Xavaier Oliphant

Why did you choose Rice Business? 

Rice reminds me of home. In some ways, the community reminds me of Texas A&M, where I received my first master's degree. While at Prairie View A&M, I became accustomed to a small, close-knit community and was fortunate to find this at Rice University. Also, Rice is in Houston, where most of my network is based. Since I already have a vast community of people from my previous school, family and fraternity in the Houston area, who I know are very supportive, I knew Rice would provide the best opportunity to advance my career.

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

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One accomplishment I am most pleased with is my ability to step out of my comfort zone and meet people with like-minded views. Rice taught me the principle of sharpening iron with iron by emphasizing the willingness to help others and the courage to seek assistance. As a result of this valuable lesson, I have encountered people willing to support others through difficulties in school and other life challenges. Thus, after my year at Rice, I know that courage and service are essential to winning. No one is an expert in everything; to win, we must work together.

How has Rice helped you in your career? 

Rice's MBA program taught me how to overcome imposter syndrome. I started the program with doubts about what I could achieve and whether I was in the right place. It was undoubtedly a challenging path. However, over the past year, I have learned that discomfort is essential to growth. During my time at Rice, there were moments when the only options were to give up or to get strategic about how to succeed. With the proper support and lessons, I thankfully chose the latter option.

In addition, Rice has prepared me to be an effective leader by equipping me with practical skills and interpersonal knowledge. I understood that everyone is unique and comes with a different perspective, and I developed a skill that is essential for all leaders. I learned how to discover people's superpowers and utilize their talents to create masterpieces in the marketplace.

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

I encourage every prospective student to understand their "why." Why do you want an MBA? What drives you? Is this MBA going to make a difference in your career? If you want to take this route, you must answer all three questions. An MBA is akin to starting a new job; everything and everyone is unfamiliar. Also, you must start over without compensation to learn something that will advance your skill set in the long run! There are less challenging programs; however, they come with different and fewer benefits than Rice. This choice is what we call an opportunity cost in business. You have to give up something to gain another. Remember your why when things get tough in school. Be confident and trust in yourself to overcome all obstacles.

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

Diversity, equality and inclusion are necessary for the workplace and should be continually emphasized. One area most organizations can improve is providing mentorship to their minority employees. This mentorship should cover the training and coaching they need to climb the success ladder and eliminate the need to work ten times more than their counterparts to achieve the same results. 

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

My approach to working with allies at work and school is to be amiable, show your humanity, ask them how their day is going, and genuinely care to know. It is possible to open doors just by building a relationship with someone. Building a relationship can start as simple as asking them to grab a coffee or commenting on something about their work or something else that matters to them. Also, I value people's opinions, especially if they are an ally in a group setting. You can significantly impact others by listening more and talking less.

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

There will be people who do not understand why you chose the path you did in life. There are times when people give you advice on what you should do. This uncertainty is scary for prospective students, but if you've been thinking about it for a while, go for it. As you build your network, don't be afraid to make a move if you believe it will benefit your family or community in the long run. Yes, dreams come true, but only when you get up and take action!