Houston native Kendall Pierson began her accounting career at Rice after earning a BBA in Marketing (with an emphasis in digital marketing) from the University of Georgia. Before entering the MAcc program, she gained experience as a digital marketing intern with the University of Houston’s Enrollment Services team — and even worked at a local bakery for a stint to honor her love of baking. Continue reading to learn more about her journey and goals.

Tell us a little about your career and background.

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Education: University of Georgia, BBA in Marketing with an emphasis in digital marketing 

Relevant Career Highlights: During my undergraduate, I got to be a digital marketing intern with the University of Houston’s Enrollment Services team.

What is a fun fact about you?

I love baking, so I worked at a local bakery before joining the Rice MAcc program.

Why did you decide to pursue a MAcc?

After graduating with a marketing degree and reflecting on what I wanted my future career to look like, I knew I wanted more. I am grateful for my marketing background and experience, but shifting my focus to accounting seemed to better align with my skills, personality and future goals. I knew that a Master’s in Accounting would be the best next step.

Why did you choose Rice Business for your MAcc?

Being from Houston, I had always heard great things about Rice. When I was researching MAcc programs, Rice Business stood out to me — first, for its tight-knit community. From taking every class together to weekly social events, students build great connections and everyone helps one other reach their goals. Secondly, the Rice MAcc presents such a clear path to a successful career after the program. The MAcc-specific networking events and panels with professionals help tremendously with getting your foot in the door, which is so helpful for someone like me who didn’t major in accounting. 

But ultimately, the deciding factor for me was meeting the program’s director, Benjamin Lansford. He is truly the most welcoming and genuine person. Even from my first conversation with him, I could tell that he would always be in my corner and rooting for my success, both during the program and beyond.

How would you describe the culture here?

The culture in the MAcc program is one of the best parts of the program. It is built on collaboration rather than competition, and you truly feel like you are all in it together. The consistent support not only enhances the academic experience but also creates meaningful relationships that extend beyond the program. Being able to lean on others provides reassurance, motivation and confidence, even when the workload starts to ramp up.

Has anything exceeded your expectations about the MAcc program?

The thing that exceeded my expectations the most was the networking and career preparation Rice offers. Rice often brings back former MAcc students who are now working at major accounting firms, allowing students to talk to alumni who were once in our seats, dealing with the same classes and career decisions. Hearing their experiences helps you better picture your own path, and it makes everything feel much more achievable. Alums are always willing to share advice, answer questions and support current students, which shows how much they genuinely care about helping the next group succeed. 

What does a “day in the life” look like for you in the program? 

I usually like to start my mornings with a long walk before my classes — the loop around Rice campus is my go-to. After that, we have one or two classes in the morning and one class in the afternoon, with a break in the middle. Our lunch period is long enough to spend time with friends and collaborate with each other on projects and assignments. Our last class ends at 2 p.m. everyday, but I like to stay after with study groups to get ahead on school work or workout at the gym across the street. In the evenings, I enjoy going to Rice sporting events, like volleyball and basketball games, or attending the MAcc Happy Hour Tab and Partios on Thursday.

What is your next career goal, and how has the program prepared you for it? 

My next big goal is to pass the CPA exams this summer and officially start my career as an audit associate at PwC this fall. Rice’s networking opportunities allowed me to build real connections with professionals at Big Four firms instead of just submitting applications online and hoping for the best — which helped me learn what each firm valued, understand their cultures and feel more confident throughout the recruiting process. 

Because of that exposure and preparation, I was fortunate to receive offers from multiple Big Four firms and accept one that felt like the perfect fit. I know that Rice has set me up with a strong foundation I can rely on both for passing the CPA exams and in my career long-term.

Kendall Pierson is a Master of Accounting student in the Class of 2026.

MAcc student Hadja Bayo is a graduate of Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. She received a B.A. in Business Management with a minor in finance and played basketball while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Originally from Round Rock, Texas, she came back to the Lone Star State to study accounting at Rice Business. Continue reading Bayo's profile to learn more about her journey to Rice and goals for long after graduation.

Tell us a little about your career and background.

Hometown: Round Rock, Texas

Education: Beloit College, Wisconsin, B.A. in Business Management with a minor in finance 

Relevant Career Highlights: While completing my undergraduate, I held an internship as accounting assistant to finance director at the YWCA in Janesville, Wisconsin. I worked with the finance director during the summer to update the accounting policies and procedures manual, revising the book based on input from those involved.

