Ahmad Tipu
FTMBA '24
Hometown: Wappingers Falls
Home State: New York
Home Country: United States of America
Undergraduate Institution: State University of New York at New Paltz
Undergraduate Degree and Major (and minor, if applicable): Bachelor of Business Administration - International Relations
Pre-MBA Industry: Technology
Pre-MBA Company: Fiscalnote
Pre-MBA Title: Client Support Associate
Desired industry post-MBA: Consulting
Desired job function post-MBA: Senior Consultant
Degree Concentrations:
- Entrepreneurship
Student Organization Membership:
- Technology Association
- Consulting Association
- The Adam Smith Society
- Strategy Association
What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA experience?
The biggest surprise for me has been the amount of learning gained from interaction with such a diverse array of folks. From our core MBA groups to ad-hoc teams created for case competitions, every interaction I have had with the cohort has been a wonderful learning experience. I didn't expect this array of backgrounds and experiences when I first got to Rice and have enjoyed every minute of my interactions.
What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience so far?
I have really enjoyed the quality of class discussions and how much it has contributed to my learning. My undergrad was in international affairs, which I enjoyed quite a bit, but the class experience was very much classic lecture style. The case- and discussion- style classroom experience has been amazing in terms of learning quality . When combined with our small class sizes, this provides for a wonderful introduction to business topics for someone with no business background.
What do you love most about Houston?
As cliched as it is, I have to say the variety of food available in Houston is my favorite thing. Coming from New York, the bar is extremely high, and I can confidently say that it has been met by Houston's offerings. I've been able to try Pakistani, Vietnamese, Mexican and countless other cuisines. This also provides an amazing opportunity to connect with classmates over meals as food is the ultimate glue to bring folks together.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective student – one sentence?
Be ready to say yes often and work outside of your comfort zone!