Asad Lalani
FTMBA '26
Home Country: United States
Home State: GA
Undergraduate Institution: Rice University
Undergraduate Degree and Major (and minor, if applicable): Economics & Sport Management
Pre-MBA Industry: Sports and Entertainment
Pre-MBA Company: Eventellect
Pre-MBA Title: Senior Account Analyst
Desired industry post-MBA: Energy
Desired job function post-MBA: Manager
Degree Concentrations: Strategic Management
Student Organization Membership: Athletics Club, Golf Club
Other Committee: Global Food Experience Club
What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA? I have been most surprised by the impact of the construction on the student experience, as well as the academic rigor involved in the first 9 months of the program. I knew the first semester would be rigorous, but did not really anticipate what that would look like until I was in it. I also have visited campus and been at Jones prior to the construction so it was an adjustment getting used to the new spaces and finding new resources for various MBA activities.
What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience? My favorite thing about the experience so far is the social events led by both the school and MBA organizations. Partio has been a great opportunity to connect with fellow classmates, Gala was a wonderful event to celebrate the year, and various Happy Hours and social outings led by clubs have given me an opportunity to have fun while making connections with people both inside and outside the Rice community.
What do you love most about Houston? I love the food scene in Houston. The ability to get any cuisine, and type of food all within a 15 to 20 minute drive is exceptional and rare in the US. There are plenty of diverse, very tasty places that we have access to. I have gotten the chance to explore many new cuisines that I had never had prior to coming to Houston, which has expanded my horizons on my preferences.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective?
Be open to new people and new experiences, you never know what you'll learn about yourself.