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Maria Castanon

FTMBA '25

Entrepreneurship, Finance
North America
mc210@rice.edu
Maria Castanon
Entrepreneurship
Finance

Home country: Mexico

Home state: Mexico City

Undergraduate institution: Universidad Panamericana Mexico City

Undergraduate degree and major (and minor, if applicable): Business administration and finance

Pre-MBA industry: Tech

Pre-MBA company: Devising Solutions

Pre-MBA title: CFO

Desired industry post-MBA: Financial services

Desired job function post-MBA: Associate

Degree specializations: Entrepreneurship, finance

Student organization membership: Finance Association, Forte

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA? How true the phrase "you belong here" really is. I was well aware of the warm welcome I would receive at Jones B. School, but nobody tells you that this welcome will be across all of Rice, particularly from other grads like Ph.D.s or other master's students and even from faculty. I think this made me feel more at ease being my authentic self and put myself out there without the fear of being judged, and it definitely made my transition into living in a new place less lonely.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience? While academics and recruiting have been a great part of the experience (particularly the first semester), my favorite part of my MBA experience has been the friendships I've made. So, in a couple of years, when someone asks me the best part of my MBA, I have no doubt my answer will be the friends I've made, because they have become my family and my support system.

What do you love most about Houston? I think I love two things that go hand in hand: diversity and the food scene. Being such a diverse city, you get a mix of flavors and different cuisines all in one place, and you get to meet different people with different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and more. You get to explore that and learn more without the fear of messing up.

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective student? Keep an open mind. While you might be sure of your convictions, the MBA will come and challenge you in more ways than just academically.