What was your pre-MBA Industry and function?

• Entertainment, Voiceover Actor and Podcast Producer

What will be your post-MBA Industry and function?

• Consulting

Why did you want to pursue your MBA?

I have always been a curious person. Since I was younger, I would look for new information that would help me understand our world. That mission took me through the sciences, entertainment, entrepreneurship and a variety of hobbies. Along the way, I realized that while I could learn things in isolation, there was greater benefit from learning about their interactions. I view business as a force in our society that connects all topics and fields, and I wanted to learn the intricacies involved; this is what led me to pursue an MBA.

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Why did you choose Rice Business?

I felt welcomed by Rice Business from the beginning. Throughout the application process I was able to connect with current students, alumni and the admissions committee whenever I had questions. I appreciated how available and willing to chat everyone was and wanted to be a part of that type of community. Also, the warm weather in Houston is nice :)

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

Out of everything I have done at Rice Business, I am most proud of receiving internship offers from all of the companies I interviewed with. When starting the MBA program, I was concerned because I have a unique background and knew that I would have to work hard to convey my capabilities. I dove right into the MBA experience by participating in case competitions, signing up for additional tutoring so my grades would reflect what I’ve learned, and spent every weekend on campus doing interview prep. Happily, it all paid off, and I feel like I have met my goals.

What are you most proud of in your career?

I am most proud of making the shift from laboratory scientist into entertainment. My first job offered a very clear and stable career path, but it did not excite me. I had no close connections to the entertainment industry so I had to do all my own research and make my own connections. Pivoting can be intimidating and sometimes it can feel like you will never be ready; taking the leap requires courage and a willingness to face uncertainty.

How has the Rice MBA helped you in your career?

Being a part of the Rice MBA program has allowed me to meet many people in a variety of fields. I never would have had access to some of these people beforehand, and I might not have even known I needed to chat with them! If I have a question, there is someone out there who can get me an answer and someone at Rice Business who will connect me with that person. 

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What does it mean to you to be a woman in business?

For me, being a woman in business means having choices. It is liberating to feel like I can go into new industries or functions and have the ability to get the job done. I am very grateful for all of the women before me who paved the way, took a stand against the nay-sayers and opened up these numerous possibilities.

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

I would tell prospective students to keep an open mind but to really reflect and know who they are before and throughout the MBA experience. There are so many things you can do and ways you can get involved over the two years. It’s physically impossible to take advantage of everything. Having goals, knowing your interests and your values will guide you through all of the many opportunities and help you take advantage of the MBA in a way that’s best for you and your career.

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

Most of us approach an MBA from one point of view – our point of view. I remember thinking about what classes I would take, what clubs I wanted to sign up for, how it could help my career, etc. What’s interesting, is that an MBA, especially a Rice MBA, is not a solo process. In addition to a heavy emphasis on teamwork, I have felt supported every step of the way whether it be from professors, clubs, the Career Development Office, new friends, old friends or family. At the end of the day, the MBA will be for me, but I could not have done it on my own.

What was your pre-MBA Industry and function?

• I have a bit of an unconventional background – I was a corporate litigation paralegal for two years and then a personal chef.

What will be your post-MBA Industry and function?

• Foodtech/CPG industry. I’ll continue running my own company, Berman Foods, as the founder and CEO and may also join another startup.

Clubs and organizations:

• Academic Affairs Chair for the Jones Student Association
• Marketing Director for the Entrepreneurship Association
• Admissions Ambassador

Why did you want to pursue your MBA?

Working in law, I realized how long it takes to effect real change. I decided I could have a more immediate impact by working directly in the market. Simultaneously, I watched as several plant-based companies struggled to scale efficiently and decided I could contribute to our food system by bringing more business acumen to the field. I had no business background and knew I would benefit from joining a full-time MBA program so I could immerse myself in the courses. 

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Why did you choose Rice Business?

Rice stood out to me early on for its entrepreneurship program and genuine emphasis on learning. Once I began communicating with the admissions team and shared with them that I wanted to work in plant-based food, they further set the school apart by describing the many resources available to student entrepreneurs on campus and within the larger Rice community. They were the first and only program that promised to have my back. 

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

The connections I’ve made with my classmates and some of my professors! I’ve had the joy of getting to know so many wonderful people, all with unique backgrounds, perspectives and aspirations. 

What are you most proud of in your career?

Starting my own company and creating a product that customers love! It’s been the coolest experience to watch people trying and enjoying our products. I finally feel like I’m getting to do exactly what I was meant to do with my life. 

How has the Rice MBA helped you in your career?

Rice has helped me in so many ways. My classes, especially those in entrepreneurship, strategy and marketing, have completely reframed how I think about business and brands. The guidance of my professors and classmates has been integral to launching my company. Most importantly, Rice has introduced me to the most supportive community, without whom I would not have had the confidence to do many of the things I’ve tried over the past two years. It’s been a life-changing experience.

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What does it mean to you to be a woman in business?

It should not mean anything different than being a man in business, but it seems to. It’s taught me to advocate for myself. It often means bringing a different perspective to the discussion. It also means that I have a responsibility to bring more women into the room with me whenever I can, and to make everything a little easier for the next generation. 

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

Carefully consider why you want an MBA, and then jump in fully. It helps to have a clear purpose for being here so that you may spend your time accordingly. Prioritize getting to know your peers because that’s the richest and warmest part of it all. 

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

Rice is an exceptional community full of brilliant, fascinating and loving people. I’m so glad I chose this school. Also, there are very few concrete limits to what you can accomplish. Trust yourself and go all in!

