Matthew Kelley

Professionals - Weekend
Current Industry/Job: Real Estate
From: Lake Charles, LA

Favorite quote and why:

"Done is better than perfect."

In business school you are drinking from a fire hydrant and you have to balance being efficient and finishing the project vs. doing everything perfectly. I think about this when I have to move on to the next task even though I would like to spend much more time on the current task.

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor and why?

I would choose Elon Musk because he is an inspirational entrepreneur. I would love to talk to him about starting PayPal, Tesla and Space X. His businesses have disrupted the status quo.

Best memory from your first year in the MBA program:

Discovering that after 9:30 the Hoot sells Honey Chicken biscuits. There is something about being hungry and exhausted from staying up at school really late to work on projects with your team that makes this late night snack taste more amazing than anything I have every eaten.

What story does your family always tell about you?

There is a long and complicated story about a plumbing leak in my house after my first son was born. I actually turned that story into a speech for a Toastmasters "Tall Tales" contest. I made it all the way to district level (highest level possible) with that speech.

What advice would you like to provide incoming students?

Studying and working hard in class is important but remember to make time to connect with people. The network of students, alumni, faculty and staff is, in my opinion, the best thing about Rice. You will develop great friendships with your classmates and draw on those friendships to further your professional career.

Any additional unique facts you would like to share:

Before I was accepted into the program I started adding on to my house. Construction went on a few months longer than expected. the first semester I was living in a 400 sq foot garage apartment with my family. It was crazy.