Andress Stanley

Home City: Washington

Home State: DC

Home Country: United States

Undergraduate Institution: University of Virginia

Undergraduate Degree and Major (and minor, if applicable): Politics

Desired industry post-MBA: Technology

Desired job function post-MBA: Strategist

Student Organization Membership: Black Business Student Association, Strategy Association, Technology Association

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA experience? The most surprising part of my Rice MBA experience has been the range of opportunities and the number of paths you can take with an MBA. Coming into the program, I had a more narrow view of how business skills were applied, primarily within the technology industry. However, being at Rice has opened my eyes to how transferable business acumen truly is across industries such as healthcare, oil and gas, and commercial real estate. What has been especially surprising is how multifaceted entrepreneurship is. I initially associated entrepreneurship with starting your own business, but I’ve learned it can also mean buying and scaling existing businesses, raising capital, or strategically growing and exiting ventures. This broader understanding has reshaped how I think about innovation, ownership, and long-term career possibilities. Through conversations with classmates and exposure to different experiences and interests, I’ve realized there is no single “right” path after an MBA. Everyone is leveraging the degree in unique ways based on their goals, values, and passions. That realization has not only expanded my understanding of what’s possible but has also encouraged me to think more intentionally about my own career journey. Overall, the program has shifted my perspective from seeing an MBA as a linear path to recognizing it as a platform full of diverse opportunities. That mindset has been both surprising and empowering as I continue to explore where I want to grow and make an impact.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience so far? The most surprising part of my Rice MBA experience has been the range of opportunities and the number of paths you can take with an MBA. Coming into the program, I had a more narrow view of how business skills were applied, primarily within the technology industry. However, being at Rice has opened my eyes to how transferable business acumen truly is across industries such as healthcare, oil and gas, and commercial real estate. What has been especially surprising is how multifaceted entrepreneurship is. I initially associated entrepreneurship with starting your own business, but I’ve learned it can also mean buying and scaling existing businesses, raising capital, or strategically growing and exiting ventures. This broader understanding has reshaped how I think about innovation, ownership, and long-term career possibilities. Through conversations with classmates and exposure to different experiences and interests, I’ve realized there is no single “right” path after an MBA. Everyone is leveraging the degree in unique ways based on their goals, values, and passions. That realization has not only expanded my understanding of what’s possible but has also encouraged me to think more intentionally about my own career journey. Overall, the program has shifted my perspective from seeing an MBA as a linear path to recognizing it as a platform full of diverse opportunities. That mindset has been both surprising and empowering as I continue to explore where I want to grow and make an impact.

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective student – one sentence? You are your biggest advocate, don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself and go after what you want.