanted a top-ranked institution that had a relatively small class size to leverage interpersonal relationships with my professors and classmates. Those priorities landed me with a clear answer, which was Rice Business.

What are you most proud of from your time at Rice Business? 

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Though I relished getting to meet and learn from my extraordinary classmates and professors, I am most proud of successfully navigating a career pivot and leading the largest student organization at Rice Business. The consulting internship recruiting cycle is rigorous, it takes a great deal of preparation and networking. I landed an internship which led to a full-time offer with a Big Four firm. I leveraged my recruiting experience as an opportunity to pay it forward through leadership of the Consulting Association.

How has Rice helped you in your career? 

In addition to making a career change, I gained the understanding of evaluating a business from the outside in. Rice allowed me to obtain an abundance of information on macro-business analysis. Foundational courses such as accounting, finance and strategy will play a major role in my career progression, as I plan to apply lessons learned from case studies and lectures. Additionally, Rice Business’ nationally ranked entrepreneurship program has increased my knowledge on how to effectively manage my business. Being able to interact with guest speakers who have created or led successful businesses was a highlight of my Rice experience. As the founder of DOCUMENTED.CO (a clothing and lifestyle company), I began my MBA seeking to learn more about scaling my business. Rice allowed me to gain fresh insights on ways I could improve my business operations, from pricing to marketing and much more. 

What advice would you give prospective students who are considering an MBA? 

Everyone will have a unique path leading up to the decision to earn an MBA. I would advise dedicating time to reflect on what you want out of an MBA program. Whether it is a career pivot, rising within your current organization or just gaining some necessary business skills for an entrepreneurial journey, you should have an idea of what you would like to gain from the program. Networking is a key component of the MBA program experience. The relationships you build as a student can last throughout your career. You may be seeking new career opportunities, in which your peers may become your future colleagues and your lecturers could become your references. I suggest taking time to get to know people who share your path.

What do you think organizations should do better to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization? 

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Building an organization that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion starts with fostering a space that sees it as a strategic priority. Diversity of representation is shown to have a positive impact on a variety of areas, including innovation, employee satisfaction, and even the bottom line. The leadership team should make it a strategic priority with clear goals that are being reviewed regularly. An adjustment in hiring practices will have a positive impact in achieving a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. During the hiring process, a diverse slate of candidates is necessary, but an organization should consider maintaining a diverse hiring team to ensure an objective and fair process. Finally, the leadership team should be held accountable. Once an organization sets clear DEI goals and measures results against them, hold the leadership team accountable to those results.  

What suggestions do you have to work with allies within the workplace or at school?

Working with allies ultimately means showing up consistently. Not once, twice, or just when it’s easy, but every time, until the workplace or school is equitable. Being open to learning is crucial when working with allies, as you will encounter situations where you may not be familiar with how to react. Being an ally means listening to what individuals in a marginalized community need and recognizing how you can be part of a positive change. Working with allies requires you to consistently evaluate your behaviors and biases to make sure your actions are aligned with creating a more equitable environment. 

Do you have any other comments or anecdotes you would like to share? 

Rice Business was recently ranked #5 as the best MBA for consulting by Princeton Review, moving up five spots from the 2022 ranking. This is an important moment for me as I conclude my MBA. Upon taking on the role as president of the consulting association in 2022, it was a goal of mine to get that ranking to the top five. I am grateful to the Career Development Office, my great leadership team and the second years that made this possible. 

Photo credit: @riaotherworld on Instagram