What is a fun fact about you?

I played basketball, was on the women's track and field team, and served as a manager for the women's volleyball team at Beloit College.

Why did you decide to pursue a MAcc?

I knew I wanted to take the CPA, but my undergraduate school didn’t offer an accounting degree for me to build credits. I also wanted to gain more experience in accounting to build on my business degree before pursuing a career in the field.

Why did you choose Rice Business for your MAcc?

One of my friends at Beloit was a year above me and also studied business. She pursued her MAcc at Rice after graduating, and had nothing but good things to say about the program here. I was in the McNair Scholars program at Beloit, which helped me figure out my next steps — and I knew I wanted to come back to Texas.

How would you describe the culture here?

The community is really welcoming, and both students and faculty are willing to help you out when you need it. I meet with my Issues in Financial Reporting professor, Stephen Zeff, all the time to talk through concepts. Ben Lansford, the director of the program, is also really kind and supportive.

Has anything surprised you about the MAcc program?

One thing that surprised me is how much real-world experience the faculty bring to the courses. Many of my professors have years of experience in auditing, tax and more. I’m currently taking Auditing with Kelly Drakey, and I can tell she uses her experience to tailor the materials for what we can expect in our next role — including how to apply AI.

What does a “day in the life” look like for you in the program? 

Most days begin with our MAcc classes from around 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. I’m currently taking Advanced Auditing, Issues in Financial Reporting III, Information Systems and Data Analytics, Business Law and Advanced Management Accounting. I’ll often grab lunch with friends in McNair Hall in between. After class, I like to head to the gym and work out before heading home to study for a bit. Our women’s basketball team is really good right now, so I've been going to games with my friends in the evenings lately.

What is your next career goal, and how has the program prepared you for it? 

In October, I’m going to start working at PwC as an audit associate. Leading up to that, I’ll be focusing on graduation and taking the CPA exam. The Rice MAcc program has been especially helpful in preparing me for the CPA, because the courses cover a lot of specific topics that I’ll be tested on. Rice has also helped me learn a number of habits that I know I’ll carry into my next role, like time management, study habits and organizational skills, which will help me start off on a strong foot.

Hadja Bayo is a Master of Accounting student in the Class of 2026.

The 2026 Rice Business Plan Competition announced today the 42 startups invited to compete for more than $1 million in prizes April 9-11 at Rice University and in the Ion District.

The RBPC, presented by Rice Business and hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, serves as a global stage for emerging ventures from leading universities. Now in its 26th year, the competition brings together the best graduate founders and more than 300 angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate leaders and entrepreneurial ecosystem partners, creating an unmatched environment for investment, mentorship and connection.

The 42 startups were chosen by a panel of screeners composed of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who evaluated applicants based on innovation, market potential and investability. These ventures represent the very best in graduate student entrepreneurship from universities across the country and around the world — building cutting-edge solutions in energy, cleantech and sustainability; life sciences, medtech and health care; hard tech; digital enterprise; and consumer products and services. This year’s invited startups represent 39 universities from four countries.

The student entrepreneurs gain real-world experience pitching their startups, enhancing their business strategy and learning what it takes to launch and scale successfully. In addition to competing for investments, cash and in-kind prizes, these graduate students gain invaluable advice from investors on how to secure funding, raise awareness and launch a successful venture — pitching their companies through three rounds and three days of competition in hopes of taking home the grand prize.

The 42 startups selected to compete at RBPC 2026 are:

Want to know what the Rice Master of Accounting experience really looks like? Current students Hadja Bayo and Kendall Pierson offer a firsthand perspective. From rigorous courses and networking events to weekly cohort happy hours and Partios, their stories reflect how the MAcc program is preparing them for what’s next.

Meet Hadja Bayo

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MAcc student Hadja Bayo is a graduate of Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. She received a B.A. in Business Management with a minor in finance and played basketball while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Originally from Round Rock, Texas, she came back to the Lone Star State to study accounting at Rice Business.

After studying business, Bayo began considering accounting — but her undergraduate school didn’t offer the credits required to take the CPA exam. She knew a MAcc would help prepare her for her career goals. “I wanted more experience in accounting to build on my business degree before pursuing a career in the field,” says Bayo.

