Himanshu More

Home country: India

Home state: Maharashtra

Undergraduate institution: University of Pune

Undergraduate degree and major (and minor, if applicable): B.Com., accounting and finance

Pre-MBA industry: Financial services

Pre-MBA company: Deutsche Bank

Pre-MBA title: Senior financial regulatory and risk reporting analyst

Desired industry post-MBA: Financial services

Desired job function post-MBA: Strategy

Degree specializations: Finance, strategic management

Student organization membership: Rice Business Board Fellows, Consulting Association, Finance Association, Marketing Association, Men as Allies, Out & Allied

Officer: First-year representative for Out & Allied and incoming external relations chair for RBSA

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA? The most surprising part of the MBA has been the various ILEs that we undertake as part of our curriculum. I expected the curriculum to be a lot of courses, but the ILEs have been very thoughtfully designed and provide depth of knowledge about the subject. The format of having 5-8 hours of ILEs for credits not only frees us from term-long credit courses but also gives us a very immersive experience of the subject. I was surprised how well-thought-out the curriculum is for the full-time MBA. And it’s not limited to theory but quite practical at the same time.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience? The best part of my Rice MBA has been my core team. I got really lucky with my core team members; not only are they my teammates, they are some of the best people in the program and my really good friends. Talk about serendipity! My core team members come from diverse backgrounds such as real estate, oil and gas, marketing, and even a Marine veteran. Working with them makes me appreciate the diversity of thoughts and knowledge that we all bring together as a group. Not only do we encourage each other, but we also empower each other to do our best and excel at whatever we undertake. Being an international student and coming to the U.S. for the first time, I had my fears about forming social circles, but my core team just felt so effortless to bond with and so open and welcoming to my experiences, I never really felt like an outsider. The beauty of being in the Rice MBA program is the people; it’s a close-knit cohort, and I really feel fortunate to be a part of it.

What do you love most about Houston? Houston is a big city with a small-town charm, and that’s what I like about it. Additionally, being at Rice puts us in such close proximity to the museum district, and Rice students get free entry to almost all the venues, making it such a fascinating experience. Also, Houston is pretty affordable despite being a big city, and it’s one of the biggest factors which plays in its favor. Students get to enjoy the big city attractions and experiences while not spending a fortune.

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective student? Rice MBA will transform you in more ways than one, so don’t forget to enjoy the journey while being focused on the end goal.