Christina Griffin

Home City: Houston, TX

Undergraduate Institution: Baylor

Undergraduate Degree and Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering

Pre-MBA Industry: Technology

Pre-MBA Company: Assignar

Pre-MBA Title: Product Manager

Desired Industry Post-MBA: Technology

Desired Job Function Post-MBA: Director of Product

Student Organization Membership: Rice Business Board Fellows, Black Business Student Association

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA experience? The number of possibilities I've been made aware of has been utterly shocking. Coming into the program, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to get out of it career-wise and what I wanted to do next. But almost from day one, I have been presented with new and exciting possibilities for the direction(s) in which I could take my career, which I love. I went from thinking of my career path as linear and two-dimensional to multi-faceted and omni-channel.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience so far? So far, my favorite part of my MBA experience has been my classmates. Being in the professional program, I go to class every day with a group of students from different industries and walks of life. In class, I learn almost as much from my peers as I do from the professors. And outside of class, we know how to have a good time and are so supportive of each other. I really do feel like I've made some lifelong connections.

What do you love most about Houston? The food and the people. Houston is the country's most diverse city; you can see, feel, and taste it. No matter what or who you like or what you're into, you can find your tribe in Houston. Traveling to different parts of the city to try different authentic cuisines lets you take a momentary trip without actually leaving the metro area.

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective student? Just go for it; you won't regret it.