 

 

Meet Kendall Pierson

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Houston native Kendall Pierson is also beginning her accounting career at Rice, after earning a BBA in Marketing (with an emphasis in digital marketing) from the University of Georgia. Before entering the MAcc program, she gained experience as a digital marketing intern with the University of Houston’s Enrollment Services team — and even worked at a local bakery for a stint to honor her love of baking. 

“After graduating with a marketing degree and reflecting on what I wanted my future career to look like, I knew I wanted more,” says Pierson. “Shifting my focus to a MAcc seemed to better align with my skills, personality and future goals.”

Insights From Hadja & Kendall

Why did you choose Rice Business?

During her time at Beloit, one of Bayo’s friends made a similar pivot from business management into accounting. “She pursued her MAcc at Rice after graduating and had only good things to say about Rice Business. Plus, I knew I wanted to come back to Texas,” says Bayo.

When Pierson began researching MAcc programs for her transition to accounting, Rice immediately stood out for its tight-knit community and career outcomes.

“The MAcc-specific networking events and panels with professionals help tremendously with getting your foot in the door, which is helpful for someone like me who didn’t major in accounting,” says Pierson. “Meeting the program director, Benjamin Lansford, was also a deciding factor — he is truly the most welcoming and genuine person.”

How would you describe the Rice Business culture?

“The culture in the MAcc program is one of the best parts of the program — it’s built on collaboration rather than competition, and you feel like you’re all in it together,” shares Pierson. 

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“The consistent support not only enhances the academic experience but also creates meaningful relationships that extend beyond the program. Being able to lean on others provides reassurance, motivation and confidence, even when the workload starts to ramp up,” she says.

Has anything surprised you about the Rice MAcc program? 

“One thing that surprised me is how much real-world experience the faculty bring to the courses,” Bayo shares. “Many of my professors have years of experience in auditing, tax and more. I’m currently taking Auditing with Kelly Drakey, and I can tell she uses her experience to tailor the materials for what we can expect in our next role — including how to apply AI.”

What does a “day in the life” look like for you?

“I usually like to start my mornings with a long walk before my classes — the loop around Rice campus is my go-to. After that, we have one or two classes in the morning and one class in the afternoon, with a break in the middle,” says Pierson.

“Our last class ends at 2 p.m. every day, but I like to stay after with study groups to get ahead on school work or workout at the gym across the street. In the evening, I enjoy going to Rice sporting events, like volleyball and basketball games, or attending the MAcc Happy Hour Tab and Partios on Thursday.”

What is your next career goal, and how has the program prepared you for it?

“In October, I’m going to start working at PwC as an audit associate,” says Bayo. “Leading up to that, I’ll be focusing on graduation and taking the CPA exam. The Rice MAcc program has been especially helpful in preparing me for the CPA, because the courses cover a lot of specific topics that I’ll be tested on. Rice has also helped me learn a number of habits that I know I’ll carry into my next role, like time management, study habits and organizational skills, which will help me start off on a strong foot.”

The Rice Business MAcc serves as a launchpad into accounting, combining technical depth, faculty mentorship and strong firm connections to ensure students are prepared for the demands of top-tier public accounting roles. Learn more about the Rice MAcc curriculum, top-tier faculty and close-knit community.
 

Explore the Rice MAcc

The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University has been recognized among top graduate programs in the Financial Times global business school rankings released today, placing No. 1 in Texas, No. 16 in the United States and No. 38 globally. Rice Business earned the highest score globally for the “Aims Achieved” metric, which is the extent to which alumni fulfilled their stated goals or reasons for studying for an MBA. These rankings reflect the strength and impact of Rice’s academic programs, faculty scholarship and the achievements of the graduate school’s alumni community, while reinforcing the university’s position among the world’s most highly regarded business schools.

“This recognition affirms what we see every day in our classrooms, in peer-reviewed research from our faculty and in alumni achievements,” said Peter Rodriguez, the Houston Endowment Dean of Rice Business. “Our standing as the No. 1 business school in Texas and among the top 20 in the United States speaks to the relentless dedication of our faculty and students to produce research and leaders who solve real-world challenges. We prepare leaders who are strategic thinkers, ethical decision-makers and innovators — people who elevate their organizations and communities. These rankings reflect not just prestige but the tangible value we deliver to partners and employers across industries.”

The Financial Times rankings evaluate MBA programs based on a comprehensive set of criteria including alumni outcomes, faculty research, program diversity and global engagement. Rice Business’ academic portfolio includes full-time and part-time MBA programs, Master of Accounting and doctoral programs, graduate certificates, specializations and executive education opportunities. In 2021, Rice Business added an undergraduate business program, today called the Virani Undergraduate School of Business.

