Sujatha Kumar

Hometown: Houston, TX

Undergraduate School and Major: Loyola University of Maryland, M.S. Computer Engineering Science; Women’s Christian College, Chennai (India), B.Sc., Chemistry

Employer and Job Titles: FTI Consulting, Managing Director

What led you to pursue an MBA? It was a long-time dream as I progressed through my career from being a CIO to leading business. Although I had a lot of on-the-job learning, I felt a structured education would benefit me to lead business better.

Why did you choose Rice for your executive MBA? After researching several schools, I felt that Rice provided the best value in terms of the education and also its location. Being in Houston, I wanted to be connected to the university and the businesses around it. Rice provided a great venue for that.

What has been a highlight of the program? Having worked in different companies and diverse roles for 25 years, I was not sure what to expect in terms of the knowledge I would gain. The learning experience in an integrated program such as what Rice offers has been very insightful and very beneficial. Of course the people I connected with and the team I have had the privilege to work with have enriched my experience even more. Finally I was able fold my business into a larger company (FTI consulting) through connections I made at Rice events. 

What has surprised you about the journey so far? The amount of work that you have to balance in order to ensure that you optimize your learning. I wanted to maximize what I got out of the program and that has been a lot of hard work.

What advice do you have for prospective students? Come prepared to work hard and learn. You get what you put into the program. It truly enriches your life if you can put your full effort into it and not do it to just gain a degree. Also, participate in all the events and programs that Rice offers, it is a great venue for networking.