Craig Poskus

Hometown: Cypress, Texas

Undergraduate School and Major: Sam Houston State University, B.B.A. in Accounting; University of Houston, M.S. Accountancy

Employer and Job Titles: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Treasury Analyst

What led you to pursue an MBA? The main reason was for self-improvement and to be a more valuable asset to my company. With a background in accounting, I knew I needed to become more affluent in other aspects of business. I was also determined to strengthen interpersonal skills and develop leadership skills. Pursuing an MBA would provide me opportunities to build these crucial skills. 

Why did you choose Rice for your professional MBA? It gave me the ability to choose from a multitude of electives in the second year of the program so that I could custom tailor the MBA to my own unique interests. Rice also has a strong alumni network, and I knew the program would afford me the opportunity to build lasting friendships with colleagues from all different backgrounds. Furthermore, the campus is absolutely beautiful and the Rice brand carries immense value.

What has been a highlight of the program? The interactions with students and teachers who have widely different backgrounds than my own and learning from their experiences has been the biggest highlight.

What has surprised you about the journey so far? Time really flies in the program. While we were in the thick of our core classes the days seemed long, but looking back, the first year felt like it went by in the blink of an eye.

What advice do you have for prospective students? From personal experience I can unequivocally say you will need to be committed to this program because you are only going to get out of it what you put into it. Keeping outside distractions to a minimum is key. This is easier said than done but is essential to your over-all success. You will only have two years to take advantage of this experience so try your best to get involved as much as possible.