New York-based artist Kate Shepherd will give an artist talk at the Menil Drawing Institute Feb. 17 to discuss her work: richly toned works on paper and paintings known for their exquisitely fine lines, spatial complexity and attention to the saturation of the paint. Two of Shepherd’s works are currently on view in “Spatial Awareness: Drawings from the Permanent Collection at the Menil Drawing Institute,” which runs through March 13.

But here at Rice, a new wall painting by Shepherd has joined the university’s permanent collection of public art. “Tricycle Red, Pelican Gray etc., partial octagons” was installed over a week in December in the lobby of McNair Hall at the Jones Graduate School of Business.

It is Shepherd’s first permanent wall painting in a public space and an important acquisition by a living female artist whose work has been exhibited at museums and galleries across the United States and Europe since 1994. Shepherd’s work is also included among the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Menil Collection, the Baltimore Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York.

“Tricycle Red, Pelican Gray etc., partial octagons” joins the work of other significant artists whose wall drawings have been installed on campus, including Sol LeWitt in the Glasscock School for Continuing Studies and, more recently, Ganzeer’s murals in the Baker Institute for Public Policy. As the title suggests, Shepherd’s piece features a striking assemblage of red and gray panels that were inspired by the octagonal rotunda of McNair Hall and the reddish hues of St. Joe brick buildings across campus.

Shepherd was commissioned to create the wall painting by the Jones School as part of the Rice Public Art collection, and worked closely with Frauke Josenhans, curator at the Moody Center for the Arts.

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“I hope that we succeeded in activating the space,” said Shepherd. “I think the mission statement was so clear, and it was inspiring to follow suit.”

The resulting artwork welcomes those entering the Jones School at a pivotal point on campus, just across from the student center and central quad.

“The mission statement was to activate the space with something that felt architectural and something colorful, very lively and something to really greet the people entering with a great sense of complication and joy,” Shepherd said.

The soaring rotunda of the Jones School is a bold architectural statement, the artist said, making it an obvious reference for her own work. Trained in both fine art and architecture, her work often illuminates inherent visual relationships between form and space.

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“It was really fortuitous, because I always like to work off something in the space and as a source of inspiration, and also to make sort of a partnership with the architecture,” Shepherd said.

In both her paintings and works on paper, Shepherd superimposes a matrix of delicate lines on chromatic, planar fields that seem to create three-dimensional spaces. The highly saturated layers of paint — she prefers Benjamin Moore — create a gleaming, almost reflective surface. Despite the minimal means and pared-down forms, her works function on an emotional level, with the large planes of color emanating an almost hypnotic power. 

“I think it creates space within space,” Josenhans said of “Tricycle Red, Pelican Gray etc., partial octagons.” Indeed it almost seems as if one could step into the wall itself, the planes creating roomlike shapes before your eyes.

“And there’s something pretty incredible about the fact that this is her first permanent public piece,” Josenhans said. “It's very exciting, and we are extremely honored to have Kate Shepherd’s work here on campus where everyone can enjoy it.”

Updated from original post that was published on 02/10/2022.

Enrolling in the Rice Business Professional MBA program is your chance to make a dramatic change in your career trajectory without interrupting it. You’ll bring new skills to work, master the work-life-school balance and make deep connections with people doing the exact same thing as you. Along with what you learn in the classroom, your network and net worth will grow.

And those benefits don’t wait until graduation. Many of your opportunities arise during the program. Many students ask for a seat at the table because of what they have learned and the new perspective they offer. They receive promotions as they begin applying what they’re learning and reap the rewards of the program from the beginning.

While a robust professional skill-set is necessary to adapt to change and have more career choices, your PMBA class will be one of the program’s most distinctive benefits, thanks to your classmates’ life and work experience. We know our Rice MBA requires a significant investment – both in finances and your time. Here is how to best calculate your ROI.

Return – The Right MBA Pays Dividends for Life

You can start with our strong career outcomes. Our PMBA graduates accept positions in a wide range of industries and job functions, including many who secure promotions and pivot to different companies. That means that you not only continue making a salary while securing an MBA, giving you an edge, but you also have the opportunity to earn a higher compensation at graduation and beyond.

Check out our Class of 2023 post-MBA outcomes:

• 52% accepted a new role at a new company
• 34% received a promotion
• $152,000 average base salary

Next, think about having the Rice Business network for life. Careers are long and your most powerful asset to navigate the ups and downs is a responsive network that opens doors. Our alumni base is 10,000 strong now, and they answer when you reach out. They interview our students for plum jobs and understand the rigor you’ve experienced. You can connect with Rice University alumni in the same way. While both networks are solid in Texas, you can find them in every state and almost every country. The Rice degree is your bond for life.

Once you're an alum, the learning doesn’t stop. There will be plenty of lifelong learning opportunities to sharpen your skills, learn new things and ensure you’re equipped to succeed no matter how the world changes. Your career will be filled with promotions, transitions and chances to pivot.

Attending a prominent university provides you access to premium career services. As an alum, you can always seek advice from our experienced advisors in the Career Development Office, who will help with job search strategies, transitioning your career, connecting with companies who want to recruit top MBAs, and other career-related needs. Our doors are always open for you.

An Investment in You

While the investment in tuition may feel daunting, our Financial Services team can sit down with you one-on-one to explain scholarships, financial aid and loans that will make paying for the degree possible. They’re familiar with the whole field of possibilities for lowering business school costs — and there are many. 

When you’ve decided to invest in yourself, remember that Houston’s best part-time MBA, the Rice MBA, will give you opportunities while you’re still in the program, bump your salary and put you on a higher trajectory for your growth path. In terms of higher education degrees, it offers one of the greatest returns on investment.

A brighter future starts with a bold first step. Get started on your application and reach out to my team for guidance. 
 

Explore Our Professional MBA