Meet Dart Bebel, Member of the Inaugural Hybrid MBA Cohort and Co-Chair of the Program's Rice Business Student Association

Why did you select Rice Business and why did you choose the Hybrid MBA program?

I chose Rice Business for 2 big reasons. First, I wanted a well balanced program and curriculum. I’m not sure exactly what my next career opportunity will be so it was very important to me to pick a program with an academic outline that could propel me in many directions rather than a program focused on 1 or 2 technical functions. The second reason I chose Rice and ultimately the Hybrid MBA program is because of the prestigious reputation of the faculty, staff and students. I wanted to learn and interact with the best. Both the Online and In-Person MBA program are very highly rated and so the Hybrid program allows me to experience the best of both worlds.

Can you describe your preparation process for business school?

The first thing I did was make sure that an MBA is something that I wanted and was mentally prepared for. I had conversations with my mentors and several C-Suite executives at my company. A made a list of objectives and reasons for going back to business school and discussed them point by point with people I trusted. At the end of that process it was clear to me that there was a strong benefit to pursuing this degree at this time.

What do you most look forward to as an MBA student?

The Hybrid MBA is unique in that I’m still working full-time, I live outside of the Houston metro area but I’m still getting a world class education from Rice. For those reasons, I really look forward to the monthly on-campus weekends. First, I get to tune out the distractions of home and really focus on integrating the concepts we have been learning into real life. But I also really enjoy interacting with my cohort both in and out of the classroom. I was surprised at how much learning happens over dinner and just casual conversations about our personal stories and careers.

Can you describe your professional goals after Rice Business?

I decided to pursue an MBA at Rice Business because I aspire to more leadership opportunities with Vacasa and in my career that require great problem-solving and communication skills. Moreover, I’m interested in National Basketball Association (NBA) franchise ownership and operations in collaboration with an entertainment enterprise. I really like the business of sports and entertainment. It’s also true that most sports executives build their skills and spread their influence in other industries before pivoting into sports and entertainment. The broad skill set provided by Rice Business’ MBA program will equip me with resources to be a champion executive before transitioning into sports enterprise management.

What advice would you give to someone applying to the Hybrid MBA program?

The format of the Hybrid MBA program is highly unique. Make sure that it’s an environment that will feel confident working and learning in. Individuals that are camera shy might do better in other formats. Our discussions (even online) are very lively. Also if you have weak wifi, get an ethernet cable and run it up to your router like I did. You’re going to need it!

Want to know more about the Hybrid MBA student experience? Attend one of our admissions events!