“We aim to educate business leaders whose impact resonates far beyond our campus,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “Seeing Rice Business achieve No. 38 in the world, No. 16 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Texas highlights the global reach and influence of our approach to business education.”

The Financial Times ranking success continues a pattern of national and international recognition for Rice Business over the past year, including the No. 3 Best MBA for Finance and No. 5 Top Online MBA program from The Princeton Review and the No. 1 graduate entrepreneurship program from The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine for seven years running.

Professionals pursue an MBA for many reasons: to deepen expertise, pivot industries, expand skill sets or accelerate long-term career growth. But for many candidates, one question matters most: How does an MBA affect earning potential?

At Rice Business, the data points to a clear answer. An MBA can deliver both an immediate increase in compensation and faster salary growth over time — returns that continue to compound long after graduation.

Pre-MBA Salaries: Where Rice MBA Students Start

Rice MBA students come from a wide range of industries, including energy, finance, technology and healthcare. Their professional experience varies by program. On average, Full-Time MBA students arrive with about five years of work experience, while Executive MBA students bring closer to 17 years.

Prior to enrolling, the average pre-MBA salary for Full-Time MBA students in the Class of 2025 was $66,044. That baseline matters because it provides context for what happens next.

Growth and Gains Post MBA

An MBA is more than just a credential. It’s a rigorous foundation in business strategy, finance, operations and leadership that employers value and trust. At top programs like Rice Business, students sharpen their decision-making skills and gain hands-on experience solving real-world business challenges, which signals to employers that they're ready to step into high-impact roles.

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Just as importantly, MBA programs cultivate confident, growth-minded leaders. With structured career support, strong employer relationships and a powerful alumni network, Rice graduates gain access to competitive jobs across consulting, finance, technology and other high-paying industries.

How Quickly Does Salary Increase After an MBA?

For many Rice MBAs, salary growth begins immediately.

Graduates from the Full-Time MBA Class of 2025 reported an average starting salary of $146,000, along with an average signing bonus of $32,000. Though outcomes can vary by field and function, here’s a breakdown of the average compensation for recent Full-Time MBA alumni in top industries:

• Consulting: $175,421
• Energy: $133,489
• Technology: $141,018
• Financial Services: $149,167

Post-MBA outcomes often reflect movement into more senior roles, new functions or higher-paying industries. Hear more about the returns of a Rice MBA from Professor James Weston, the Harmon Whittington Professor of Finance:

What Does Long-Term Salary Growth Look Like?

Long-term earnings reflect more than starting salary alone. An MBA often accelerates promotion timelines, increases access to leadership roles and enables greater mobility across industries or functions. As responsibilities expand, compensation typically follows.

Beyond the first post-MBA role, salary growth tends to outpace that of non-MBA peers. On average, salaries for professionals without an MBA grow at about 2.5% annually, while MBA holders see closer to 3.5% annual growth. Over a 10- to 20-year career, that difference compounds substantially. Rice also attracts employers from the highest-paying industries, expanding access to roles with steeper compensation trajectories.

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Equally important is the Rice Business network. Through a tight-knit MBA community and dedicated Career Development Office, alumni build enduring relationships with peers, mentors, faculty and industry leaders — connections that continue to generate opportunities well beyond graduation.

Over time, these advantages support not only higher earnings, but more resilient and adaptable careers for Rice MBA alumni.

Investing in Your Future

An MBA is a personal transformation, but it can also be a powerful financial one. Rice Business consistently ranks among the most affordable top-25 MBA programs, according to Poets&Quants, and 96% of Full-Time Rice MBA students receive merit-based scholarships, with average award amount exceeding $80,000.

Even considering the opportunity cost of stepping away from the workforce to pursue a two-year full-time program, the Rice MBA offers significant long-term returns on your investment. While outcomes vary by industry and role, the overall pattern is clear: for many professionals, an MBA functions as a long-term earnings accelerator rather than a short-term expense.
 

At Rice Business, we focus on helping students maximize both career fulfillment and long-term earning potential. If you’re considering how an MBA might shape your future, we invite you to explore the data and see where a Rice MBA can take you.

