Paloma Paez

Home Country: United States

Home State: AZ

Undergraduate Institution: University of Arizona

Undergraduate Degree and Major (and minor, if applicable): Marketing, Sports Management

Pre-MBA Industry: Sports

Pre-MBA Company: Houston Dash

Pre-MBA Title: Head of Equipment Operations

Desired industry post-MBA: Sports/Consulting

Desired job function post-MBA: Sports Executive, Sports Consultant

Degree Concentrations: Operations & Supply Chain Management

Student Organization Membership: Athletics Club, Forte

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA? How tight knit as a community we are. Our core sections have become family and contribute a huge amount to our experience at Rice.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience? Learning from all the different students at Rice. Everyone has such different backgrounds and cultures and just being able to have the privilege of learning about it from them has been incredible. Not only is it culture learning, but so many people have deep knowledge in certain industries so being able to learn from them in academic subjects has also been one of my favorite things!

What do you love most about Houston? I came from a small town where we got a movie theater when I was in middle school and a Starbucks in high school. There was barely anything to do except just hang out at home. Being in Houston for the last 4 years has given me the opportunity to go to so many things. The museums, ballet, opera, sports games, and so much more has been the thing I love about Houston.

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective? Be your absolute self and do not be afraid to be vulnerable.