Eleni Pappas

Hometown: Houston
Home State: Texas
Home Country: United States of America

Current City: Houston
Current State: Texas

Previous Institution and Degree: Vanderbilt University (B.E.  In Civil Engineering, Minor in Engineering Management)
Previous Graduate Institution and Degree: University of Texas at Austin (MS Civil Engineering with a Transportation focus)

Pre-MBA Industry: Transportation Engineering & Planning
Pre-MBA Company: Traffic Engineers, Inc
Pre-MBA Title: Senior Associate
Current Title: Principal Associate

Student Organization Membership: Real Estate Club

What about the Rice MBA program has surprised you the most?
How much I enjoy coming to class every night and that I still have the energy to be engaged after work. I was worried about the long days on Monday and Wednesday. Yet I look forward to class because I know I am going to learn something new. I am wired by the time I leave class (not great for a good nights rest) because my brain has been stimulated for 3 hours.

What has been your favorite moment of your Rice MBA experience so far?
Immersion presentation of the Edward Jones case for Strategy class. We took our professors advice to be create to heart by making the whole presentation a Jeopardy skit. My team knew it would be a risk but we all went into it together and had a great time. I knew then that I had a great team and continue to look forward to the next project we work on.

What is your favorite thing about and/or favorite spot in Houston?
I love Houston. I love its diversity. I love that it does not take it self to seriously. I love the food. I love that we have the most theater seats outside of NYC. I love the Dynamo and Astros. I also really like the Texans and Rockets.  I love my hometown.

In a sentence, what is the one piece of advice you have for prospective students?
Be sure you are ready; the next two years will be time consuming, exhausting, and stressful, but if you are committed it will be fun, rewarding, and exhilarating.