Jessica DeLorenzo
OMBA
About Jessica
Class: 2026
Region: North America
City: Indianapolis, IN
Undergraduate Institution: Rice University
Undergraduate Degree and Major: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Pre-MBA Industry: Manufacturing
Pre-MBA Company: Kimball Electronics
Pre-MBA Title: Vice President of Global Human Resources
Desired Industry Post-MBA: Manufacturing, Technology, Professional Services
Desired Job Function Post-MBA: Strategy, Human Resources
What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA experience?
The most surprising part of my experience so far is how "Rice-like" the students in the program are; I did not expect the MBA@Rice program to attract such like-minded, kind, smart and competitive people. I perhaps thought that the MBA student population would be much less engaged or less humble. To me, it's the humility of the Rice student that surprised me most at the graduate level. The way Rice is able to attract such individuals with that shared quality has been very impressive (and refreshing to an alum!).
What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience so far?
The highlight so far has been the on-campus residential where I was able to meet others in person. Of course the class content was outstanding, but my highlights were outside of the classroom. Being a Rice alum, I was able to tell other course mates about all the fun things about the university (i.e. the piece of the Berlin Wall outside the Baker Institute, running your fingers down "frog wall" at the Architecture School, what it was like to eat in the Will Rice Commons, etc.). I served as the informal tour guide or campus guide to my peers in the program. I was able to make their on-campus experience just a little bit better!
What is the most important piece of advice you would give to someone considering the online MBA@Rice program?
Be ruthless about your priorities. If the MBA@Rice program is a priority for you, be prepared to make tradeoffs in order to be successful. It's tough, but it is very much worth it!