Christopher Pham

Home Country: United States

Home State: TX

Undergraduate Institution: University of Houston

Undergraduate Degree and Major (and minor, if applicable): B.S. Civil Engineering

Pre-MBA Industry: Oil and Gas

Pre-MBA Company: Burns & McDonnell

Pre-MBA Title: Structural Engineer

Desired industry post-MBA: Energy (CleanTech)

Desired job function post-MBA: Finance, Strategy

Degree Concentrations: Energy, Finance

Student Organization Membership: CleanTech Association, The Consortium, Energy Association, Rice Energy Finance Summit

Officer: 1st Year Representative of Energy & CleanTech Association, Rice Energy Finance Summit, Board Fellow

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA? The difference in backgrounds of my cohort. It has been refreshing to see non-traditional students (i.e. not STEM). Seeing their journey in courses and recruiting has been hard and would love to see it improve through support of Rice, professors, and classmates.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience? While I expected more from this, the social aspect has been the more enjoyable part of the program. It is refreshing to have opportunities to relax and enjoy the time over outside the program and work. The construction changing Partio dynamics has been frustrating and the events that have been hosted haven't all been amazing. This is a combination of the types of events and the interest from the cohort (a lack of).

What do you love most about Houston? It's home to me. Family and friends are here along with all I've known. The food also sticks out to me. I am able to try new things with those groups of people without running out of things to do. 

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective? Be open-minded to everything and dive right in.