Explore the Rice MBA 
 

Based on research by Alessandro Piazza (Rice Business) and Dana Kanze (Georgetown)

Key takeaways:

• Gender diversity on founder or mentor teams alone does not engage investors.
• Rather, investors engage more when founder and mentor teams share the same gender composition — whether they are gender-diverse or male-dominated.
• The strongest investor engagement occurs when gender-diverse founder teams are paired with gender-diverse mentor teams.

For early-stage startups, gaining access to investors is a persistent challenge — one that accelerators like Techstars tackle by pairing founders with mentor teams who can help shape and advance fundraising efforts.

But even within accelerator programs, investor attention remains limited and competitive. To stand out, startups lean on quick indicators of quality and innovation. Gender diversity on founder teams has increasingly served as one of those indicators, often interpreted as a marker of better judgment and broader perspective.

That framing, though, assumes investors can infer a startup’s potential from the founder team in isolation. It brackets out the mentor relationships and the social context that shape how a pitch is developed and received.

Why diversity alone falls short as an investor signal

In accelerator programs, investor engagement is mediated through founder-mentor relationships, which raises a different question: Do cues like gender diversity operate the same way when investor attention depends on interactions between two different teams?

In other words, if mentors help shape the founder-investor relationship, gender diversity on founder teams alone may not carry the same weight. 

New research tests this question. Co-authored by Alessandro Piazza of Rice Business and Dana Kanze of Georgetown, the study analyzes data from 984 startups that participated in Techstars accelerator programs worldwide. By combining investor data with interviews, the researchers examine how gender diversity shapes investor engagement when founders and mentors work as paired teams.

Published in Organization Science, the paper finds that gender diversity, on its own, does not enhance investor engagement. Instead, the research shows investor engagement improves when founder and mentor teams are aligned in their gender composition — meaning both teams are either gender-diverse or male-dominated. When gender diversity appears on only one side of the founder-mentor relationship, the investor advantage disappears. 

Why founder-mentor alignment matters in accelerators

“A common assumption is that diversity on its own should help teams stand out,” Piazza says. “What we find instead is that diversity matters in context. When founder and mentor teams are aligned, mentorship works better — and that translates into more investor interest and funding success down the line.”

That assumption did not come out of nowhere. Much of this expectation about diversity is rooted in what researchers call a “threshold” view of gender diversity. Decades of organizational research suggest that once teams reach a critical mass of representation, diversity becomes substantive rather than symbolic, improving decision-making in complex environments.

From there, it becomes easy to assume that diverse teams are not only stronger internally, but also more attractive externally. In accelerator settings, at least, Piazza and Kanze show that this assumption does not hold. Simply reaching a commonly cited diversity threshold on a founder team or mentor team does not, on its own, lead to greater investor engagement.

Instead, investor interest increases only when founder and mentor teams are aligned in their gender composition. Whether teams are gender-diverse or male-dominated, alignment between the two sides of the relationship is associated with higher investor engagement. 

The advantage, Piazza notes, is not that investors observe or reward alignment directly, but that alignment improves how mentorship works in practice, influencing investor engagement later on.

The advantage, Piazza notes, is not that investors observe or reward alignment directly, but that alignment improves how mentorship works in practice, influencing investor engagement later on.

Where gender diversity delivers its strongest effect

Still, gender diversity does make a difference. The researchers found the strongest boost to investor engagement appears when gender-diverse founder teams are paired with gender-diverse mentor teams. 

“When gender-diverse teams are aligned, they seem better positioned to realize the benefits of diversity,” Piazza says. “Together, they can draw on broader perspectives and networks without the frictions that tend to surface when founders and mentors are mismatched in terms of gender composition.”

Notably, the study focuses on investor engagement rather than funding outcomes — a distinction that matters, since attention and conversations do not always translate directly into capital. 

Even so, the findings open several avenues for future research. Because the analysis centers on accelerator programs, an open question is whether similar alignment effects appear in other settings where internal teams work closely with external partners, such as advisory boards, consultants or strategic alliances. The study also focuses on gender composition at the team level, pointing to future work that could examine how other dimensions of identity or expertise shape dynamics between teams under resource constraints. 

More broadly, the study suggests that research on diversity may benefit from looking beyond individual teams to the relationships that shape how work actually gets done — particularly in settings where access to resources depends on coordination and sustained interaction. 

Written by Scott Pett

Kanze and Piazza (2026). “When Do Gender-Diverse Teams Engage More Investors? Evidence of Threshold Alignment Benefits at Techstars,” Organization Science.