Russell Durand

Home City: Luthersville

Home State: GA

Home Country: United States

Undergraduate Institution: University of Alabama

Undergraduate Degree and Major (and minor, if applicable): B.S. in Chemical Engineering

Pre-MBA Industry: Oil & Gas

Pre-MBA Company: ExxonMobil

Pre-MBA Title: CO2 Opportunity Lead

Desired industry post-MBA: Consulting - Executive Search and Leadership Advisory

Desired job function post-MBA: Consultant

Student Organization Membership: Consulting Association

Officer: I co-founded an informal run club with a classmate for the MBA cohort with the mission of promoting health within the cohort by combining networking and exercise. While not an official Rice club, I have been organizing and leading weekly runs since Launch Week, which reflects my commitment to building community within the cohort. 

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA experience? The most surprising part of my Rice MBA experience has been that it is even harder and more demanding than I expected, yet I have never been more convinced it was the right decision. I came in knowing it would be challenging, but I underestimated just how much time and energy it would take. Balancing work, school, and life pushed me more than I anticipated, especially early on. Launch Week, in particular, was overwhelming. I remember feeling stretched in a way I had not in years. But even in those moments, I never questioned whether I should be there. If anything, the difficulty made me more certain I was exactly where I needed to be.

What surprised me most is how the challenge actually builds confidence. I have found myself busier than ever, yet feeling more capable at the same time. Before the program, I thought I did not have capacity for much more than I was already carrying. Now I realize I was capable of far more than I gave myself credit for. You keep rising to new levels simply because you have to, and each time you figure something out, you gain confidence to handle the next challenge, even when you do not have all the answers going in.

The experience has also uncovered areas for growth I did not expect. I have always tried to be self-aware, but the program still pushed me to see new opportunities to improve in leadership, communication, and confidence. That can be uncomfortable, but it is also one of the biggest benefits. It surfaces your gaps in a way that gives you a real chance to work on them intentionally rather than stumbling across them later.

What has also surprised me is how much the people around you shape the experience. Everyone in the program is balancing demanding jobs and personal commitments, yet people continue to show up and support each other without hesitation. That shared sense of effort makes the hard moments more manageable and builds relationships that feel genuinely earned.

The biggest realization overall has been that the difficulty is greater than I expected, but the growth is even greater. The program pushes you beyond what you thought was possible and leaves you more confident in your ability to take on big challenges. That is the part that surprised me most, and it is the part I did not fully understand until I was in it.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience so far? Without a doubt, my favorite part of the Rice MBA experience has been the people. Being surrounded by talented, diverse, and motivated classmates is genuinely energizing. Everyone is balancing demanding careers, school, and personal commitments, yet still choosing to push themselves to grow. Watching people take on new challenges, whether it is recruiting, stepping into leadership roles, or managing major life events, naturally raises your own expectations. It makes you want to do more and be better.

There is a shared commitment to growth that is hard to find in most environments. It feels like being part of a group where people want to learn, improve, and help each other succeed. That mindset creates space to try new things, test different leadership styles, and step outside your comfort zone without fear of judgment. You are not just learning from professors but constantly learning from the people sitting next to you.

That energy also drives engagement beyond the classroom. Classmates are constantly encouraging each other to get involved in case competitions, clubs, recruiting preparation, and networking events. One moment that stood out to me was watching peers go through consulting recruiting. Seeing them balance full time jobs, coursework, and intensive networking while continuing to prepare and push forward was impressive. Their discipline, confidence, and grit were motivating and pushed me to reflect more intentionally on my own goals and development.

Being around this group has raised my own bar in ways I did not anticipate. It has helped me think more deliberately about how I grow and where I want to go. The collaborative nature of the cohort makes the experience feel supportive rather than competitive, and everyone benefits from each other's effort and perspective. For me, the people are what make the Rice MBA more than an academic program. They are what make it a transformational one.

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective student – one sentence? Know what you want to develop, stay open to how you get there, and know that Rice will give you more opportunities to grow than you can imagine.