Sara Meril

Home City: Houston

Home State: TX

Home Country: United States

Undergraduate Institution: Bar-Ilan University of Israel

Undergraduate Degree and Major (and minor, if applicable): Biotechnology

Pre-MBA Industry: Cancer Research

Pre-MBA Company: MD Anderson Cancer Center

Pre-MBA Title: Cancer and Immunology Researcher

Desired industry post-MBA: Life Sciences/ Healthcare /Consulting

Desired job function post-MBA: Consultant - Marketing or Strategy Manager

Student Organization Membership: Consulting Association, Rice Business Women's Organization, Strategy Association

Officer: I am the co-president of the RBSAP

What has been the most surprising part of your Rice MBA experience? My experience at Rice Business has been full of surprises, but the biggest one has been how interdisciplinary, practical, and immediately applicable the MBA experience truly is. Coming from a scientific and academic background, I initially expected the program to focus primarily on traditional business frameworks, financial models, and case studies. While those are certainly important components, I did not anticipate how much the MBA would challenge me to think differently about leadership, communication, teamwork, and execution in real-world settings.

One of the most surprising aspects has been the diversity of perspectives within the classroom. In academia, I spent years surrounded mostly by scientists and researchers who approached problems through a highly specialized lens. At Rice, I suddenly found myself collaborating with classmates from consulting, energy, healthcare, entrepreneurship, finance, technology, and operations backgrounds. The conversations during team projects and classroom discussions often became just as valuable as the formal course material itself. I learned that there are many ways to approach the same problem, and that strong business decisions often come from integrating multiple perspectives rather than relying on one “correct” answer.

Another major surprise has been how directly I could apply what I learned in class to my professional work almost immediately. As someone working in biotech consulting and strategy while completing the MBA, I frequently found myself using concepts from marketing, operations, and strategy courses in real time. Whether developing commercialization plans for biotech companies, refining investor messaging, analyzing competitive landscapes, or prioritizing operations, the connection between the classroom and the workplace became very tangible. The MBA did not feel theoretical or disconnected from reality; instead, it became a practical toolkit that strengthened my confidence in making business decisions.

I was also surprised by how much the MBA experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone in ways that academia never fully did. Scientific training develops deep analytical thinking and technical rigor, but the MBA environment emphasizes communication, influence, collaboration, and leadership in ambiguous contexts. Group projects, presentations, and fast-paced discussions required me to become more concise, adaptable, and action-oriented. I learned that having strong ideas is not enough; success also depends on the ability to communicate clearly, align teams, and execute efficiently.

Finally, balancing a professional MBA while continuing full-time scientific and consulting work has been both one of the most difficult and most rewarding parts of the experience. Managing these responsibilities forced me to become much more intentional about time management, prioritization, and teamwork. Surprisingly, instead of feeling disconnected from my career, the MBA enhanced it by helping me bridge the gap between science and business more effectively.

Overall, the most surprising part of my Rice MBA experience has been realizing that business education is not simply about learning how companies operate. It is about learning how to lead, collaborate, adapt, and create impact across disciplines and industries.

What has been your favorite thing about your MBA experience so far? One of my favorite parts of my experience at Rice Business has been the people. 

Coming from a scientific and academic background, I was used to being surrounded primarily by researchers and clinicians. At Rice, I suddenly found myself building friendships and working relationships with people from completely different industries and career paths- consulting, energy, finance, healthcare, entrepreneurship, technology, and operations. That diversity created an environment where every conversation became an opportunity to learn something new, whether in or out of the classroom.

What I appreciate most is how approachable and collaborative the community has been. Even though everyone is ambitious and accomplished in their own way, the culture feels supportive rather than overly competitive. People genuinely want to help each other succeed, whether that means preparing together for presentations, sharing career advice, making introductions, or simply checking in after a difficult week. Some of the most meaningful learning experiences have happened during team projects, late-night conversations after class, or informal discussions about career goals and life experiences.

Another aspect I have really enjoyed is the social side of the MBA experience. Between networking events, student organizations, happy hours, dinners, office visits, and spontaneous outings after class, the program creates many opportunities to connect beyond academics. Those moments helped transform classmates into close friends and made the experience feel much more personal and memorable. Balancing a demanding professional MBA with work and other responsibilities can be intense, so having a strong social community made a huge difference.

I have also enjoyed being exposed to people who think very differently from me. Through the MBA, I learned a lot from classmates who naturally approach challenges from strategic, operational, financial, or interpersonal perspectives. That exposure expanded the way I think about leadership and decision-making.

Finally, one of my favorite things has been the network itself. The MBA environment creates connections not only for immediate collaboration, but also for long-term professional relationships. It is exciting to know that many of the people I met at Rice will likely become future colleagues, business partners, founders, executives, or industry leaders across many fields.

Overall, while the academics and professional development have been extremely valuable, the people and relationships are what made the MBA experience truly special for me.

What is one piece of advice you would share with a prospective student – one sentence? At Rice Business, the biggest value of the MBA comes not only from the classes, but from fully investing in the people, relationships, and experiences outside the classroom as well.