Rice Customer-Based Strategy Symposium Agenda
Rice Customer-Based Strategy Symposium Agenda
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Ion, 4201 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast |
| 8:30 – 8:40 a.m. | Opening Remarks |
| 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. | Session I: Multi-Tiered Customer Connectivity for Multi-Dimensional Effectiveness: A Research-Driven Strategy Speaker: Laura Lopez, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Public Relations, Houston Methodist |
| 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Coffee Break and Networking |
| 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. | Session II: Courts, Cellblocks and Communities: Succeeding Through Focus & Fidelity Speaker: Ed Gonzalez, Harris County Sheriff |
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch and Networking |
| 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. | Session III: Fireside Chat with Farid Virani — "Entrepreneurial Success Through Employee and Customer Focus" Fireside Chat: Farid Virani, Founder & Executive Chairman, Prime Communications Moderator: Robert Dittmar, Associate Dean of Virani Undergraduate School of Business |
| 1:45 – 2:00 p.m. | Coffee Break and Networking |
| 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. | Session IV: CEO Panel - Ambition Meets Success: Young CEOs Rewrite the Strategy Playbook |
| 3:40 – 4:30 p.m. | Fireside Chat: Invitation-only event for Rice students |
*Registration will remain open during the event, and coffee will be available.
This symposium showcases the universal benefits of a customer-centered approach across diverse industries. It’s an invaluable opportunity to learn practical, evidence-based strategies and connect with peers focused on effective business practices.
Daniel Williamson, EMBA ’24
Managing Director, OpenStax
